NEWS
Champion, Hall of Famer Manila dies
Posted: Monday, March 02, 2009 1:55 PM
MANILA EDGES THEATRICAL (Ire) IN 1986 BREEDERS' CUP TURF (G1)
Four Footed Fotos
by Jeff Lowe
Less than a year after since his induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Manila died on Saturday in Turkey from an aortic rupture. He was 26.
A Lyphard stallion out of Dona Ysidra, by *Le Fabuleux, Manila collected nine consecutive stakes wins during a 13-month period from June 1986 to July ’87. The streak was highlighted by a victory in the ’86 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by Hall of Famer LeRoy Jolley, Manila also won the 1986 Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park, two straight editions of the United Nations Handicap (G1), and the ’87 Budweiser-Arlington Million Stakes (G1) in his career finale.
“Manila was a very, very special horse,” owner Mike Shannon said last spring. “It was the greatest thrill to have owned him and been associated with him. I always said my life was AM and PM: prior to Manila and after Manila. It was all about Manila.”
Jolley, who oversaw five other champions, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Foolish Pleasure and Genuine Risk, has referred to Manila as the best horse he has ever trained.
Shannon bought Manila from breeder Edwardo Cojuangco after the colt was winless in three starts on dirt as a two-year-old. Switched to turf in the spring of his three-year-old season, Manila won 11 of 14 starts during the rest of his career.
In the Breeders’ Cup, Manila prevailed by a neck over Theatrical (Ire) despite a bad trip under eventual Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos. The field also included Trusthouse Forte Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner Dancing Brave and eventual champion turf female Estrapade.
Manila set course records at Atlantic City, Keeneland Race Course, and Churchill Downs while finishing first or second in 17 of 18 career starts and earning $2,692,799.
Initially based at Lane’s End in Versailles, Kentucky, Manila sired multiple Grade 1 winner Bien Bien from his first crop.
Sold to the Turkish Jockey Club in 1996, Manila was Turkey’s leading broodmare sire in 2003, and he sired three champions there.
Overall in 18 crops of racing age, Manila sired 32 stakes winners, including American graded stakes winners Montjoy, Concept Win, Gritty Sandie, Time Star, Fighting Falcon, Star of Manila, and Manilaman.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
