MACKAY's John Manzelmann will provide more than a quarter of the contestants at Clermont races on November 23 after accepting with 10 runners.
He is sending Annie Laughalot (Maiden Plate), Marzena and Vamparina (Class B), Rockethead and Saturn Ops (Benchmark 50) and Archie's Son, Camboomya, Dubai Me A Saga, Global Rocket and Lonroadtofly (Ratings 0-60 Handicap) for respective tasks.
"I send my horses all over the place all the time so this is nothing really different," Manzelmann said.
"We put them in races where they are best placed and Clermont is the spot this weekend."
Apprentice Emma Bell will ride Annie Laughalot, Vamparina and Global Rocket, while Manzelmann will also employ Minoette Kennedy, David Simmons, Ngaire Nelson, Thomas Doyle, and Richie Oakford for his other starters.
Four-year-old Rockethead appears strategically placed to start the ball rolling for Manzelmann in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1400m).
Rockethead has managed to be placed in five consecutive runs since mid-September, clocking up second or third placings at Twin Hills, Charters Towers, Gladstone, Mackay and Cooktown.
The latest, on November 9, was over 1290 metres when beaten a nose in a Class B Handicap in firm going at Cooktown.
Class B (1200m) topweight Marzena will be having its second start for the stable after a transfer from Matthew Dale's NSW yard.
Marzena debuted for Manzelmann at Moranbah on November 9, its first outing in 12 months and performed well to be beaten only one and a half lengths at the end of 1170m.
Oakford was aboard at Moranbah and retains the ride.
In the Rating 0-60 Handicap Oakford will be on the other side, riding Tyranize for Bluff-based Ross Vagg against the Manzelmann troupe including Global Rocket which he rode in its latest outing at Callaghan Park in Rockhampton on November 17.
Min Kennedy will be a new rider for topweighted Archie's Son, which has been handled by Chelsea Jokic, Shane Sheargold, David Simmons, Girish Goomany and Chris Whiteley in its five runs between October 5 and November 15.
Saturating a meeting with runners is nothing new for the Manzelmann stable. In August, 2018, he provided 18 runners for the meeting at Middlemount and won five races for stakesmoney of more than $36,000.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
