Happy Golf completes quartet at Happy Valley

Friday, 9 February 2024 | Geisel Park stallions Manhattan Rain and All American signed off January with a winning double in Hong Kong and Perth on Wednesday.

Happy Golf (Manhattan Rain) was the final leg of a winning quartet for jockey Hugh Bowman in the Jaffe Hcp (1200m) at Happy Valley last night following Hercules (Medaglia d’Oro), Telecom Speed (Street Boss) and Noble Pursuit (Savabeel).

After making steady headway up the straight, Happy Golf stayed on well in the final furlong to get his nose in front in the final stride of a three-way photo-finish.  “A four-timer, it’s been a good night,” Bowman said after returning to scale.   “I had good rides but Happy Golf was the only one that really drew a good marble.

“That’s our third win.  We’ve had a good association and he got into a nice rhythm.”

Agent John Foote bought him for $160,000 at the 2020 Melbourne Premier Sale and he was placed in a Cranbourne trial before being sold to clients of trainer Frankie Lor.

His older half-brother Laser Victory (Brazen Beau) had won on debut at Sha Tin twelve months ago but was retired after just two starts for Jamie Richards.

They’re from Testa The Water (Testa Rossa) who is an unraced half-sister to the dam of G2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1200m) winner Rich Enuff (Written Tycoon).

Manhattan Rain had sired Bleecker Street to win at Bunbury on Australia Day and he’s racing again this Saturday in the Peters Investments Hcp (1200m) for Impressive Racing trainer Darren McAuliffe.

Silver Back Jack (All American) was successful as an odds-on favourite at his sixth start in the Morley Growers Market Hcp (1800m) at Ascot on Wednesday.

Sold by Geisel Park for $55,000 to trainer Jason Miller at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions, he had won a Pinjarra 3yo maiden during an initial campaign in July before going out for a five-month spell.

He firmed from $2 into $1.65 when stepping up to 1800m for the first time but favourite punters would have been concerned to see him settle a dozen lengths back in the pack behind runaway leaders Psychic Session (Sessions) and Mr Thunderman (Trade Fair).

The grey gelding was first to make a move under Brayden Gaerth and took over from the tearaways to score by a length over Vitai Lampada (Trade Fair).

Silver Back Jack was bred by Geisel Park manager Conor Dunlop and his partner Rachel Skinner from Real Glow who is also a daughter of Testa Rossa.  She’s a descendant of Peters Investments mare Real Treasure (Old Spice) who foaled Noble Cavalier (Royal Academy) to wins at Listed level in a Melvista Stakes, Towton Cup and Detonator Stakes.

Geisel Park has 10 yearlings entered for the Perth Magic Millions on February 22 and 23 starting with the Maschino filly from American Choice (Lot 9).  She’s the first foal of the dam who was an Ascot 2yo winner and LR Supremacy Stakes runner-up from All American’s initial crop bred in WA.