Rollercoaster Ride for Manzelmann in Sensational Savvy Win

Leading Mackay trainer John Manzelmann experienced the full highs and lows of racing all within a couple of minutes after Townsville Cup fancy Savvy Legend stormed to victory at Cluden Park yesterday.

Savvy Legend and apprentice Tahlia Fenlon backed up their 60-1 Mackay Cup win with a barnstorming win with topweight of 60kg in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1609m) as a 20-1 roughie.

But Manzelmann was shattered after he lost his good galloper and Cup contender Siberian Route who broke down hopelessly at the tail of the field.

“That gives me great confidence for next week in the Cup with the winner, but I’m just flat after losing my other horse. That’s a pretty shitty thing,” Manzelmann said.

“But this horse (Savvy Legend) went really good. He was coming back from 2000m the other day and Tahlia rode him really quiet and he got the perfect run through.

”He’s got to be ridden quietly, otherwise he gets trucking too much, and Tahlia gets on with him really well.

“His win in Mackay wasn’t any shock. Two starts before that he started favourite in the country cup in Brisbane so it wasn’t a shock but his price might have been a bit of a shock.

“He’s a really nice horse.”

Manzelmann’s fortunes have turned around in past months with a string of wins after a slow start to the year.

The country racing Hall Of Famer is now growing in confidence that he can add to his four wins in the Townsville Cup with Savvy Legend and The Driller who put in a pleasing final trial with a strong fifth to his stablemate yesterday.

“We’re a good chance in the Cup with Savvy Legend and The Driller ran a very good race as well. He’ll go around if he can get a start but his rating might be a bit low,” Manzelmann said.

Pictured: Savvy Legend storms home to win the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1609m) at Cluden Park on Sunday.

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