Manado (horse)

Manado his made his racecourse debut in early August when he contested the Prix Yacowlef, a race for previously unraced juveniles over 1000 metres at Deauville Racecourse. He won impressively by eight lengths and was then moved up in class for the Group One Prix Morny over 1200 metres at the same course two weeks later. Ridden by Paquet, he started the 7/2 second favourite behind Vitiges, the winner of the Prix Robert Papin. Manado and Vitiges disputed the lead until 400 metres from the finish, when Manado swerved abruptly to the left, colliding with the rail and losing any chance of winning. He failed to recover and finished eighth of the thirteen runners.[2]

On 14 September, Manado faced Vitiges for the second time in the Prix de la Salamandre over 1400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. The other runners included two challengers from Britain: the Richmond Stakes winner Stand To Reason and the Chesham Stakes winner Smuggler. Rather than challenging the leaders from the start as he had done in the Morny, Paquet restrained the colt before making a forward move in the straight. He accelerated to overtake Vitiges inside the last 200 metres and won by a length, with Comeram, ridden by Lester Piggott half a lengths away. in third. For his final appearance of the season, Manado started the 18/10 favourite for the Group One Grand Critérium over 1600 metres at Longchamp on 12 October. He was again opposed by Vitiges and Comeram, with the other runners including the Prix des Chênes winner French Swanee, and the future Epsom Derby winner Empery. Paquet settled the favourite just behind the leaders before producing a strong run along the inside rail in the straight. He took the lead 200 metres from the finish and won by one and a half lengths from Comeram with French Swanee in third ahead of Pier. Kano finished fifth ahead of Vitiges and Empery but was disqualified for causing interference. The form of the race was subsequently boosted when Kano won the Critérium de Saint-Cloud, whilst Comeram finished second under top weight in the Prix Thomas Bryon.[2]

At the end of the year, a half-share in Manado was sold for a sum reported to be in excess of £250,000 to the Irish breeder Tim Rogers, and it was announced that his principal objective would be the following year's 2000 Guineas.[2]

Manado began his second season in the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse on 9 April. He started the 5/10 favourite despite being less than fully fit, but was beaten a length by Vitiges. Manado was then sent to England for the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket and started the 4/1 second favourite behind Wollow. He traveled well in the early stages but then began to struggle on the firm ground and finished ninth of the seventeen runners. He returned two weeks later for the Prix Lupin over 2100 metres at Longchamp and finished seventh behind Youth: he tired badly in the closing stages and was never again raced at a distance of further than 1600 metres.[3]

Manado returned to action in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300 metres at Deauville in which he raced against specialist sprinters and finished fourth, beaten just over a length by the filly Girl Friend. A week later at the same course he contested the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois over 1600 metres. In a blanket finish in which the first seven runners crossed the line together he finished fourth behind Gravelines, Radetzky and Vitiges. Boutin commented that the horse might have won if Paquet had delayed his challenge. Manado's last three races were at Longchamp in autumn. On 5 September, he started favourite for the Prix du Rond Point but in another bunched finish he took third behind the four-year-olds Monsanto and Nurabad, beaten half a length and a short head. He was equipped with blinkers in the Prix du Moulin three weeks later and finished third behind Gravelines and Dona Barod. He made his final appearance on 24 October when he was ridden by Lester Piggott and finished third behind the two-year-olds Pharly and Lady Mere in the Prix de la Forêt over 1400 metres, having been somewhat impeded by the runner-up in the straight.[3]