[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Manhattan Rain four-year-old Manhattan Strip scored his first metropolitan win at Ascot on Saturday when taking out the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1500m) with superstar visiting jockey Craig Williams aboard.
Starting a $7.50 chance, the gelding was put straight into the one-out and one-back position by Williams before being peeled out three-wide turning for home and levelling up to the leaders at the 200m mark.
He pulled away over the late stages to defeat Flower In The Wind ($26) by just under a length with his ears pricked on the line, with race-favourite San Fabrizio ($3.70) a further head away in third place.
Manhattan Strip has now had 16 career starts for three wins, five minor placings and earnings of $108,487 including Westspeed bonuses.
History was made at the meeting, with arguably Australia’s best ever jockey Damien Oliver winning his own race – the $1.5 million Damien Oliver Gold Rush – aboard Munhamek at his final race ride.