Manaya aims for more stakes success

Manaya (R) won by a short head in the Members At Tattersall’s Open at Doomben.

Tough mare Manaya has earned her chance to win another stakes race after her narrow victory at Doomben.

Manaya ($14) defied a betting drift and a slow early pace to score by short head to Grey Missile ($4.60) in the Members At Tattersall’s Open (1200m) on Saturday.

The mare won her first start in stakes company at Scone in May 2016 and has been competitive in open company races since with Saturday’s win her eighth.

However, trainer Michael Costa would dearly love to win another black type race with the mare who is now owned by Glenlogan Park Stud.

“She was beaten first-up but she is a mare who always improves at her second race. It was a great effort today as not much suited her,” Costa said.

“I have trained this mare all along but she is now owned by Glenlogan and they were good enough to let me keep training her.

“I really would like to win another stakes race with her before she goes to stud later this year.”

Costa said Manaya would now tackle the Listed Goldmarket at the Gold Coast on March 14.

Jockey Matt McGillivray said Manaya had not been suited by the muddling pace but still finished the race off strongly.

“She has a few wins left in her yet,” he said.