Mantastic gets first win in Australia

Jockey Ethan Brown rides Mantastic to victory at Caulfield Racecourse.

After three consecutive second placings to start his Australian career, imported galloper Mantastic has broken through for a win at Caulfield.

The Darren Weir-trained Mantastic was sent out the $2.80 favourite in Saturday’s Mypunter.com Handicap (1600m) and didn’t disappoint, racing to a one-length victory under Melbourne’s leading apprentice Ethan Brown.

Mantastic started his racing career in France where he had two placings and a win from three starts before being imported to Australia.

Managing owner Terry Henderson, from syndicator OTI Racing, said Mantastic was still a work in progress but was delighted to see the lightly-raced gelding register his first win in Australia.

“I think he’s got a pretty good future,” Henderson said.

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Mantastic, who was dropping back to benchmark-78 grade after contesting a benchmark-90 last start, covered ground during the run from a wide draw but was able to keep building momentum approaching the home turn.

He hit the front passing the 200m and opened a winning break, with The Passage running home into second with Kaching another three quarters of a length away third.

“He was pretty impressive,” Brown said.

“I knew I was on the best horse in the race. He faced the breeze the whole way but he really knuckled down in the straight and he ran through the line well.

“He ran like he’s going to get 2000 metres.”