Former Blue Gum Stud owners Phil and Patti Campbell have come up trumps with their exciting Manhattan Rain 2yo debutante Benagil.

The Mike Moroney-trained filly fended off the challenge of Lovey (Spirit Of Boom) to win the Duffy & Simon Lawyers Maiden Plate (1200m) for the Campbells at Pakenham earlier this month.  “That’s particularly pleasing although she made a liar out of me,” Moroney confessed.

“My main concern was the lack of race experience could catch her out against those that have had some practice but she was professional all the way.  She showed a pleasing attitude in the finish and will come on for the run.  She will get a bit further than 1200m and looks a filly with plenty of potential.

“We trained her dam Des Moines who had a lot of ability and her daughter certainly looks to have inherited her share.”

Benagil was bred by the Campbells when Manhattan Rain stood at Blue Gum prior to the Victorian stud’s sale to Trilogy Racing in 2022.  That was also the catalyst for Manhattan Rain’s interstate move to Geisel Park in Myalup.  His first locally-bred crop will be catalogued for the 2025 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Benagil is the first foal of Des Moines (War) and her second-dam Inkster (Umatilla) was bred by the Campbells to a Listed victory the 2008 VRC St Leger Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.

Among Manhattan Rain’s unraced 2yo division are promising trialists like Cuban Rain (ex Cuban Belle by Helenus) who is with Rob & Luke Price at Kembla Grange and Peters Investments homebred Sixth Avenue (ex Forever Diamonds by Al Maher) who placed in a Belmont hit-out in January.

Geisel Park stands Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) for $8,250 alongside newcomer Winning Rupert ($8,800), Aysar ($8,800) and All American ($4,400).  All fees (inc GST).