Leading Westspeed breeder Tony Patrizi struck for the fourth time in three weeks at Ascot when Man Crush claimed the LR Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.

Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) was coming off a midfield finish in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in November and looked a level above the opposition after handing up the lead to Oxbridge (City Place).

He eased off heels for Chris Parnham at the top of the straight and let down to score by a length from the favourite Premium Choice (I’m All The Talk).  It was the second Miss Andretti victory for trainer Luke Fernie following Wild Belle (Pride Of Dubai) last year.

Patrizi was doubling up with his Kiwi-bred mare Juice (Bertolini) who was a Group 1 winner of the NZB Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha in 2010. He bought her carrying Man Crush’s dam Crushed (All Too Hard) for $350,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Juice is also the dam of Rocket Juice (Bondi) who won the Westspeed Premium Hcp (1200m) at Ascot last Saturday.

Trading under the Misty Valley Thoroughbreds banner, Patrizi had scored with Investmentstrategy (Playing God) in the Westspeed Platinum Sprint (1400m) on December 21 and Hostile Talk (War Chant) in the Ascend Trophies Hcp (1200m) on New Year’s Day.

Man Crush will now attempt a running black-type double in the LR Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on January 25.  “He’s been a stable favourite right from the start,” Fernie said.  “I thought his run in the Winterbottom was really good and I told the owners he would take plenty of improvement out of today’s race.”

Luke’s father Peter Fernie manages a Goldfields syndicate that paid $45,000 for Man Crush from the Misty Valley Thoroughbreds @ Greenfields Lodge draft to the 2021 Perth Magic Millions.  He won the Crystal Slipper Stakes during an initial juvenile campaign and added the RL Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) the following season.

He added the Nicopolis Stakes (1200m) earlier this term at Belmont and is currently credited with earnings of $772,000 that includes Westspeed Bonuses of $79,000.

Patrizi has continued to support Manhattan Rain since he transferred from Victoria to Geisel Park in 2022.  His first Westspeed-bred yearlings at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions includes the Greenfields consigned colt from Crushed (Lot 23 ) and filly from Juice (Lot 236).