Heading the contenders for the
Woodford Reserve Manhattan is reigning Eclipse Champion turf male Gio Ponti.
Trained by Christophe Clement for Castleton Lyons Farm, the 6-year-old Tale of
the Cat horse has not raced since finishing fifth, beaten less than two
lengths, in the Dubai World Cup on March 26, his only start of 2011. He will be
looking for his seventh career Grade 1 win in the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan, a race
in which he finished second last year to stablemate Winchester.
Prince Will I Am will seek his second career Grade 1 win for trainer
Michelle Nihei in the Manhattan, his fourth start of 2011. His other Grade 1
victory came over the Belmont Park turf in last year’s Jamaica.
European conditioner Aidan O’Brien
is bringing the multiple Group 1-placed Viscount Nelson to contest the
Manhattan, which will be his second race in eight days, having won a listed
stakes at the Curragh in Ireland on June 3. The 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway
colt ran third in both the prestigious Irish 2000 Guineas and Eclipse Stakes
last year.
Also expected for the Manhattan are
graded winners Al Khali, Bold Hawk, and Smart Bid,
graded-placed Mission Approved, and allowance winner Center Divider.
Listed as possible are Boisterous and Windward Islands.