Phillip Stokes is confident The Mansman can make his mark in a changed role this preparation.The Pakenham trainer initially believed the son of Almanzor, who produced a dashing display to win first-up over 1200 metres at Sale, would be best suited to middle distance racing. “Last prep, we thought he’s by Almanzor and a stayer, but I feel he might be best at 1200 to 1400 metres and we’ll keep him fresh,” Stokes said. “He’ll progress through to city grade.”The Mansman has performed up to 2000 metres last season and posted a frustrating five runner-up finishes from seven outings before his overdue breakthrough victory.Gelded since last racing, The Mansman settled back in the field off a wide gate at Sale before improving out wide across the top and let down strongly in the straight to reel in his rivals.“There was a bit of concern about the barrier, but he switched off and we got a cosy run into it and he went through his gears nicely,” successful rider Daniel Stackhouse said.The Mansman was offered by Sledmere Stud on behalf of breeder Waikato Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was sold to DGR Thoroughbred Services and Stokes for A$330,000 with the Matamata farm remaining in the ownership group.He out of the Savabeel mare Hurry, a three-quarter sister to the late multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Sacred Falls.

Simsala has proved a handful at times, but there’s no denying her talent as she showed on her home track at Ruakaka.The daughter of Almanzor made all the running and kicked strongly in the run home for rider Ashvin Goindasamy to account for a handy field of three-year-olds over 1400 metres.“She has been a hard work in progress,” trainer Kenny Rae said.“She’s got more ability than brains, but she is turning the corner now.”Simsala’s form indicates that as she was fifth on debut before finishing runner-up on the all-weather track at Cambridge and has now gone one better in style.The filly is the first winner for the I Am Invincible mare Majella Magic, who was successful on three occasions and is a half-sister sister to the Australian Group 3 winners Bliss Street and Jade Marauder.Simsala was a $25,000 purchase at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where he was offered through the Kiltannon Stables draft.

First Five bounced back to his best at Ruakaka to credit our permanent resident sire Almanzor with a winning double.The lightly raced four-year-old was making the second appearance of his current campaign for trainer David Green when he rolled his Rating 75 rivals over 1600 metres.Almanzor’s daughter Simsala had claimed the opening event on the program and First Five wasn’t overly pressured to make it two on the card.He settled a distant fourth on the fence before closing to be within striking distance at the top of the straight and then rounded off strongly under Lynsey Satherley to make it two victories from seven outings.Bred by part-owner Gerald Shand, First Five is a son of the six-time winning Volksraad mare Payette and the family of the multiple Group performer Pretty Vegas.