Manikato (2) Courage and class, the making of a legend

[JPD639]

It's tragic that this horse who gave his all on the track for 6 seasons never had a happy retirement he deserved, humanely euthanized so soon after retirement due to a virus he couldnt overcome. Still #1 sprinter Australia has ever produced maybe the world in my eyes.

[JPD639]

Absolute legend!!! Black Caviar still has a bit to do to even be compared to Manikato in my book. when u compare there CV's Manikato is still ahead, won in various distances, broke track records, and raced for 6 seasons with 47 start : 29 wins/ 8 2nds/ 5 3rds.

Black Caviar does have time, i'd love Luke Nolen to start racing her against the time and push for track records to leave some sort of legacy, since shes unlikley to tackle the different distances of this Legend!

[Fordgirl]

Thankyou for posting this. I will always love Manikato

Can you get this on dvd at all?

[markserjeant]

@Fordgirl , There is a dvd called "King and the Man two in a million", a 2 hour tribute to Kingston town and Manikato. Published by Chevron Publishing. e-mail sales@chevron.com.au

[emmelby]

I can't think of another horse that even comes close to his consistency, courage, or record. Manikato is credited with 9 Group 1 wins, but if he were racing now, and won all the same races, he'd have TWENTY ONE Group 1s. Truly staggering.

[garyjknight]

what a horse - his longevity stood him apart from most horses and the thrills he gave us in those four Futurities, five William Reids, etc are just inforgettable stuff. Every time I go down to Melbourne and go to the Valley I always walk past his garden and think of him - he was just something else and very special to me.

[felinestar]

thanks for posting this. I saw many of his wins from the start of his fabulous career. (like when he pushed Runaway Kid off the corner at Caulfield) He had muscles on top of muscles and was the most tenacious of frontrunners never giving up the lead. Just take note of some of the names of the top horses he held off. ( some "champions" in their own right ) A real super horse who if he was around today would take the English races in a clean sweep I suspect.

[PhilMagnus]

Had the great privilege to be in Oz and work on the racecourses during the reigns of Manikato and the peerless Kingston Town, thanks for the memories!

[bellaserene]

No disrespect to today's sprinters - they're fantastic - but they've got nothing on the great Manikato. A courageous champ who battled serious health issues and won on pure heart.

I never get tired of re-watching your videos. Thanks heaps for uploading them.

[giveittodidak]

I can only imagine what manikato would of done to the best sprinters of Europe...They would of been in complete awe of our great champ.

[boganxxx]

I was at that Sandown race where he carried 63 kgs.....the man was something special.

[Scubosh]

there will never be another manikato

[hursty9013]

@Scubosh caviar. thats is all

[morristonian]

Truly a legend in the annals of Australian racing, cannot believe the owner even considered selling him to the States at all. Thanks again for these films of the great horse.