The Manzelmann stable has been on fire over the past two months

Young Mackay trainer Lachie Manzelmann is hoping the stable’s magic
carnival run up the coast can continue on to Cairns after a “pit stop’ at
Cluden Park on Tuesday.
The Manzelmann stable has been on fire over the past two months
largely through the deeds of Cups star Journalism and sprinter Red Hot
Lizzie who will both line-up in Townville.
Journalism will tackle the Ladbrokes Hcp (2000m) and Red Hot Lizzie
will run alongside stablemate Outback Action in the Hygain Hcp (1200m)
with regular jockey Adam Sewell to ride both.
A $13,000 Sydney cast-off, Journalism has stunned the stable with his
transformation from sprinter/miler to leading Cups campaigner.
After a slashing fourth in the Rockhampton Cup, he returned home to
claim the HL Black Memorial/Mackay Cup double in Mackay, before a
late closing third in the Townsville Cup.
Red Hot Lizzie, bought for just $700, has been just as impressive
racking up a succession of scintillating runs to be the only horse to finish
top three in the Rocky, Mackay and Townsville feature sprints.
A restricted class galloper at the beginning of the year, she ran a
luckless sixth in the Battle of the Bush in Brisbane before her northern
carnivals campaign.
She flashed home as a 100-1 shot to finish second in the Rockhampton
Newmarket, demolished the Mackay Newmarket field and then stormed
home from last for a luckless third in the Cleveland Bay Hcp.
Young Manzelmann who fronts the stable with his father and country
Hall of Famer John by his side, is hoping both classy gallopers have
enough petrol in the tank to continue their form at next month’s Cairns
festival.
“Cairns is just a bit too far away time wise so they need to start at
Cluden. The three weeks - with the way we work them - it just doesn’t
suit them. They need to be rock hard to go into these big races so that
tick over run on Tuesday will really help,” Manzelmann said.

“Lizzy’s drawn really well in barrier 1 so I think she’ll be hard to beat.
‘Back to the 1200m is probably not in her favour and she’ll rise in weight
to 60.5kg but I think most of those horses are in the same boat and are
there for that run before Cairns.
“With Journalism, the 2000m with the 62kg is the query for him. I think
The Penske File will be the one to beat after his run in the Cup (fifth) and
down there on 54kg.”
Journalism, a $1 million yearling, was snapped up by John on an auction
site for such a cheap price after a history of serious leg injuries.
After almost 12 months off the scene, his initial campaign for the stable
was anything but encouraging.
In eight starts, all over sprint distances, the best he could manage were
thirds at Barcaldine and Atherton.
But the eight-year-old has turned everything around this preparation as
the distances gradually increased.
“Dad initially thought he was more of a sprinter and I thought he was a
miler. This time in we’ve put him over further and he’s just kept getting
better.
“To be honest I didn’t think he could run the 2000m and Sewelly rode
him a treat in Mackay and he won and he proved me wrong.
“And he finished off strongly in Townsville so I think he can do it easily.
“Hopefully he can go on to Cairns. The track up there is always a bit
funny – it’s a horses for courses sort of thing.
“If he gels with it he’ll be right there again.
“Lizzie’s been super too. When they went well in Rocky, that’s really
saying something. I think I’ve won two races in Rocky ever and that’s no
joke. I just can’t win there.
“After Rocky I had high hopes for the rest of the carnivals and they’ve
performed so well.
“Our carnival in Mackay was well and truly my best result as a trainer.
“We picked up all the features – the HL Black Memorial, the feature
mare’s race, the Cup and the Newmarket Cup. You couldn’t ask for more
than that.

“They went great in Townsville too in the Cleveland Bay and the Cup, I
would have loved to have won either one. The carnival there is so
prestigious. It’s one of those places where you’d just die to win one, but
unfortunately we fell just a bit short.”
The young trainer had an impressive record in his short career before
taking over as the public face of the Manzelmann operation.
But he said he’s enjoying working side by side with John.
“It’s pretty cruisey working with dad. He does all the work and I get all of
the credit,” he said with a wry smile.