Top Ten Turf Males Twentieth Century
#5
Manila
(1985 - 1987)
Manila, with Fernando Toro up, winning the 1986 G2 Cinema Handicap in his only start at Hollywood Park.
Photo; Thoroughbred Times Collection – Keeneland Library
PEDIGREE
Bay H
OWNER
E. Coguangco/B. Shannon
TRAINER
Leroy Jolley
BREEDER
E. Coguangco
Some Facts
- Manila was born in 1983 at Eduardo Conjuangco Junior’s farm in Kentucky. He was sired by Northern Dancer’s son, Lyphard, a two-time Group One winner in France. Lyphard is another one of the Dancer’s sons classified as Chef-de-Race. Besides Manila, Lyphard also sired European champion Dancing Brave, whose 140 Timeform rating is currently tied for tenth best all time. Lyphard was the leading sire in America in 1986, in France in 1978 and 1979, and the leading broodmare sire in France in 1985.
- Manila was foaled by Dona Ysidra, a daughter of Matriarch (by Round Table), and was a half-sister to American-bred Targowice, the champion two-year-old colt in France in 1972 and sire of the great filly All Along.
- Manila was named after the capital of the Philippines. Though he was bred to run on turf, his first three races, all MSW in which he failed to win, were on dirt. At that point, his owner-breeder, Edwardo Coajuangco, sold him to B.M. Shannon.
- Manila’s fourth start, a MSW originally scheduled to be run on the turf, was switched to dirt because of inclement weather. Manila won it by eight lengths. Despite his easy victory, it was his last start on dirt.
- In the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Manila defeated the outstanding English horse and Arc de la Triomphe winner, Dancing Brave, which finished fourth as the overwhelming favorite. That year, Dancing Brave was voted European Horse of the Year and was given a 140 Timeform rating.
- After riding Manila to victory in the 1986 Arlington Million, jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who rode some of the greatest horses of all time, including Seattle Slew, Chief’s Crown, Slew o’ Gold, and Spend a Buck, made the following statement: “He compares to the greatest horses I’ve ever ridden. He proved he is the greatest grass horse I ever rode. If you beat him, you have to be lucky. At his best, nobody beats him unless something unusual happens.”
- In 1986, Manila set two track records: 1:48 2/5 for nine-Furlongs at Keeneland and 1:52 3/5 for 9.5-Furlongs at Atlantic City.
- He won his final career start, the 1987 Arlington Million, with that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, Theatrical, finishing third. This was Manila’s last race as he was retired after suffering a hairline fracture in one of his legs. He entered stud duty in 1988 at Lane’s End Farm after being syndicated for $20 million.
- Manila’s success at stud in America was limited, with his best American foal being two-time grade one winner Bien Bien. Relocated to Turkey in 1996, he would eventually sire three Turkish champions.
- Manila was voted North American Male Turf Champion in 1986 and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2008.
- He died on February 28, 2009, due to “Aortic Ring Rupture”.
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