Glyn Schofield knows the hallmarks of a good horse and had no hesitation recommending that the exciting Manawanui be given a shot at Saturday's Group One $1 million Golden Rose.Connections of the Ron Leemon-trained gelding paid a $50,000 late entry fee to give Manawanui his chance against the likes of unbeaten colt Smart Missile and dual Group One winner Helmet in the 1400m feature at Rosehill."After his dominant win the other day (in the Up And Coming Stakes), for me it was just a necessity to
Glyn Schofield knows the hallmarks of a good horse and had no hesitation recommending that the exciting Manawanui be given a shot at Saturday's Group One $1 million Golden Rose.
Connections of the Ron Leemon-trained gelding paid a $50,000 late entry fee to give Manawanui his chance against the likes of unbeaten colt Smart Missile and dual Group One winner Helmet in the 1400m feature at Rosehill.
"After his dominant win the other day (in the Up And Coming Stakes), for me it was just a necessity to put him into the race," Schofield, who is the regular rider of brilliant sprinter Hay List, said.
"He's a quality horse. He's not going to be overshadowed by any means in that race and he deserves his place."
Schofield has ridden Manawanui in three of his four starts including a dominant return performance in the Group Three Up And Coming (1300m) on August 20 which stamped him as a serious spring contender.
The internationally-experienced jockey believes Manawanui has all the qualities needed to try to upstage some of the best colts in training in Sydney's richest spring race.
"He's just a very unassuming horse," Schofield said.
"He just goes about his business well and whatever he's done he's just improved with every run.
"He's just a perfect little racehorse. He's nuggety, he's strong, he's quick, he's got a turn of speed and he loves to race.
"So if that's good enough to win it will be and if not, he'll run a great race."
Smart Missile is the dominant $1.75 favourite on the back of his outstanding return to win the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m).
Helmet is next in betting at $4.40 with Manawanui on the next line at $7.50.
Schofield has been a regular visitor to Warwick Farm to ride Manawanui in trackwork and has no doubts he has taken the right steps to make his presence felt.
"You don't win the way he won the other day first-up on a heavy track, looking the way he did, and not have any room for improvement," Schofield said.
"I know Anthony (Cummings) is saying his horse (Smart Missile) has improved and you would expect any horse to improve after having its first-up run.
"If Anthony's horse has improved the amount they say he has then he's going to be a mighty hard horse to beat.
"Helmet is a multiple Group One winner and they've added blinkers to him to get something extra out of him. He's pretty well placed as well.
"(But) I wouldn't be surprised if he (Manawanui) won.
"For me he's taken huge steps from his first-up run and his gallop on Tuesday morning was great. I wouldn't swap him for anything."