Manighar, the import who had never raced at less than 2400 metres until joining the Peter Moody stable, gave the leading trainer and his stable jockey Luke Nolen their first win in the $1 million Australian Cup at Flemington.The six-year-old grey, formerly prepared by Luca Cumani at Newmarket in England, had been placed in a Group One over 3100m in France but the Australian Cup was his first win at the highest level.He had come to Australia under Cumani and run well in the past two Caulfield and

Manighar, the import who had never raced at less than 2400 metres until joining the Peter Moody stable, gave the leading trainer and his stable jockey Luke Nolen their first win in the $1 million Australian Cup at Flemington.

The six-year-old grey, formerly prepared by Luca Cumani at Newmarket in England, had been placed in a Group One over 3100m in France but the Australian Cup was his first win at the highest level.

He had come to Australia under Cumani and run well in the past two Caulfield and Melbourne Cups without placing.

At his last start for that stable he was runner-up to Saturday's Australian Cup (2000m) $2.40 favourite Americain in the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown last spring.

After that the decision was made by the Linamix gelding's owners to transfer him to Moody who sharpened him up sufficiently to win first-up in the Group Three Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield last month.

Manighar then put himself into Cup contention with a third behind Lucas Cranach, scratched through injury on Saturday, and Illo in the Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

A drifter in the betting ring from $5 to start at $7, Manighar settled third of the eight runners and in the straight settled down for a battle royale with reigning Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed.

Southern Speed reached the lead but Manighar fought back gamely to gain a nose victory with Americain, having his first start for David Hayes, working home well from last to be only a neck away third.

"It's a great result. He is a terrific old horse and he has just enjoyed the change of routine and full credit to the Cumani team," Moody said.

"He came in great condition and we've just tinkered and played with him a bit and tried to mix it up.

"He's really enjoyed what's happening in Australia and you could nearly tag the green and gold numberplate on him now.

"We're still working him out and we are pleased to win today. I said to the owners before the race that I think The BMW is the race we've really targeted.

"This is a time-honoured race, no disrespect, but I think a mile and a half (2400m) and another month for him to work me out and me to work him out, I think we are going to have a better combination."

Manighar picked up $605,000 for connections which include the OTI Manighar syndicate managed by Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell, to take his record to eight wins, eight placings and $1,852,718 in prizemoney.

Moody praised Nolen for summing up the race to a nicety.

"I've got to give Luke credit because he read the race well. He thought if anything went wrong with Glass Harmonium, Illo would take it up at a gallop with the blinkers on so he'd certainly done his homework," Moody said.

While Moody said he thought it was a dead-heat, Nolen wasn't sure whether he had got there or not.

"I asked Craig (Williams, Southern Speed) and he wasn't sure either," he said.

"Southern Speed definitely gained a neck advantage on me."

"One thing I've found, the other day at Caulfield in the St George (Peter Young Stakes) is that he (Manighar) does possess a turn of foot when he is ridden for it."

Jockey Steven Arnold said he thought the 2000m was "a bit too sharp" for Americain who was gallant in defeat.

"They went at a pretty good speed and I was happy to let him get comfortable back," he said.

"He just had a little bit too much to do around the corner. I had Precedence (fourth) in front of me and he didn't quite take me far enough into the race. I had to come out and do it myself."

Glass Harmonium missed the start before finishing seventh while Illo, who led, dropped out to finish last.