Manalapan is driven out by Seamie Heffernan to take the last© Photo Healy Racing
Manalapan got off the mark on the fourth time of asking as he took the Goffs Maiden, providing his rider Seamie Heffernan with a double on the card (also took the third aboard Wilshire Boulevard .
The Patrick Prendergast trained three-year-old son of Six Sense, ran a cracker on his debut in April, pushing subsequent Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World all the way (went down by just three parts of a length).
He went off at 25/1 that day, but he was a lot shorter on his next two outings, however he disappointed on both occasions at Gowran and again over the course and distance.
The bay colt was 11/1 this morning with Paddy Power, but he opened on-course at just 7/1, touching 8s, before going off at 7s.
Settled in fifth, he was ridden to challenge and lead over a furlong out and he stayed on well from there to score by a length and a half. Orator was sent off the 13/8 favourite (opened at 9/4 on-course) and he finished second under Connor King for David Wachman, while Murphy’s Delight was half a length back in third under Wayne Lordan also for Wachman.
Patrick Prendergast said afterwards: "He had a great run here the first day when he put Ruler Of The World on his head.
"When he came back in after that he was really struggling to breathe and blowing hard.
"He then had a wind operation and he lost all confidence after that.
"My staff have done a great job and also the team of vets. If we can really get his confidence back he will be smart horse."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
