Racing: Winning sprinters head in opposite directions

Manten scored a fine win at Woodville on Saturday.

A preference for right-handed tracks is likely to keep smart sprinter Aria away from the Wellington Cup carnival later this month.

The Centaine mare showed just how quick she can fly in the clockwise direction with a sub 1m:9s 1200m win in the feature Thames sprint on Saturday.

"I think she's a bit better right-handed so she'll probably stay north at this stage," said Ardmore co-trainer Stephen McKee.

"She's still eligible for PQ races and we just plan to work our way through those to the top grade."

From the ace draw rider Lee Tiley jumped the favourite straight to the front and the pair never looked in much danger of being headed down the small straight.

"I think 1600m at the top level may test her, but she should cope with 1400m okay," said McKee.

While Aria stays close to home, Saturday's other impressive sprint winner Manten is definitely headed south.

After a last-start miss, co-trainer Stephen Autridge feared he spoke too soon by telling the horse's Japanese owners to book their tickets to watch him run in the Telegraph Handicap in Wellington on January 21.

But Manten and rider Darryl Bradley struck back in style at Woodville.

In a deliberate change of tactics by Autridge, Manten dropped off the pace and charged home from the back to cruise past smart filly Mi Jubilee near the line.

"It's good that this horse can now be ridden off the speed, as when he gets up to group one company you can't expect to lead all the time," said Autridge.

Saturday's impressive effort trimmed Manten in to a $14 hope on the TAB's fixed-odds market yesterday for the Telegraph.

Autridge will also saddle last year's winner Keeninsky and Railway Handicap placegetter Pin Up Boy in the $120,000 dash. Keeninsky was rated a $5 chance with the TAB yesterday, with Pin Up Boy at $25.

Railway winner Baldessarini is at $2.50, but there is some doubt he will run at Trentham, with his camp now considering richer Australian assignments, like the Lightning Stakes at Flemington around the same time.