Manhattan Flame has made a red hot start to his career despite having physical issues that at one stage had his trainer doubting the three-year-old’s career would get off the ground.

The Hong Kong-owned galloper remained unbeaten in three appearances after a victory at New Plymouth last Sunday that followed a debut win at Woodville and success in between times at Pukekohe Park.

“He’s got quite a bad club foot and we just manage it the best we can,” Cambridge horseman Shane Crawford said. “Our farrier has done an amazing job with him.

“If you had asked me 12 months ago, I wouldn’t have thought he would get to the races.”
Manhattan Flame’s performances have also been noted overseas.

“There has been interest in him from Hong Kong, but there’s an obvious question mark whether he would pass a vet to go up there,” Crawford said.

“If he stays, we’ll possibly look at a race at Otaki for him in a month’s time or there is another one at New Plymouth.

“He’s all heart and while the tracks are the way they are we’ll keep going. It’s just about keeping him happy and he hasn’t got a bad bone in his body.”

Another three-year-old to have impressed Crawford is Beauty Day, although he won’t race for the stable.

“He’s going straight to Hong Kong – I think he’s possibly the best horse I’ve ever had,” he said. “He was bought for 155,000 guineas and shipped down here and I broke him in.”

By Footstepsinthesand, the Irish-bred brother to the Hong Kong Group Two winner and multiple Group One placegetter Beauty Flame won his only trial outing at Cambridge in May.