I WAS intrigued recently to come across the story of Manawanui. It is a name that will not be recognised too readily in Europe, but he was once the darling of the racing scene in Australia. Foaled in 2008, the son of Oratorio is now enjoying life as a police horse, having previously been a Group 1 winner and he earned more than Aus$1.4 million.

His was the true rags to riches story, the horse that put his trainer on the map and for whom a bid of a million Australian dollars was turned down. However, in March of last year he suffered a bleed at the Rosehill trials and, as this was the second time to happen, he incurred a mandatory ban from racing. Hence his new career.