The sequel could be just as good as the original for Mannings

Plymouth Chubb is out to capture another special and sentimental victory in Saturday night’s The Knight Pistol at Bray Raceway, Ballarat. 

The race holds particular significance to father-daughter trainer-driver combination Peter and Kerryn Manning. From 1996 to his last race in December 1999, Knight Pistol was extraordinary for the Mannings, having 87 of his 181 career starts for the Great Western duo while producing 41 of his 55 career wins, including a famous victory in Norway. 

Plymouth Chubb won last year’s running of The Knight Pistol at Melton and is back to defend the title in Ballarat this weekend. 

Peter is hopeful that the gelding is fit and ready for his first assignment since placing fourth in the Inter Dominion final at Albion Park on December 16 last year. 

“I think I did 5000km with him in the float,” Peter said. “He has recovered well from that, and he is back and working well again. 

“He’s been working since he has been home. He has had three days off when he got home.” 

The squaregaiter has drawn barrier two this Saturday night, on the outside of the John Justice-trained Mufasa Metro in one. Inter Dominion winner Just Believe (six) and French raider Callmethebreeze (three) also make up the front row. 

“I don’t have to lead. I can just go out and see where he finishes up,” Peter said. “My bloke’s pretty quick out. 

“He has beaten Just Believe maybe three times now. He has beaten most of the others except that French horse. I have beat them all before. There’s no reason why I can’t beat them again.” 

For Manning and Plymouth Chubb, The Knight Pistol will be the ideal preparation leading into the Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star on February 3. 

“I just thought I would give him a run before the Great Southern Star,” he said. 

The brisk nature of heats into the final on the same night poses no issues for Manning. 

“He does that every time he works,” he said. “I always work twice on the same day, so it’s exactly the same. 

“Last year he went straight into the Great Southern Star when he had four months off and he won the heat.” 

The $50,000 The Knight Pistol runs at 8.42pm.