Manuella

Manuella (1809 – after 1831) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1812. Unraced as a two-year-old, the Northern-trained filly was fancied to win The Derby on her racecourse debut but finished unplaced. She won the Oaks a day later, but was beaten when favourite for the St Leger Stakes. She won two more races (one of them a walkover) and changed hands more than once before being retired from racing at the end of the 1814 season. She was a successful and influential broodmare, whose direct descendants have won many important races. Background Manuella was an "elegant" bay mare bred by Richard Watt of Bishop Burton in Yorkshire. She was sired by Dick Andrews, a grandson of Eclipse whose other progeny included the 2000 Guineas winner Cwrw, the St Leger Stakes winner Altisidora and the successful stallions Tramp and Muley Moloch. Her dam Mandane has been described as one of the best broodmares of the early 19th century and was also the dam of Altisidora, and the Chester Cup winner Brutandorf. She is regarded as the foundation mare of Thoroughbred family 11-g. Racing career 1812: three-year-old season Manuella made her first appearance in the Derby Stakes at Epsom on 14 May. Despite her lack of experience she had been heavily backed for the race: her owner, Mr Hewett had reportedly invested heavily in the filly's chances after the filly had performed impressively in trial gallops. Ridden by the leading jockey Sam Chifney, Jr. she was made 7/2 second favourite against twelve colts and one other filly. She "made but little running" and finished unplaced behind Octavius, Lord Egremont's unnamed Gohanna colt and the favourite Comus. There were rumours that Chifney had "pulled" Manuella (deliberately prevented her from winning) in order to ensure better odds for the Oaks on the following day. Manuella was largely ignored in the betting for the Oaks, starting a 20/1 outsider in a field of twelve fillies. Ridden by her trainer Billy Peirse, Manuella raced in second place before moving into the lead on the final turn. Peirse, riding with what was described as "uncommon judgement" eased the filly down early in the straight and allowed Chifney, on the Duke of Rutland's Elizabeth, the odds-on favourite, to move up alongside him. Manuella then pulled ahead again in the closing stages to win by three-quarters of a length.