Manikato

Book excerpt: A champion racehorse, Manikato won races at the elite level over six seasons through the late 1970s and early 1980s and became the first Australian sprinter to earn one million dollars in prize money. But, once getting to the top echelon of racing as a two-year-old, his life endured twists and turns that continually threatened to derail his career, and his life. From the sudden death of his original trainer Bon Hoysted shortly after the 1978 Golden Slipper Stakes, to the prolonged illnesses and niggling injuries that kept Manikato's name in the headlines, the fact that he could compete, let alone win, was almost miraculous.The powerhouse chestnut with a quirky personality forged historic moments including victory in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley five years in a row - a record unlikely to ever be matched - and the birth of the Manikato Stakes.