Mandla is proving a model of consistency, he went into Saturday’s Lawn Handicap after having won three times at the Provincials, plus a sound run when running second to Decircles at Flemington in mid January, he was ready to win in the city as the price indicated.

The gelding, by Bel Esprit, was never far off the pace it was just a matter of sitting and waiting until the course proper was reached before his rider, Dale Smith, asked for the acid test.

With the benefit of having been lightly raced to this stage, this will stand him in good stead for he is likely to go on from her

The Lawn Handicap has in the past been a reasonable good guide to the Newmarket Handicap; whether Mick Price would take that course is not known.

Mandla is raced by his breeder Ms J Nicholson, she also races his dam, Queen Kahuna by Rustic Amber, she has been a long time client of the Mick Price stable.

Tigerland may not be far off a win, he was seen to be running on nicely, he had pretty good form last time in, he has had a nine months break from racing and will take benefit from that run, he is trained Matt Laurie.

Mandla by Bel Esprit winning the Lawn Hcp