After three consecutive runner-up finishes, Manoushe finally tasted victory in the Restricted Allowance II contest for native-bred five-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported five-year-olds and upward (maidens) on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Trained by Louis Richards and ridden by Shavon Townsend, the five-year-old grey horse dominated the 6-furlong (1,200m) event, crossing the finish line a whopping 6 ½ lengths ahead of the competition.

Manoushe’s convincing win was never in doubt. Breaking well at the start, he seized the lead and never relinquished it. As the field approached the half-mile (800m) turn, Manoushe upped the tempo and poured on the speed, leaving Shoamithebutcher (Larris Allen), Shadow of a Doubt (Carlos Blake), and Money Box (Shane Ellis) in his dust.

With a few well-timed cracks of the whip and a smooth change of holds, Townsend coaxed every ounce of speed from Manoushe, who sprinted to his second career win in 18 starts.
Joblane (Demar Williams) and Shoamithebutcher rounded out the top three.

— Ruddy Allen