Manzelmann clan dominate Mackay Lightning

By Glenn Davis

The Manzelmann clan of Queensland look set to play a big part in the Lightning Handicap at Mackay on Friday.

The Lightning Handicap over 1100 metres has attracted a big field with the Manzelmann family dominating the feature with several starters.

John Manzelmann will saddle up Your Too Good while his son Lachie will be double handed with King Jester and Outback Action.

Joshua Manzelmann is also part of the clan as he is the son of John’s cousin and hopes to secure runs with Bold Hunter and Such A Whit.

John’s sister Tracy Simmons accepted with Booming Lad while Jennifer Hatfield is also the partner of Josh’s brother, Henry Manzelmann, and will saddle topweight Acrophobic.

Of the Manzelmann runners, Booming Lad has been in great form. 

Booming Lad has won four of his eight starts since entering the Simmons stable last year.

The four-year-old won four of his first six starts for Simmons between January and April before finishing second to the Ricky Vale-trained Early Fusion in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Mackay on May 8.

A son of Spirit Of Boom, Booming Lad then went down in a close finish when second to Missile Thunder in a 1000 metre Open Handicap at Townsville on May 27.

Simmons has booked apprentice Gabrielle Semmens for Booming Lad who has a good record at Mackay with two wins and three seconds from five starts.

He also is a two-time winner from four starts over the 1100 metre trip at the Ooralea track.

“I tried for Olivia Kendal as she ran second on him last start in Townsville, but she was unavailable, so I booked Gabrielle Semmens,” Simmons said.

Semmens has a perfect record with the galloper, winning all three rides on Booming Lad but she hasn’t ridden the gelding since his Townsville success in late April.

Booming Lad is owned by the Connor family who live at Barcaldine in the Central West of Queensland.

“Booming Lad is going well and he should be competitive again,” Simmons said.

“We won’t decide on his future until after the Lightning but if he wins, he automatically qualifies for the Mackay Newmarket.”