Former Luca Cumani stayer Manighar made a winning debut for Peter Moody at Caulfield

Peter Moody worked his magic with Manighar, preparing the former European gelding to win at his first start for the Caulfield trainer.

The grey, who has contested both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups the past two Spring Racing Carnivals when in the care of English master Luca Cumani, showed a previously unseen turn of foot to claim the $125,000 Group 3 Cattanach's Jewellers Carlyon Cup (1600m).

Moody said the six-year-old had embraced a change in routine at his Caulfield stable and it was pleasing to see him bring his trackwork to the races.

“Four or five weeks ago he was a 4000-metre hurdler, with all due respect, but as we shortened and sharpened his work over the last couple of weeks he has started to show a turn of foot,” Moody said.

“If he ran to his work he was going to run OK but you want to see them take it before you put your head on the block, particularly with a horse you don't know a lot about.”

After settling fifth in the running line, jockey Luke Nolen put Manighar into the race from the 600m and he was quickly up challenging outside the leader.

Shadowfax gave a good kick in the straight, but Manighar ($8) responded impressively when asked in the final 200m to surge away to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Shadowfax ($8). One-and-a-half lengths away third was Veewap ($14).

“We ended up in a nice spot off a fair tempo early and then they strung them up a little bit down past the railway, but I was travelling like the winner a long way from home,” Nolen said.

“He didn't get complacent but he had a look around when he got there (to the front).

“Hopefully this is the platform for what will hopefully be a fruitful preparation.”

Moody said the $1 million Dubai Australian Cup (2000m), at Flemington on 10 March, was Manighar's Festival of Racing goal and he may even head there without another start.