 Considered a very great long-distance turf horse, in his fourteen starts on grass Manila never finished worse than second.In his 2006 book titled "THE BEST and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing", author Steve Davidowitz of "Daily Racing Form" ranks Manila as the best long-distance turf horse in American racing history ahead of No.2, John Henry.Racing at age three, Manila won the important Grade I Turf Classic Handicap then in the fall won the Breeders' Cup Turf, defeating the Champion filly, Estrapade, Theatrical, and the 1986 European Horse of the Year, Dancing Brave.