 He was bred by Filipino food and beverage magnate Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. who owned Dona Ysidra and who named her for his grandfather's sister, Dona Ysidra Cojuangco (1867-1960) of Tarlac, reportedly the foundress of the Cojuangco family fortune.Manila was raced by Lexington, Kentucky thoroughbred agent Bradley M. Shannon and trained by future U.S.Racing Hall of Fame inductee LeRoy Jolley.