The confidence of winning form has jockeys Christian Reith and Josh Parr keen on the chances of Mr Manhattan and Nieta in the Starlight Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Both sprinters have risen through the benchmark system and find themselves facing their biggest test in the listed event, looking for a hat-trick of wins and at the bottom of the weights.

Parr has been part of the Nieta emergence at her past two starts, which has resulted in easy wins and has led to her being installed as the $3.10 Starlight favourite at Ladbrokes.

"She was good the first time I rode and then better the next," Parr said. "She is one of those mares you feel is going to enjoy more pressure in the race and she has a great sprint when you use it.

"She is an exciting horse to be riding and I think she will improve again on Saturday."

After scoring a series of wins on wet tracks, Nieta relished the firm going when she won a benchmark 78 by 2-3/4 lengths with a bit in hand three weeks ago.

"She just took off when I got her in the clear and the race was over very quickly," Parr said.

Nieta earned the reputation as horse to watch in the past month but Reith is equally as keen about the chances of Mr Manhattan bringing up a hat-trick.

He has won both his appearances since a spell in higher grade than Nieta but is rated a $8.50 chance. He also possesses a good turn of foot and has dashed home in impressive late sections to win at Warwick Farm and Canterbury.

Reith was delighted to get the opportunity to ride the five-year-old.

"He has been going out and winning and you don't often get the chance to get on horses in form like him," Reith said. "Winning form is good form and he goes down to 54kg after carrying 60-1/2 last start.

"He looks the sort of horse that is going to be suited in this sort of race and I'm sure he will be in the finish."

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