Manntari was a brown horse with a white coronet on his left hind foot bred in Ireland by his owner Aga Khan IV.
He was from the second crop of foals sired by Doyoun who won the 2000 Guineas and finished third in the 1988 Epsom Derby before becoming a successful breeding stallion whose other progeny included Daylami, Kalanisi and Margarula.
Manntari dominated the race, leading soon after the start and drawing right away in the last quarter mile to win by ten lengths from City Nights.
[7] Manntari was scheduled to end his season in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in October but was withdrawn from the race owing to the soft ground.
On 15 May, in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on heavy ground at the Curragh, Manntari started the 5/1 third choice in the betting behind the British challengers Turtle Island and Grand Lodge.