Manikato Stakes

Distance 1,200m Grade Group 1 Track  Moonee Valley Prizemoney $1,000,000 2018 winner Brave Smash ($8.50) The Manikato Stakes is the feature sprint event of the Moonee Valley Carnival, held on the Friday night before the Cox Plate.  Originally referred to as the Freeway Stakes, the race was renamed the Manikato Stakes in 1984. The Group 1 clash was named in the champion sprinter's name after he won the race twice in 1979 and 1982. Notable past winners of the Manikato Stakes include Chautauqua (2015), Buffering (2013), Hay List (2010) and Sunline (2000).  The early favourite for this year's race is the James Cummings trained and Godolphin owned Bivouac ($2).  After comfortably winning the Group One Golden Rose over 1400m, Godolphin toyed with the idea of backing Bivouac in The Everest but opted for the easier target in the Manikato Stakes. Bivouac defeated subsequent Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, by 0.2 lengths in the Golden Rose and brings the hottest form lines into the race.  The team Snowden trained Anaheed who is coming off a dominant win in the Group Three Sapphire stakes, looks likely to be a late nomination and will be ridden by the in-form Tim Clark.  Another runner of note is The Bostonian. This Kiwi-galloper was dominant in the Brisbane Carnival and will be hoping to recapture that form at The Valley.    All-in market Manikato Stakes Horse Name Jockey Trainer Odds BIVOUAC Kerrin McEvoy James Cummings $ 1.90 THE BOSTONIAN (NZ) Damian Lane Tony Pike $ 6.50 TROPE Dwayne Dunn Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes $ 6.50 LOVING GABY TBC Ciaron Maher & David Eustace $ 8.00 ANAHEED Tim Clark Peter & Paul Snowden $ 11.00 VITAL SILVER TBC Daniel & Ben Pearce $ 15.00 FAATINAH Jamie Kah David & B Hayes & T Dabernig $ 15.00 HEY DOC TBC Tony & Calvin McEvoy $ 26.00 BOOKER TBC Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra $ 26.00 DUBIOUS TBC Ciaron Maher & David Eustace $ 26.00 WINTER BRIDE TBC Toby & Trent Edmonds $ 26.00 EASY EDDIE TBC Joseph Pride $ 26.00 ASHLOR TBC Dan McCarthy $ 51.00 MERYL TBC Lee Curtis $ 51.00

Distance 1,200m Grade Group 1 Track Rating Good 4 Prizemoney $1,000,000 Class WFA 2017 winner Hey Doc ($21) There is always good speed engaged in the Manikato Stakes which runs over the 1200m at the Valley. The speed in this year's edition however looks to be heightened by significant pressure engaged up front. No fewer than four early speedsters are likely to cut at each other as they attempt to find the rail, including Sunlight, Invincible Star, Houtzen and Jungle Edge. This predicted warp speed should set the race up nicely for horses with a genuine run-on profile. Punters should therefore look for runners set to get good trails in behind from midfield or further back, ready to storm over the top,.    Moonee Valley Track Traits Moonee Valley is currently rated a Good 4 with the rail in the True position and fine conditions predicted for Friday night's racing. With the rail in the true, we can default to both on and off speed having their chance, however as always a close watch of early racing is advised to determine the presence of any fast lanes or associated bias.    Racing Market Movers Punters have singled out US Navy Flag for specific attention in early betting, backing him from $9.00 into $6.50. Brave Smash has also attracted support ($10.00 into $8.50).      Key Runners #1 Brave Smash $10 > $8.50 Backs up from the Everest run two weeks ago, when he settled back beyond midfield before battling away to finish 8 of 12 when slightly disappointing. Can be forgiven for that run considering the state of the track which didn't suit, and he can easily bounce back here to winning form. Is rock hard fit now and will get a suitable hot tempo up front, setting him up to run-on strongly. Will be charging late.   #2 Kementari $5 Love this horse fresh and that is how he will present on Friday night, after five weeks off and one trial leading into this. He was ultra impressive early this prep when he clearly should have won the Missile at Randwick, after being held up along the rail to finish second behind Pierata. At his last few, he has been racing well however slightly less dynamic than when fresh. Has to overcome gate 12 however with plenty of speed up front, he will have his chance to slot in and pounce in the straight. Must go on top.    #3 Malaguerra $10 Draws the inside and will receive significant favours throughout the run, tucked just in behind the leading division. First-up form is outstanding (7:5-1-0) and if the stable have him right, he will certainly be in the finish. Is a runner from a big betting stable and the early signs in the market are not great with a slight market drift ($9.00 out to $10), which suggests he may not be progressing well at home. If they jump out of trees to back him late however, you will know the horse is flying. Follow the money trail.    #8 US Navy Flag $9 > $6.50 Has been the subject of significant market support ($9.00 into $6.50), with a number of big bets reported for him early this week. He disappointed in the Everest when weakening badly to finish a well beaten 9 of 12.  The stable did warn us he wouldn't be as effective in the wet, and back to a good track here it would not surprise to see him atone with a huge run. Leading chance.   #10 Houtzen $7.50 High quality mare who does enjoy the Valley and ran a close second to the smart Nature Strip two starts back here, before close enough to them in the Group 1 Moir (finished 5 of 11). She draws well in gate 4, where there will be plenty of options for the rider to find an ideal position. Expect they race closer to speed and could find the the premier position one out and one back, from where she will be hard to beat. Leading hope.   #14 Sunlight $4.60 The win first-up had to be seen to be believed. She absolutely brained them when jumping straight to the front and working hard the entire trip, after absorbing pressure throughout. This is a huge leap in class, however with her light weight she will again be on speed and kicking for a long way. Just feel she has come up short enough here and whilst she is a genuine winning hope, could not touch the current $4.80 in betting. No.    Of The Others #4 Voodoo Lad can run over the top off them all if they go mad up front. Looks great value at the current $15 in betting, in a race where it appears they will go warp speed. Yes.    Best Racing Tips 1st  Kementari 2nd  Brave Smash 3rd  Houtzen 4th  Voodoo Lad Get the best bets from all of Australia's racing media experts and professional punters on Manikato Stakes night in the Moonee Valley Tips market. Every tipster is listed with their best profit statistics for you to review before taking their tips.

This week’s lay selections focus on two runners that have struck races where the speed map looks very ugly for them. They look too well found in the market, considering both will have to overcome significant difficulties in the run to be figuring in the finish.  Both should be avoided and expect their prices to drift as we approach start time.    Moonee Valley (Friday Night) Race 7 #14 Sunlight $4.80 Was brilliant last start when leading at a fast tempo and soaking up plenty of pressure throughout the run. However, this is a huge step-up in grade against the nation's most seasoned sprinters and the current $4.80 looks well under the odds to my eye.  The rider will have her straight on speed again here, although this time out there will be a number of others applying serious pressure from the onset, including Invincible Star, Jungle Edge and Houtzen.  Simply doubt she has the ability to soak up the pressure from the older horses, considering the speed engaged here and an abundance of talent that will be storming home over the top late. Avoid at all costs and expect her to start $5+. Lay.   Moonee Valley (Saturday) Race 1 #5 Wedgetail $4.20 Will struggle to find a position early from the midfield draw in gate 7, in a race that lacks speed. Often when there is no tempo, those drawn wide can find themselves parked out there for the entire trip as runners towards the inside tend to hold their positions. This colt did not show any early speed on debut at Caulfield when getting well back in the field and Luke Currie will have to be Houdini to slot in here for any cover during the run.  The speed map looks ugly and ultimately should be his undoing. Lay. 

One of the most exciting Group One sprints on the thoroughbred racing calendar plays out on Friday night with the running of the Manikato Stakes. This race has seen Australia's top class sprinters go around in previous years and this year is no exception. Three runners back-up from the inaugural Everest race, with most of the remaining eight starters coming from the Moir, Gilgai and the Schillaci. The all important Moonee Valley rail is in its true position. Many will debate where the favours will be in the running on Friday night but the Manikato results from the past couple of years suggest the winner can come from anywhere. Last year Rebel Dane stuck to the rails to claim a surprise victory at odds of $60. In 2015 Chautauqua was last at the 500m mark, hooked five wide and finished with a late burst to win by 2 lengths.  Market Movers Everest runner-up Vega Magic is all the rage with punters early in the betting. He is currently showing $2.15 after opening at $2.40 earlier in the week. In Her Time is the only other runner getting early support. She is in half a point to $5.   Key Runners #2 Vega Magic 2.4 -> 2.25 Expect him to bounce back here after a poor ride in the Everest with the decision to drag back from the start costing him the race. Beautiful barrier draw here is a big plus and nine wins over the distance means he will be super hard to hold-out racing in front.    #9 In Her Time 5.50 -> 5.00 Has put two good wins on the board and was unlucky not to run in the Everest, clocking a faster time on the day than the winner, Redzel. Another contender that will be up there mixing it with the front runners.    #1 Chautauqua 5.50 -> 7.50 Loves this track and after a good effort in the Everest could be ready to strike here fourth up. Eight wins over the distance, so expect him to be flying at them late.   #8 English 13 -> 13 Got back in the field in the Everest before making-up ground in the concluding stages. Probably should have won the G2 Premiere before that. Solid first-up when finishing 1.8 lengths behind Redzel racing wide without cover. Capable of giving this a shake.   #10 Vidora 10 -> 11 Was brilliant in the Moir, just getting held up at the wrong stage. Once clear she absolutely flew to just miss. Has tremendous second-up form and may surprise a few here at juicy odds   #3 Malaguerra 17 Strong finish in the Moir from the rear to finish two lengths away from the winner. Drawn wide again but pace should work in his favour. Chance.   Selections 1st  Vega Magic - better ride this time he will be hard to stop. 2nd Viddora 3rd Chautauqua