2022 Manikato Stakes Runner By Runner Preview, Odds & Tips

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Wed 19th October 2022
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*Note: Due to a storm in Victoria on Friday 21st October, the Manikato Stakes has been moved to Cox Plate day, at the same track, Moonee Valley. The Manikato Stake will be Race 11 on the card, taking place at 6.25pm.*

Named in honour of Champion sprinter, Manikato, the Manikato Stakes is a 1200m Group 1 race held at Moonee Valley racecourse. Some fantastic sprinters have won the $2m weight-for-age feature, which since 2012 has been run under lights, and kicks off a massive weekend of racing at the Valley.

Last year’s Manikato was taken out by Qld sprinter, Jonker, who led from barrier to box and held off the late charge of Bella Nipotina, lines up again in this year’s race. She’s (Bella Nipotina) currently a $4.80 chance with Dabble, with Paulele the only runner in front of her in the market at $3.60. Last start G1 winner, Coolangatta, is on the next line at $5.50 and Queenslander, Rothfire, is a $6.50 chance.

However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and the tight Valley circuit can be hard to handle for some horses. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Manikato Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips. 

1. Behemoth (16) – $34
Jockey – Ben Melham 58.5kg
Trainer – David Jolly

Well beaten in two Adelaide runs this prep. Has since trialled well and gets blinkers first time here, but is struggling to find his best form and will likely end up in a sticky spot from the wide gate.

2. Eleven Eleven (7) – $16
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 58.5kg
Trainer – Greg Hickman

Resumes here off the back of a nice trial win at Randwick. Went close to claiming G1 victory last prep before a disappointing run in the Stradbroke, where he started favourite. Usually takes a run to find his best form, as suggested by his first up record, but will get a nice cart into the race from the good gate and will finish hard.


3. Streets Of Avalon (10) – $91
Jockey – Zac Spain 58.5kg
Trainer – Shane Nichols

Resumes after failing to fire in two runs over the winter. Will roll forward from the middle gate and races well around the Valley, but might find a few of his rivals a bit sharp over the 1200m here.

4. The Inferno (17) – $41
Jockey – Blake Shinn 58.5kg
Trainer – Cliff Brown

*This horse has since been scratched.*

Found the line well late in the McEwen first up before a lacklustre effort last start in the Moir. Races well here and the step up to 1200m suits, but needs to improve on his latest run.

5. Paulele (6) – $3.60F
Jockey – James McDonald 58.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings

Only got warmed up late in the Moir first up before a strong last start win at Caulfield, where he copped more right hooks than a pro boxer. Should be cherry ripe third up out to 1200m and drawn well with McDonald on. Looks hard to beat again.

6. Shaquero (12) – $126
Jockey – Brett Prebble 58.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller

Ran ok first up at Rosehill in weaker grade before finishing down the track at Flemington last start. Never saw daylight last start and I think it’s fair to say he’s going better than his form on paper suggests but this looks a tough ask.

7. Rothfire (5) – $6.50
Jockey – Damian Lane 58.5kg
Trainer – Robert Heathcote

Scored a strong first up win here at the Valley in the McEwen followed by a close up fifth in the Moir last start. Will appreciate the rise in trip and comes up with a lovely gate. Looks one of the main hopes.


8. The Astrologist (8) – $21
Jockey – Fred Kerlsey 58.5kg
Trainer – Leon & Troy Corstens

Led and no match first up in the Bobbie Lewis before an improved effort last start behind Private Eye. That form reads well after last weekend’s Everest and should be ready to fire third up. Looks an abundance of early speed in the race which might be his biggest hurdle.

9. September Run (13) – $19
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller

Got run off her legs first up in the Moir. Will appreciate the step up to 1200m and genuine tempo here, and won William Reid second up last prep at this track/distance. Worth throwing in trifectas and first fours.

10. Bella Nipotina (2) – $4.80
Jockey – Craig Williams 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Too good first up in the Norman Carlyon before a brilliant second in the Moir last start. Finished second in this race last year and can go one better providing she can get the gaps in the straight.

11. Roch ‘N’ Horse (15) – $26
Jockey – Patrick Moloney 56.5kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney

Got nailed on the line in the Bobbie Lewis two starts back before a gallant second to Private Eye last start. That form is strong and she’ll have no issue measuring up here, but will need luck from the wide gate.

12. Jamaea (9) – $41
Jockey – Jye McNeil 56.5kg
Trainer – Luke & Robert Price

*This horse has since been scratched.*

Hasn’t been far away this prep in G2/G3 over the border. This is tougher but she should enjoy a nice cart into the race from the gate and will be strong at the 1200m. Could represent some good each way value.


13. Best Of Bordeaux (14) – $14
Jockey – Tim Clark 53kg
Trainer – Kacy Fogden

Finished a gallant second in the Run to the Rose behind the smart, In Secret, before a dominant win in the Roman Consul last start. This is tougher and he will be used up early from the wide gate. Willing to leave him out of the numbers here.

14. Coolangatta (1) – $5.50
Jockey – Jamie Kah 51kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

Led from go to whoa last start in the Moir from the inside gate. Will more than likely adopt similar tactics here from the rail draw and will be hard to run down with 51kg on her back. The last 100m will be the challenge.

15e. Savatoxl (18) – $81
Jockey – Linda Meech 58.5kg
Trainer – Tony & Calvin McEvoy

Resumes here. Has a dynamite fresh record and is a winner around the tight Valley circuit, but will need a lot of luck from the outside gate if he is to gain a start and recent form isn’t flash.

16e. General Beau (11) – $71
Jockey – N/A 58.5kg
Trainer – Mathew Ellerton

Had a good run in transit but was no match for Paulele first up. Hard to see him turning the tables on that galloper here, but did run a good race in the William Reid last prep and isn’t the worst in this field.

17e. In The Boat (3) – $41
Jockey – Blaike McDougall 58.5kg
Trainer – Lindsey Smith

Only missed a place twice in his thirteen start career and both of those unplaced runs have been this prep. Does have a brilliant record here at 1200m but will be tested up front and needs to find on recent form.


18e. Sweet Ride (4) – $51
Jockey – Chad Schofield 53kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham

Honest colt who chased hard in the Roman Consul behind Best Of Bordeaux last start. Will get a nice run behind the speed and can run a race at big odds, but looks unlikely to gain a start in the final field.

Final Word

A strong field of quality sprinters line up in this year’s Manikato Stakes, and the early speed looks electric! Some rain is forecast for Friday but here’s hoping the track is in good condition for Friday night and of course Saturday’s Cox Plate.

It’s hard to go past the Blue Army here and their 4YO entire, Paulele. His closing splits were very good first up in the Moir before a dominant last start win at Caulfield. He should enjoy a nice run behind a hot tempo and have the last crack at them.

A horse who should get a similar cart into the race is Rothfire. He was excellent winning the McEwen first up and wasn’t far away in the Moir last start. The step up to 1200m will suit and he looks a big danger.

Bella Nipotina is racing well and jockey Craig Williams will be looking to win back-to-back sprint features after taking out last Saturday’s Everest in Sydney. He has the right horse under him to do so but will need to produce another brilliant ride here from the low draw. 

Sydney-siders, Eleven Eleven and Jamaea, both look good value and can finish in the money with a bit of luck off the back of a fast tempo.

Manikato Stakes TipLogo

5. Paulele – Win ($3.60)

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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.

Tom has had a passion for the racing industry from the time he could talk. Wether it was at school, on smoko or in his own spare time, he always had his head in the form guide.He has worked hands on in the industry for years for some of Australia’s most highly regarded trainers. As a track rider, he has put the polish on some of the best horse flesh to grace the turf in recent years including the grey flash, Chautauqua, Golden slipper winner, Mossfun and sprinter-turned-sire, Deep Field to name a few.Tom has recently hung up the boots to focus solely on his punting and tipping services. With the objective of finding plenty of winners and value in the marketplace, you’ll be sure to have a fat wallet following his feature race previews.