*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.
The barriers for the Manikato Stakes are in 👊 pic.twitter.com/lXulK36BQo
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 17, 2022
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.
Latest @tabcomau market for Manikato Stakes after barrier draw this morning. pic.twitter.com/RauBuaXk04
— Glenn Munsie (@glennmunsieTAB) October 17, 2022
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.
Four more of our runners in Friday night’s Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in the sale ring! All proudly sold by Magic Millions!
🐴 The Astrologist
🐴 Jamaea
🐴 Best of Bordeaux
🐴 CoolangattaBest of luck to all of our runners! pic.twitter.com/GLIRVaexHC
— Magic Millions (@mmsnippets) October 18, 2022
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.
The final field for the 2022 @ladbrokescomau Manikato Stakes is in 👀
Behemoth
Eleven Eleven
Streets Of Avalon
The Inferno
Paulele
Shaquero
Rothfire
The Astrologist
September Run
Bella Nipotina
Roch ‘N’ Horse
Jamaea
Best Of Bordeaux
Coolangatta#LEGENDARY— Cox Plate Carnival (@CoxPlate) October 17, 2022
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 Tip
5. Paulele – Win ($3.60)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Manikato Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
