We’ve arrived at Moonee Valley’s biggest weekend of racing and the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) headlines an impressive card on Friday night. Some of Australia’s best sprinters have been confirmed to line up alongside a smart international contingent in the 2018 Manikato Stakes and there is plenty of value to be found around all fourteen starters. Eight races will be run and won on Manikato Stakes Night and the action is underway from 6:30pm AEDT.
Ten horses remain in the field for the first following the early scratching of Charge, and there is a case to be made for several runners. The Tony McEvoy-trained Sacred Sword ($9) is yet to post a race win, but he has finished a close-up second in each of his two career starts to date and is primed for another big run on Friday. The Exceed And Excel colt finished on the winner’s heels at listed level on debut last year and returned from a long spell for another close-up second at Swan Hill. He’ll strip fitter for that run and can fight out the finish at a nice price.
A small but decent crop of fillies and mares will step out in Race 2 on Manikato Stakes Night but it really does look like Pleasuring’s to lose. Pleasuring ($4) shook off the cobwebs with a couple of credible performances when resuming in September, but she savaged the line for a close-up third in the Pinker Pinker Plate (2025m) at Cranbourne last time out. She is rock-hard fit, drawn ideally and will be hard to hold out with only 55kgs in tow.
There is a case to be made for all nine horses in the VOBIS Gold Star field but I am leaning towards the ever-dangerous Widgee Turf ($3.60) at his current price. Widgee Turf returned from a freshen up to finish third in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in August, before another smart run for second in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville last time out. He has been charged with carrying 60kgs, but he has many of his rivals covered for class and could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 3.
Several quality stayers have been confirmed to take a place in the field of the fourth and there is plenty of value to be found in betting. South Australian raider Waging War has returned to racing in typically competitive form this time and has opened the $3.50 favourite in betting. The Rebel Raider gelding resumed for third in the Listed Penny Edition in September and has since placed fifth in a 1400m race at Caulfield and sixth in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). He’s ready to peak fourth-up and with even luck from the outside barrier, can be in the finish. Swacadelic ($26) has not been seen at the races since July, be he is a stayer with excellent ability and can fight out the finish of this race at a big price. The Adlerflug gelding is a multiple black type winner and importantly, has a great record here at Moonee Valley. Aaron Purcell will have the horse pretty wound-up for this race first-up.
These short, sharp sprints at Moonee Valley are always exciting and eleven horses will be stepping out on Friday night. The Godolphin-trained Esperance ($3.50) has returned to racing in outstanding form this time and looks the one to beat. Esperance has been racing in Sydney this time and resumed for a couple of placings in mid-week sprints at Canterbury, before returning to winning form at Warwick Farm in last September. His dominant win in a Saturday Randwick sprint last time out was particularly impressive and a repeat of that effort would find him extremely tough to overcome again.
Race 6 does not harbour black type conditions, but the depth of talent confirmed for a start suggests that it will be one of the standout races on Manikato Stakes Night. Godolphin entire Isaurian has found terrific form this time and should take further improvement into his third-up assignment. The son of Exceed And Excel won over 1000m at Sandown first-up before mustering a decent on-pace performance to run second behind Moonlover at this track and distance last time. The Darren Weird-trained duo of Stellar Collision ($12) and Ulmann ($10) are both first-up, but they each have a class edge over the lion’s share of these rivals and are good enough to fight out the finish. Stellar Collision won the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) and Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) most notably last time and finished third in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) here in January. Ulmann is a multiple black type winner and typically flies fresh. I am more than happy to have something each-way on the six-year-old at his current double-figure price.
This is set to be an outstanding edition of the Manikato Stakes and some of Australia’s best sprinters will line up alongside a smart international contingent. There’s a case to be made for nearly every horse, but I think that this race is cut out for a horse like Brave Smash. He clearly didn’t handle the heavy going in The Everest last time and I am happy to forgive that run, while he ran a huge race to finish second in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) here two starts back and will appreciate the 1200m. With Hugh Bowman aboard, $10 looks overs.
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A reasonably tough way to end Manikato Stakes Night from a betting perspective and there’s good value around several runners. The Darren Weir-trained Tamasa ($3.10) is seeking a third-consecutive win and should be fighting out the finish again, with luck from the potentially awkward barrier 10. The So You Think entire does face a step up in class here, but he’s continued to response as Weir has raised the bar and is rock-hard fit. Black Sail ($5.50) will also carry winning form into the race and is worth consideration at a slightly longer price. The Savabeel gelding has performed extremely well amongst tougher company than this previously and will enjoy the 1500m.