Manikato Stakes Night is always a highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival for me and shamelessly, it’s probably because I’ve had a decent run with picking the winner of the Group 1 feature.
There’s pearls of wisdom and a tip for all eight races on Manikato Stakes Night below.
This first on Manikato Stakes Night is well represented by horses from all over the country and I’m keen to have something small of West Australian raider Amelia’s On Fire. The three-year-old daughter of Sizzling dusted off the cobwebs when fourth over 1000m at Belmont last month, before comfortably winning a $100,000 three-year-old race at Ascot last time. I think she’ll enjoy further improvement into this and will take beating.
Widgee Turf is a veteran of high-paying VOBIS races, and I think he’ll just win the Gold Star at The Valley on Friday night. The Tuffontein gelding has returned to the races in typically pleasing form this time; cutting the weight off with a credible run for fifth in the Listed Chandler Macleod, before an enormous performance for third in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. He was last seen finishing midfield in the Group 1 Toorak, but this is a drop in class and his best form would see him gap these.
Double You Tee has been airborne this time and looks the one to beat in the third on Manikato Stakes Night. The Patrick Payne-trained five-year-old has posted four wins from five starts this time, including an impressive one over 2000m at Caulfield last time out. This is no harder, he’s rock-hard fit and will take beating.
There isn’t a whole lot I like more than these 955m dashes at The Valley and Friday night’s edition looks to be a sharp one.
Celtic Blast will carry good improvement into what is his second campaign start and will take beating at around the $5 mark (at publish). The Atomic gelding returned several pleasing efforts last time in and his first run this time, a smart win over 1000m at Morphettville suggested that he is in for a nice prep indeed. He’s drawn a peach and Johnny Allen has had success aboard previously.
I’ve been impressed by most of the things that Pierrocity has done this time and I think that this race looms as a nice little metro target for her. The daughter of Pierro recorded consecutive wins at Sandown and has since placed fifth in Listed company at Morphettville and fourth in a BM84 race at Caulfield. I’m looking forward to seeing her at the Cox Plate trip and I think that she can fight out the finish.
The sixth on Manikato Stakes Night boasts a field somewhat similar to this year’s Goodwood. I’m not sure if that is singing the praises of this, or if it’s a sad indictment of the quality of that Group 1 race this year.
William Thomas doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is primed to win third-up. The classy son of Nicconi resumed for a smart win over 1100m at Caulfield before finishing third at Cranbourne last time out. The small rise in trip will suit and he’ll be tough to beat.
Also keen to have something small each-way on #2 I Am Someone. He was all but unsighted in the Group 2 Gilgai first-up, but he’s a horse that typically enjoys good improvement with a run under his belt and he could prove big overs here. Paul Preusker’s horses are flying and this bloke can return another winner.
Boy I love a Group 1 race at The Valley on a Friday night and this edition of the Manikato Stakes looks a pretty open one (other than Bivouac).
I think that Bivouac is every chance of winning this race, but the $1.80 on offer is too short for me and I’m going to have a saver on something at a price and for mine, there isn’t a better one for that than Faatinah. He’s returned to the track a new horse after a preparation in the middle east and won the Group 2 Schillaci here first-up before running fourth in the Moir last time. I think the small rise in trip at this point of his prep will suit and I cannot get my head around the $17 available at publish.
Reserve Street is seeking a hat-trick of wins when he steps out in the last on Manikato Stakes Night and I’d like to think he can send us home a winner, ahead of an enormous Cox Plate Day. The Street Cry gelding has continued to improve with racing this time and this is a step up in class from wins at Bairnsdale and Tatura, but he’s rock-hard fit and has the added bonus of Ryan Moore in the saddle.