Friday night racing at The Valley is back and I couldn’t be more excited for the Manikato Stakes.
I don’t think that I have a better record in Group 1 features than I do in those under lights at The Valley… other than when I potted Nature Strip mercilessly less than a month ago.
I’m confident of climbing back into the winner’s stall and my 2019 Manikato Stakes tips can be found below.
Suggested Bets
- 1 Unit E/W #3 Faatinah
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
Typically, I like to stay away from odds-on favourites, particularly when they are three years old in an open field, but Bivouac is a genuine star and I think he’ll be crowed the Manikato Stakes winner. The Exceed And Excel colt is yet to run a bad race in nine career starts and has recorded three wins from four this time, including a smart win over subsequent The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes in the Group 1 Golden Rose. He’s weighted to win and won’t mind dropping back in trip.
Faatinah has returned to racing in excellent form this time and is over the odds in Manikato Stakes betting ($17 at publish). The Nicconi gelding returned from a competitive preparation in the middle east for a dominant win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes here at The Valley, before another good effort to finish fourth in the Group 1 Moir last time out. I think that the small rise in trip at this point of his prep will suit and he’ll only improve third-up.
The Bostonian is obviously a classy type and is up to running a place in the Manikato Stakes 2019. The five-year-old son of Jimmy Choux showed us what he could do in winter by winning a couple of Group 1 features in Brisbane, and I loved the way he hit the line for third behind Trekking in the Group 2 Schillaci a fortnight ago; form that has since been franked with that horse running an enormous third in The Everest. He can find a prominent position from barrier 3 and will take beating.
I think that Loving Gabby might have suffered from a little ‘second-up syndrome’ last time out and she looms as a genuine light-weight chance in Manikato Stakes betting. The I Am Invincible filly’s first-up run in the Scarborough at this track and distance could hardly have been more impressive and there was a still plenty to like about her performance for second in the Thoroughbred Club last time out – I think the winner of that race might be a smart one.