Manikato Stakes: Moonee Valley 1200m

Race Overview

date Sat 26 Oct 2024
track Moonee Valley
distance 1200m
conditions WFA
status Group 1
prizemoney $2,000,000

The Manikato Stakes, first run in 1968 as the Freeway Stakes and assigned Group 1 status in 1989, is the support Group 1 to Cox Plate weekend at Moonee Valley. It has mixed between the Saturday and Friday night over the years, and also been moved around a bit in the spring.

Manikato himself won the race in 1979 and 1982, and other notable winners include Vain, Rubiton, Dane Ripper, Redoute’s Choice, Sunline, Miss Andretti, Hay List, Buffering and Chautauqua. The quality of the race has been diluted in recent seasons, given the inception of The Everest up in Sydney, with the Manikato Stakes struggling to attract the elite horses on a one or two week turnaround after such a big race.

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2023 MANIKATO STAKES PREVIEW

Imperatriz finds herself nine ratings points clear of her nearest rivals, which gives her a decisive advantage at weight-for-age. Her last three runs, all of which have been at Moonee Valley, have seen her run two track records at 1000m, and also a Group 1 win over the 1200m that she runs on Saturday. It’s impossible to find a weakness, and it’s almost a case of “any odds are good odds”.

Buenos Noches has to be seen as the main danger, if only because form from The Everest stands up year after year, and deserves to be trusted until proven otherwise. That said, he was one of few disappointing runs in that race, and it could be that he much prefers the sting out of the track as opposed to firm going. If so, Moonee Valley should be to his liking.

Uncommon James was third behind Imperatriz in the Moir Stakes. He’s an Oakleigh Plate winner that always runs well, and is capable of giving the favourite a scare if she is not at her best.

I Am Me is a bit of fresh blood, even though she’s a five-year-old mare. A winner of nine races from her 16 starts, her Sydney Stakes win last start was against a good field, and shows that she hasn’t reached a ceiling yet.

Selections: 1.Imperatriz 2.Buenos Noches 3.Uncommon James 4.I Am Me

Past Winners Of The Manikato Stakes

YEAR HORSE JOCKEY TRAINERS
2023 Imperatriz Opie Bosson Mark Walker
2022 Bella Nipotina Craig Williams Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
2021 Jonker Daniel Moor Tony Gollan
2020 Hey Doc Luke Currie Tony McEvoy
2019 Loving Gaby Craig Williams Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
2018 Brave Smash Hugh Bowman Darren Weir
2017 Hey Doc Luke Currie Tony McEvoy
2016 Rebel Dane Ben Melham Gary Portelli
2015 Chautauqua Tommy Berry Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
2014 Lankan Rupee Craig Newitt Mick Price
2013 Buffering Damian Browne Robert Heathcote
2012 Sea Siren Jim Cassidy John O'Shea
2011 Sepoy Kerrin McEvoy Peter Snowden
2010 Hay List Glyn Schofield John McNair

2022 MANIKATO STAKES REPLAY