G1 Manikato Stakes to be run on Cox Plate day, after postponement
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes has been postponed after lightning near the Moonee Valley racetrack forced the stewards to make the call at around 9.45pm AEDT.
Racing was delayed at 8:56pm AEDT following the 955m race won by the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Direct owing to the stormy conditions in the north-west suburbs.
With continuous storm activity on the weather radar, Racing Victoria stewards in conjunction with the Moonee Valley Racing Club made the decision to abandon race 6, so there was a chance the Group 1 Manikato Stakes could be run and won on Friday night.
They got close, with horses in the mounting yard and some on to track for the Group 1 feature on Friday.
But a massive clap of thunder arrived two minutes prior to the jump and the decision to postpone the remainder of the races was made.
The thunder was significant enough to cause the coverage on Racing.com to lag, with the broadcast team referring to the thunder as the loudest clap they have ever heard.
All horses, jockeys and participants made it safely back to the mounting yard.
Racing Victoria made the quick decision to add the race to Saturday’s Cox Plate Day and it will be run as Race 11 and provide punters with a double group 1 race day.
Notable jockey changes will be required with Hugh Bowman (Eleven Eleven), Kerrin McEvoy (September Run) and Blake Shinn (The Inferno) all riding at Randwick for Spring Champion Stakes Day.