Manikato Stakes betting tips, form and odds, Friday October 27
THE Group 1 Manikato Stakes runs this Friday night at Moonee Valley and we have free tips, form and odds for the entire card.
The $1 million sprinting feature includes some of Australia’s best stars with Chautauqua, Vega Magic and In Her Time set to scorch the turf at Moonee Valley at Friday night.
It promises to be great night of punting and if you sign up to CrownBet.com.au, you will get a rewards points offer on races 4-8.
Race 1 – MSC Handicap (2040m)
Dodging Bullets has improved with every run this campaign and it comes into this on the back of consecutive placings. The Symon Wilde-trained six-year-old was working home well behind Odeon at Caulfield last start and it has form at Moonee Valley. It will likely open as the favourite in a small, but select field.
Extra Zero isn’t getting any younger, but the 11-year-old continues to run. The Lindsay Park-trained stalwart is seeking its first win at Moonee Valley and it has a chance if it can replicate the form it showed at Flemington earlier this year. Winning here will be tough, but the crowd will be cheering.
Race 1 tip: Dodging Bullets to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Chandler MacLeod Country Cup (1600m)
Master Reset is a master at running well second up. The Matt Laurie-trained six-year-old has won four of its six second-up starts and the statistics read well. The son of Reset has also won three of its six starts at The Valley and four of 12 at this distance. Improvement will be needed on its fresh up effort, but history tells us it will improve.
Rock of Mahal scored a tough win at Cranbourne last start and it has the fitness under its belt now. The Brent Stanley-trained five-year-old burst through runners in the straight and it landed some good bets. It will likely be paying better odds in this and it could represent each way value.
Race 2 tip: Master Reset to win at Neds.com.au
Race 3 – BM84 Handicap (1500m)
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Fox Hall is an up-and-coming talent which has a stakes win next to its name. The Tony McEvoy-trained four-year-old won the Nitschke Stakes in Adelaide in April and it has since won by 2.25 lengths at Cranbourne. The professional son of Foxwedge is cutting out a nice career and this looks like only a moderate field for a stake of $130,000.
Shards is running out of chances, but the talent is there. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding placed behind Antonio Guiseppe at Rosehill last year, but its form since has been average. There were glimpses of a return to form when running third at Morphettville last start, but it would be wise to wait for a significant push in the betting.
Race 3 tip: Fox Hall to win at Unibet.com.au
Race 4 – Mitchelson Wines Handicap (1000m)
Madeenaty is a real speedster, but it needs to pick the jump. That didn’t happen last start, but its effort to run third behind Super Too was an amazing performance. The three-year-old filly has yet to miss a placing from five starts at this distance and they will have a tough time reeling it in if it gets to the front after the jump. Only drawing barrier nine will make this tough.
Smart Coupe is an unbeaten filly which won by 2.75 lengths on debut over Fox Swift before making it two-from-two at Sandown last start. That 1.25-length win was a solid front-running performance and it should have no problems finding the lead from barrier two. How hard it works in front will depend on Madeenaty, but consider for win bets.
Race 4 tip: Madeenaty to win at Neds.com.au
Race 5 – 55 Second Challenge (955m)
Mile High is looking to join the club of 55 Second Challenge winners and it should get conditions to suit. The four-year-old has won three of its last five starts and getting Craig Williams in the saddle with a light weight is going to give it every chance of winning.
Danuki turned around some poor form with a quality placing at Cranbourne last start. Its form prior had come up in grade at Caulfield and it’s simply not good enough to be running against those types. This will suit perfectly and it has gone close at Moonee Valley in the past with three placings from four starts.
Race 5 tip: Mile High to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – The Emerson Handicap (2040m)
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Smart As You Think was a good thing beaten at Cranbourne last start. The John McArdle-trained four-year-old was held up at a vital stage in the Pinker Pinker Plate, but it still managed to run within a length of the winner. Its form prior included a strong performance behind I Am a Star and that form is tops for this.
Sebring Dream has always had a big following and that loyalty paid off last start. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained stayer won at Moonee Valley against a nice field and the stakes-placed runner is starting to live up to its potential. Stepping up in distance is going to be ideal and it’s weighted well for this.
Race 6 tip: Sebring Dream to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m)
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Vega Magic is the clear favourite with bookmakers and it’s not hard to see why. The talented sprinter for Lindsay Park was a little unlucky to not finish closer in The Everest, after travelling wide throughout. The former Perth sprinting star is having its first run around The Valley which is a major concern, but Lindsay Park is firing on all cylinders at the moment and we wouldn’t doubt their education process. $2.25 available with most bookmakers.
In Her Time is also having its first start at Moonee Valley, but it’s hard to overlook its recent form. The Ben Smith-trained five-year-old won the Sydney Stakes (Everest Consolation) last start in a quick time. It was good enough to beat English prior to that and it will enjoy jumping from barrier two. That should allow it to find the rails, which helps around this track and it could push Vega Magic close with everything going its way in the run.
Race 7 tip: Vega Magic to win ($2.25) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 8 – Fashion Group Handicap (1200m)
Miss Gunpowder is quality at best and it’s coming off a nice fourth in the Northwood Plume. The daughter of Pendragon was good enough to run at group one level in the Tatt’s Tiara last campaign and most of its opposition can’t say that. It has won three times over this distance and although it’s better suited with a long straight, it could sustain a lengthy run around the outside of runners.
Demonstrate typically improves second up and it battled on well enough behind So You Too last start. The James Cummings-trained runner is another which has mixed it against some nice fields and it just needs a touch of luck to figure in the finish here.
Race 8 tip: Miss Gunpowder to win at Sportsbet.com.au