Manikato Stakes
Manikato Stakes
Group One Betting Guide
Date: | Friday, September 26, 2025 |
Location: | Moonee Valley Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria |
Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
Distance: | 1200m |
The Manikato Stakes is one of the sprinting highlights of the spring carnival.
The Group 1 weight-for-age sprint is worth $1 million and is run at Moonee Valley in late September. Run over 1200m, the Manikato Stakes is a fast-and-furious sprint around the tight track which makes for great viewing.
There have been plenty of champion winners over the course of history, most notably the mares. Imperatriz, Gold Edition, Miss Andretti, Spinning Hill and Sunline have all won the Manikato Stakes.
2024 Manikato Stakes betting odds
Mankato Stakes 2025 betting markets are currently unavailable.
Best Manikato Stakes bookmakers
All of our recommended online bookmakers offer betting on the Manikato Stakes, but many of them wait until nominations have been received.
Betting typically opens around August for the Manikato Stakes and the following bookmakers will supply all the necessary information, markets and odds.
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Latest Manikato Stakes News
2025 Manikato Stakes Final Field
HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Mankato Stakes final field is released.
Previous Manikato Stakes Fields
Plenty of Group 1 sprinting sensations have won the Manikato Stakes. Check the previous fields of the Manikato out here.
1. I Wish I Win (12)
- T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman
- J: Luke Nolen
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 5×123
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Black
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: Make a Wish (NZ)
2. Veight (9)
- T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 58.5kg
- F: x1241
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Grunt (NZ)
- Dam: Neena Rock
3. Recommendation (5)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 111×6
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Shalaa (IRE)
- Dam: Adviso (USA)
4. Southport Tycoon (3)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 2×24
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Ready to Rule (USA)
5. Johnny Rocker (13)
- T: Nick Ryan
- J: Ben Melham
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 7×082
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Jukebox
- Dam: Margene
6. Caballus (8)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: Joshua Parr
- W: 58.5kg
- F: 9×311
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Calming Influence
7. Chain Of Lightning (4)
- T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 8×661
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Grey
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Fighting Sun
- Dam: Magic Art
8. Estriella (10)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 4×511
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Madrigals
9. Kimochi (6)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 1×937
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Brave Smash (JPN)
- Dam: Summer Fun
10. Climbing Star (11)
- T: Phillip Stokes
- J: Daniel Stackhouse
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x3121
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Bryony
11. Coleman (1)
- T: Matt Laurie
- J: Kerrin McEvoy
- W: 52kg
- F: 6×323
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Pierata
- Dam: Sboog
12. Growing Empire (7)
- T: Growing Empire
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 52kg
- F: 11×11
- Age: 2YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Miles of Krishnan
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 The Inferno Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 3 58.5kg 2 Buenos Noches Matthew Smith Blake Shinn 5 58.5kg 3 Uncommon James Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted Damian Lane 2 58.5kg 4 Jigsaw Cindy Alderson Daniel Moor 7 58.5kg 5 I Am War Trevor Andrews Jamie Mott 1 58.5kg 6 Imperatriz Mark Walker Opie Bosson 4 56.5kg 7 I Am Me Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 6 56.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Behemoth David Jolly Ben Melham 16 58.5kg 2 Eleven Eleven Gregory Hickman Hugh Bowman 7 58.5kg 3 Streets Of Avalon Shane Nichols Zac Spain 10 58.5kg 4 The InfernoCliff BrownBlake Shinn1758.5kg5 Paulele James Cummings James McDonald 6 58.5kg 6 ShaqueroChris WallerBrett Prebble1258.5kg7 Rothfire Robert Heathcote Damian Lane 5 58.5kg 8 The Astrologist Leon & Troy Corstens Fred Kersley 8 58.5kg 9 September Run Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 13 56.5kg 10 Bella Nipotina Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Williams 2 56.5kg 11 Roch ‘N’ HorseMike MoroneyPatrick Moloney1556.5kg12 JamaeaRobert & Luke PriceJye McNeil956.5kg13 Best Of Bordeaux Kacy Fogden Tim Clark 14 53kg 14 CoolangattaCiaron Maher & David EustaceJamie Kah151kg15 Savatoxl (1E) Tony & Calvin McEvoy Linda Meech 18 58.5kg 16 General Beau (2E)Mathew EllertonTBC1158.5kg17 In The BoatLindsey SmithBlaike McDougall358.5kg18 Sweet Ride Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 4 53kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Streets Of Avalon Shane Nichols Zac Spain 9 58.5kg 2 Jonker Tony Gollan Daniel Moor 5 58.5kg 3 DespatchTony & Calvin McEvoyDean Holland458.5kg4 Savatoxl Tony & Calvin McEvoy Luke Currie 8 58.5kg 5 Express Pass Nick Ryan Rhys McLeod 11 58.5kg 6 Lombardo Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Jye McNeil 3 58.5kg 7 Away Game Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Linda Meech 13 56.5kg 8 Bella Nipotina Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 1 56.5kg 9 Swats That Leon & Troy Corstens Damien Oliver 12 56.5kg 10 La Mexicana Anthony & Sam Freedman Damian Lane 10 56.5kg 11 Ingratiating James Cummings Craig Williams 7 53kg 12 Sneaky Five Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dean Yendall 6 51kg 13 Crystal Bound Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Damien Thornton 2 51kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Trekking James Cummings John Allen 7 58.5kg 2 Hey Doc Tony & Calvin McEvoy Luke Currie 6 58.5kg 3 Kementari James Cummings Craig Williams 5 58.5kg 4 Splintex Mark Newnham Kerrin McEvoy 9 58.5kg 5 Order Of CommandDanny O’BrienDamien Oliver1158.5kg6 Dirty Work Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes William Pike 3 58.5kg 7 Lyre Anthony & Sam Freedman James McDonald 4 56.5kg 8 Pippie John & Chris Meagher Damian Lane 1 56.5kg 9 Bella Vella Will Clarken Jamie Kah 10 56.5kg 10 Diamond EffortClinton McDonaldBen Melham256.5kg11 Brooklyn Hustle Jason Warren & Dean Krongold Mark Zahra 8 56.5kg
2024 Manikato Stakes result
1st – Imperatriz (+2000)
2nd – Growing Empire (-111.11)
3rd – I Wish I Win (-142.86)
Recent winners of the Manikato Stakes
- Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra have combined with Southport Tycoon ($21) to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by nosing out his stablemate Growing Empire ($3.80) on the line to take out the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Maher trained four of the 12 runners in the Moonee Valley feature, but of those, Southport Tycoon would have been his fourth seed, and the three-year-old colt was his best chance. However, the lack of experience may have told in the concluding stages with Growing Empire, who appeared to float in the final 50m and potentially threw the race away by doing so. As expected, the tempo was very strong as Estriella ($8) crossed the field to lead from Growing Empire, and they put two lengths on the rest of the field by the halfway point. Growing Empire gave a strong kick upon straightening and appeared to have the race within his keeping, but it was Southport Tycoon who got into clear air and sprouted wings late. Mark Zahra took an inside run along the rail and gave the eventual winner a peach of a ride to flash home before putting in a big dive on the line to claim the victory in a photo finish.
- Mark Walker’s star sprinter Imperatriz ($1.40) has become the third horse in history to complete the Moir Stakes/Manikato Stakes double, joining Manikato and Spinning Hill as the only horses to win the Group 1 features in the same season at Moonee Valley. The daughter of I Am Invincible has continued her winning ways this preparation, taking her record to three wins from as many starts, with Opie Bosson jumping back aboard for her dominant win in the Manikato Stakes. After seeing several leaders and on-speed runners win in the first seven races at The Valley, Bosson took luck out of the equation and went to the front with his star mare and lead from start to finish. As the rest of the field were making their moves and trying to pick up on the eventual winner, she continued to build more of a margin and had put the race to bed by the 200m mark when she led by four lengths. I Am Me ($6.00) and Uncommon James ($10.00) chased gamely in second and third, respectively, but they were no match for the winner.
- Having been rescheduled to be run on Cox Plate Day for the first time in history, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Bella Nipotina smashed her rivals in the Manikato Stakes. With all of her rivals wanting to edge of the fence, Craig Williams opted to hug the rails throughout and the move proved to be a winning one. The mare would go on to put 4.75-lengths on Rothfire when claiming her maiden Group 1 success.
- The Tony Gollan trained 6 year old stallion put a show on for all to see at Moonee Valley for his first Group One win in the Maniakto Stakes. Daniel Moor was able to get the stallion to the front of the pack where he then led the entire way fending off Bella Nipotina right at the posts.
- Having won back in 2017, Hey Doc turned back the clock when claiming the 2020 Manikato Stakes in impressive fashion. Having settled in the one-one, Luke Currie produced him at the top of the straight where he was able to get the better of leader Pippie and hold off the likes of Dirty Work and Trekking over the final 100m to claim his second Manikato. He joins the likes of Spinning Hill and Spark Of Life to claim consecutive Manikato Stakes since 2000.
- Craig Williams made it back to back wins in the Manikato Stakes, when giving Loving Gaby a peach of ride as Loving Gaby makes Manikato history. Entering the home straight the filly was badly held up and it looked like she may have been a good thing beat, but with 150 metres to go, she found clear air and produced an electric turn of foot to take out the Manikato Stakes.
- In what will be looked upon as one of his best ever runs, Brave Smash closed late to secure the 2018 Manikato Stakes. An early race move from Craig Williams saw the horse amble up to the leaders just before the turn and Brave Smash responded when he needed to, closing to the line to win ahead of Irish invader Spirit Of Valor.
- There was plenty of drama before and after the race, but Hey Doc was simply too speedy for its opposition. The Tony McEvoy-trained runner crossed to the front just after the start and it was never headed. There was a protest lodged by the connections of In Her Time, stating that Hey Doc crossed too closely to the Queensland-based mare, but it was quickly dismissed. Race favourite Vega Magic didn’t run well and the drama before the race included the scratching of Chautauqua and the decision to clear English. Read our take here.
- Rebel Dane caused a big upset in 2016 when winning at odds of $51. The Gary Portelli-trained gelding used the inside part of the Moonee Valley track when rival runners searched wide, but with a steady ride from Ben Melham, Rebel Dane was able to secure another Group one win. 2015 winner Chautauqua didn’t fire in the straight and 2013 winner Buffering was retired following its run. Read race report here.
- Champion grey Chautauqua was a blistering winner in 2015 with its patented come-from-behind style. The Team Hawkes-trained star was heavily favoured to win at odds of $2.25 and it didn’t let punters down in one of the most exciting finishes in the races’ history.
- If you want to see one of the busiest finishes ever at Moonee Valley, the Youtube the 2014 Manikato Stakes. Lankan Rupee came into the race as the raging-hot favourite and closed at around $1.35 with most bookmakers. Punters had nervous moments throughout the 1200m race as a swarm of horses were spread across the straight with Lankan Rupee sticking its nose out on the line.
- Buffering is another Manikato Stakes winner which has tasted success overseas. The Robert Heathcote-trained sprinter has since won in Dubai and although it paid $6.50 to win the Manikato in 2013, the win didn’t really come as a surprise to anyone. The 2013 edition was an international affair with Hong Kong’s Lucky Nine finishing into second placing with Darley’s Sessions in third. Buffering continues to run at an elite level and it shows just how important a Manikato Stakes win is.
Previous Manikato Stakes winners
Manikato StakesPast Winners | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
2024 | Southport Tycoon | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher |
2023 | Imperatriz | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker |
2022 | Bella Nipotina | Craig Williams | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
2021 | Jonker | Daniel Moor | Tony Gallon |
2020 | Hey Doc | Luke Currie | Tony & Calvin 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 | Team Hawkes |
2014 | Lankan Pupee | 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 |
2009 | Danleigh | Kerrin McEvoy | Chris Waller |
2008 | Typhoon Zed | Nash Rawiller | Tim Martin |
2007 | Gold Edition | Stathi Katsidis | Ron Maund |
2006 | Miss Andretti | Craig Newitt | Lee Freedman |
2005 | Spark Of Life | Glen Boss | Allan Denham |
2004 | Spark Of Life | Danny Nikolic | Allan Denham |
2003 | Spinning Hill | Patrick Payne | Guy Walter |
2002 | Spinning Hill | Patrick Payne | Guy Walter |
2001 | Piavonic | Nash Rawiller | Tony Noonan |
2000 | Sunline | Greg Childs | Trevor McKee |
Manikato Stakes winners pre-2000
Manikato Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Horse | ||
1999 | Redoute’s Choice | ||
1998 | Dane Ripper | ||
1997 | Spartacus | ||
1996 | Poetic King | ||
1995 | You Remember | ||
1994 | Spanish Mix | ||
1993 | Never Undercharge | ||
1992 | King Marauding | ||
1991 | Sonic Express | ||
1990 | Street Ruffian | ||
1989 | Our Westminstery | ||
1988 | Rancho Ruler | ||
1987 | Rubiton | ||
1986 | Lockley’s Tradition | ||
1985 | Touch Of Genius | ||
1984 | Vite Cheval | ||
1983 | Strawberry Road | ||
1982 | Manikato | ||
1981 | Silver Bounty | ||
1980 | Grey Sapphire | ||
1979 | Manikato | ||
1978 | Vice Regal | ||
1977 | Ease The Squeeze | ||
1976 | Scamanda | ||
1975 | Lord Dudley | ||
1974 | Tauto | ||
1973 | Tauto | ||
1972 | Century | ||
1971 | Dual Choice | ||
1970 | Dual Choice | ||
1969 | Vain | ||
1968 | Winfreux |
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