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Manikato Stakes tips and preview

The Everest (yeah, the one from the Opera House ads) (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Expert
26th October, 2017
9

This weekend, all minds are on Winx’s attempt for a third Cox Plate, previewed yesterday here on the The Roar. But tonight sees the Manikato Stakes meeting, where the best sprinters get their chance to shine around the tight Moonee Valley circuit.

The Everest was the hottest sprint race in the country this season, and three runners from that inaugural event take their place in the Manikato field.

Vega Magic is the ruling favourite after his sensational second place in The Everest, not quite able to reel Redzel in after being forced to go further back in the field than intended due to a sticky barrier. He produced the run of the race, despite not winning, and is drawn to absolute perfection here to make amends up on the speed.

Chautauqua, winner of the 2015 Manikato Stakes in memorable style, was fourth in The Everest, putting in his usual fast finish from last. He was only three-quarters of a length from Vega Magic there, on a day it wasn’t easy to make ground.

The question about the ‘Grey Flash’ these days is whether he is getting too far out of his ground, and thus unable to overtake genuine Group 1 opposition, particularly those settling up on the speed.

English ran well in The Everest, as she always does, even though the racebooks says she finished sixth. It was a hot field, and she handled herself well. She was beaten two lengths in the Manikato last year, and will be somewhere around the mark again, even if you couldn’t trust her to get the job done.

Another mare that ran on Everest day might just be the hardest for Vega Magic to beat, even though she wasn’t in the main race.

Chautauqua - horse racing

(Photo: AAP)

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In Her Time won the Sydney Stakes, after also taking out the Premiere Stakes first-up when beating the likes of English and Chautauqua. She’ll find a beautiful trailing position from barrier two, and appears tractable enough that taking on Moonee Valley for the first time shouldn’t prove an issue.

The Moir Stakes, run over 1000m at Moonee Valley a month ago and won by She Will Reign, is the other key form reference coming into the Manikato.

Viddora was exceptional getting nosed out for second in the Moir, after putting in a terrific sharp finishing burst along the inside, and can now be taken seriously at Group 1 level. She’s finished first or second at her last six starts, so is as honest as they come, but her racing pattern makes it hard for her to always win.

There wasn’t much between Rock Magic, Voodoo Lad and Malaguerra in the Moir, one-and-a-half to two lengths behind the winner.

Rock Magic has since run a very good third to Super Cash in the Schillaci, confirming that he has brought his Perth form over to the eastern seaboard, and must be respected in anything he contests. Whether he quite has the quality to beat them all is the question.

Malaguerra is something of an enigma, as befitting the eccentric Gelagotis brothers that look after him. He ran very well from the tail of the field in the Moir, and is always at his best off a freshen. Damien Oliver has to decide whether to go forward or back from the widest gate.

Voodoo Lad wasn’t suited dropping back to 1000m, and he will benefit from the rise to 1200m more than most. He’s two from two at the Moonee Valley 1200m and would be at his best sweeping into the race around the bend, but drawing barrier one may not allow him to unleash his full potential.

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Super Cash confirmed her status as an outstanding first-up sprinter in taking out the Schillaci, enjoying a cosy run behind the speed and putting them away at her favoured Caulfield. Her second-up record isn’t quite as devastating given she is usually stepping up in grade, as she is here, but she always runs well.

Spieth fell a nose short in two Group 1 WFA races last season, the VRC Classic and the Lightning Stakes, but seems to get worse every time he steps out since then.

His run in the Gilgai last start was plain, at best, but we saw Silent Sedition come off a similar run in that race to perform very well last week. Still, he can probably only be taken on trust at this point, and perhaps Moonee Valley will bring out his best.

Hey Doc is the interesting runner, a Group 1 performer at a mile in his three-year-old season, but unable to quite match it with the best at 1400m and 1600m this spring after graduating to WFA racing. He won the Aurie’s Star at 1200m to open his campaign, and is going to be set for the shorter trips from now on. Whether he’s quite good enough, remains to be seen.

Vega Magic is the likely leader from his good date, with no other natural front-runner in the race. In Her Time won’t be far away, Super Cash will be handy, and English may take up a more forward position after getting right back at her last two starts.

Malaguerra and Hey Doc are the other horses that can take a position if connections lean that way from wider barriers, but they can’t afford to do too much work to get there in a field of this quality.

Selections: 1.Vega Magic 2.In Her Time 3.English 4.Chautauqua

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