The feature race at Moonee Valley this Friday night is the Manikato Stakes (1200m), where Lady Shenandoah dominates betting.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Manikato Stakes.
2025 Manikato Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Rothfire: Didn’t have the best of lucks in the Moir but that said, it was a bunched finish, host of unlucky runners, and does get Nash on…but for mine, he’s not the horse he was a couple of years ago.
2. Baraqiel: You had to like the way he dug in late to surge and take out the Moir. Rising to 1200m is ideal, he’ll land on speed and be strong late…he can win.
3. Payline: He seems a massive price. He was held up in the Moir but was clear and was strong to/through the line in defeat. 1200m is fine, he’ll likely get back and get a drag into the race…$51+ seems a tad silly.
4. Sir Sway: Four wide no cover in the Moir and tired late. Nice horse but is better in much easier races than this.
5. Magic Time: Magic Time is a ripper for Beggy and maps to get every chance. She resumed with a bang in the Cockram, giving them a start and a beating. She’ll be strong late. Just depends how she goes around The Valley.
6. Lady Shenandoah: Lady Shenandoah, despite the wide draw, is clearly top seed for this race. She resumed in the Concorde and clearly should have won, having no luck at any stage in what turned out to be an ugly watch when second to Headwall. If she overcomes the draw, she has plenty on these.
7. Charm Stone: Charm Stone is an interesting runner. She resumes for Price/Kent, having not raced since the Goodwood when down the track behind stablemate Reserve Bank, which followed a sharp victory in the Robert Sangster. Looks to have trialled well, watch betting.
8. Skybird: Is she overrated? I am saying yes. Lightning winner yes, but the Moir…she was the ugly watch, but to counter that, she did bludge in the run and did no work, so IMO, it was flattering, and not enough to say she should be a winning threat here.
9. Alabama Lass: Kiwi raider that is just so damn genuine. Tried her guts out in the Moir but just found one better in Baraqiel. 1200m is fine, good racing style…has to be given serious respect.
10. Ameena: Didn’t think she did a bad job fresh in the Sheraco. I know connections are desperate to get a Group 1 with her hence running here. She seems a big price vs some others here because she does have the talent to measure up.
Manikato Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROTHFIRE | Robert Heathcote | Nash Rawiller | 8 | 58.5kg |
| 2 | BARAQIEL | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | Ben Allen | 7 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | PAYLINE | Chris & Corey Munce | Justin Huxtable | 9 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | SIR SWAY | Sue & Jason Jaensch | Lachlan Neindorf | 3 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 1 | 56.5kg |
| 6 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 10 | 56.5kg |
| 7 | CHARM STONE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Blake Shinn | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 8 | SKYBIRD | Mitchell Freedman | John Allen | 6 | 56.5kg |
| 9 | ALABAMA LASS | Ken & Bev Kelso | Craig Williams | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 10 | AMEENA | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 4 | 56.5kg |
Manikato Stakes Odds
2025 Manikato Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$100 Place Magic Time Mid Tote
Group 1 Strategy Outlay: $600
Group 1 Strategy Return: $365
2025 Manikato Stakes Speed Map
Sir Sway has early speed but not enough I don’t think to hold off Baraqiel and Rothfire, who look the 1-2. Magic Time should lob, maybe box seat, but potentially could be three back. Lady Shenandoah likely drifts back, as does Payline. Alabama Lass could settle handy.