Manikato Stakes moved to Cox Plate meeting

After the Moonee Valley meeting was abandoned on Friday night, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes has been transferred to Cox Plate Day.

Lightning has brought about an end to the Manikato Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley, but the Group 1 race has been added to Saturday’s Cox Plate card.

The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) will be run as race 11 on Saturday’s card and is scheduled to be run at 6.25pm.

Riders had mounted for the Manikato Stakes on Friday night in an attempt to run the Group 1 race before lights had to be shutdown at 10.30pm.

The meeting was abandoned at 9.45pm after an earlier lightning strike put the meeting back.

Riders had mounted for the sixth race of Friday night’s program, but a lightning strike forced horses back to the stalls.

In a bid to run the Manikato Stakes, Racing Victoria stewards abandoned race six.

During the delay, 6mm of rain fell resulting in the track being downgraded from a Good 3 to a Good 4 forcing NSW trainer Luke Price to scratch his mare Jamaea from the Manikato Stakes.

Rob Montgomery, the steward in charge of Friday night’s meeting, said advise from the weather bureau was there had been a small window to run the Manikato Stakes.

“We monitored the situation ourselves but we’re also in constant contact with the Weather Bureau,” Montgomery said.

“They advised there was a slow storm coming down from Seymour and we thought we had enough of a gap to fit in between the storm.

“Obviously, we didn’t. We thought we were doing the right thing, but you can’t judge the weather.

“It’s not fair on the riders, it’s not fair on the horses, so the safest bet was to abandon the meeting.

“It’s unfortunate for the Club.”