MANIKATO STAKES 2020 PREVIEW
MOONEE VALLEY RACE 8 – 20:45 AEDT
OPEN
1200m
$1,000,000
GOOD 4
Rail TRUE entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 19x24 | TREKKING | JAMES CUMMINGS | J ALLEN (7) | 58.5 | $3.60 |
| 2 | 29x84 | HEY DOC | T & C MCEVOY | L CURRIE (6) | 58.5 | $10 |
| 3 | 580x4 | KEMENTARI | JAMES CUMMINGS | C WILLIAMS (5) | 58.5 | $16 |
| 4 | 1x565 | SPLINTEX | MARK NEWNHAM | K MCEVOY (9) | 58.5 | $29 |
| 5 | 53x37 | ORDER OF COMMAND | D O'BRIEN | D OLIVER (11) | 58.5 | $61 |
| 6 | 1x341 | DIRTY WORK | M HAWKES | W PIKE (3) | 58.5 | $6 |
| 7 | 3x264 | LYRE | A & S FREEDMAN | J B MC DONALD (4) | 56.5 | $19 |
| 8 | 146x1 | PIPPIE | J & C MEAGHER | D LANE (1) | 56.5 | $6 |
| 9 | 11x13 | BELLA VELLA | WILL CLARKEN | JAMIE KAH (10) | 56.5 | $13 |
| 10 | 1x152 | DIAMOND EFFORT | C MCDONALD | B MELHAM (2) | 56.5 | $8.50 |
| 11 | 5x134 | BROOKLYN HUSTLE | J WARREN & D KRONGOLD | M ZAHRA (8) | 56.5 | $11 |
OVERVIEW
A small, but quality field kicks off for this year’s Manikato Stakes, the first Group 1 of the Cox Plate weekend. Trekking is on a quick backup from Everest Day and lines up as favourite, but faces a few queries in the run. Last start Group 1 winner Pippie is the equal second favourite after a strong all the way win in the Moir Stakes and looks to get all the favours out in front again. It looks to be an open race on paper, and should set the tone for a cracking weekend of racing.
SPEED MAP
There should be a hot speed engaged here, with noted frontrunner Pippie drawn in Gate 1. She should be able to lead easily and lead them along at a genuine gallop. Hey Doc, Splintex and Bella Vella are no slouches either and they shouldn’t be far away from Pippie. Diamond Effort draws gate 2 and might be prominent as well. The rest should settle around midfield, with Brooklyn Hustle likely to be the backmarker in the race.
KEY RUNNERS
- TREKKING ($3.60)
Supremely talented horse who has scored Group 1 success in the past, and no doubt looks the class of the race again here. He’s taken on the top liners this prep, running in The Everest last start and finishing a solid fourth behind Classique Legend. Prior to that, he missed the start in the Group 1 Moir behind Pippie and ran home strongly for second. Looks a deserving favourite here.
- HEY DOC ($10)
Has flown under the radar a bit this prep, running well in both the Moir Stakes and the Schillaci Stakes. He has multiple Group 1 wins on his resume (including this race) and looks to be back in form. He looks to get the run of the race behind Pippie and will be primed for this third up. Must include.
- PIPPIE ($6)
Pippie was successful at Group 1 level first up last prep in the Oakleigh Plate and was able to produce a similar run first up this prep, when winning the Group 1 Moir Stakes. She was able to lead throughout and controlled the race to secure a strong win. Maps well out in front once again here and with the short straight at The Valley, she’ll prove extremely hard to run down again here.
BLUEY’S PICK
- PIPPIE ($6)
Trekking no doubt looks the one to beat, but I’m unsure where he’ll get to in the run and will need some luck. Pippie will make her own luck out in front and will be extremely hard to run if she can replicate her first up performance. Barrier 1 looks perfect and she’ll be in this for a long way.
