The 2014 Manikato Stakes, running at Moonee Valley this Friday night, has attracted some of the country’s best sprinting stars, offering punters a variety of excellent betting options.
Lankan Rupee is favourite for the Manikato Stakes alongside Terravista. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
A field of 12 sprinters will take each other on in the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), running as Race 7 at 9:45pm (AEDT).
Betting trends would suggest there are three runners in particular who have a chance of winning the race. Lankan Rupee and Terravista are co-favourites in the Manikato Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, both paying $3.90. Meanwhile Buffering is hot on their trail at $5.50.
Mick Price’s Lankan Rupee will start from barrier nine with Craig Newitt in the saddle. The gelding has plenty of success at both the top level of racing and the distance of the Manikato, winning the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) earlier this year.
The five-year-old has had two starts this season, both of which he missed out on by just a neck. However he has not finished outside the top three since March, 2013 and his price has been consistent in the betting, going from $3.80 out to just $3.90.
Terravista surprised many when he opened the 2014 Manikato Stakes betting market as favourite, considering he has yet to race at this level against such quality opposition. His price has continued to lengthen but not by much. He’s gone from $3.20 to $3.90 to meet Lankan Rupee.
The Joseph Pride-trained gelding will start from barrier seven with Nash Rawiller to ride. He has won his last two starts including the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) on September 20.
Robert Heathcote’s Buffering is also solid in betting, having firmed from $6.50 to $5.50. The defending Manikato Stakes champion scored an ideal start from barrier four especially considering many of the other fancied runners have drawn wide.
The seven-year-old had three consecutive third finishes to his name during winter racing but returned to winning form in his first spring start – the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) – beating the favourite Lankan Rupee.
There are also some sprinters with lucrative double digit odds who could easily cause an upset over the favourites.
Angelic Light is the market mover at Ladbrokes.com.au, seeing her price shorten from $15 to $10 just outside the single figure market.
The Robbie Griffith-trained mare won the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on September 6 before giving it her all in the Moir Stakes, with a fast-finishing fourth place.
She will jump from midfield in barrier six with Damien Oliver to ride, with the advantage of carrying two kilos less than many of her rivals.
Moment Of Change is a well-priced $18 according to managing part-owner Rob Slade who feels the gelding should be an $8 chance.
The multiple Group One winner has seen his price come in from $21 but Slade believes he’s the forgotten horse of the Manikato after pulling a muscle in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), which saw him finish last in the August 30 race.
“He’s absolute over the muscle issue,” Slade told Racing Network on Thursday.
“In the last few weeks his work has gone from pleasing, to terrific to super and Peter (trainer, Peter Moody) feels he’s got him right where he wants him now,” he added.
With so many excellent runners on the field, you’ll be hard-pressed to find just one to back. Lucky you can get $500 worth of free bets when you make your first bet with online bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au!
Check out the full list of 2014 Manikato Stakes odds below and pick your winners.
