It’s not the kind of bookie-breaking dollars coming in for Winx to win the Cox Plate, but the major market mover for tonight’s Manikato Stakes 2016 at Moonee Valley is Fell Swoop.
Money is coming for Fell Swoop to win the 2016 Manikato Stakes under the lights at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Cox Plate eve. Photo: Steve Hart.
After opening at $12 in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to break his elite level maiden in the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), consistent bets placed on Matthew Dale’s galloper to outsprint his 10 rivals in the weight-for-age feature now has Fell Swoop at $8 for the win.
Running as Moonee Valley Race 7 at 9:30pm (AEDT), tonight’s Manikato Stakes field is deeper than the pockets of the punters on Winx to continue her winning streak with a 13th victory on the trot tomorrow in the Australasian weight-for-age classic.
All bar one in the line-up have at least one previous Group 1 win on the record, but the Manikato Stakes market moves suggest that will change with Fell Swoop heavily-supported to take it out.
He is drawn barrier three, which hasn’t produced a Manikato Stakes winner in over 30 years, but that hasn’t stopped the bets on the Not A Single Doubt five-year-old to win second-up and retain his undefeated status at the Valley.
2016 Manikato Stakes Betting Firmers
#8 FELL SWOOP ($12 into $8)
#9 HOLLER ($13 into $9.50)
#1 BUFFERING ($12 into $10)
Fell Swoop was last seen running third to a smart three-year-old in Star Turn at Caulfield on October 8 in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) and he’ll be fitter for the run.
He will also be better suited getting out over 1200m, a distance he boasts four wins and a second from six previous starts at.
With Hugh Bowman aboard, previous winning form at the track / distance and his second to Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in the autumn – there’s certainly plenty to suggest the money could be worth following.
There has also been money for Holler to win first-up for John O’Shea and the Godolphin stable.
The four-year-old Commands stallion is first-up and has a good record fresh (5-2-0-2), this being his first run since being outclassed for seventh in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
Before that he was runner-up to Flamberge at Moonee Valley in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m), which followed on from his Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) win in Sydney.
Also there’s been a tickle for Buffering, the nine-year-old warhorse of the field who won the race back in 2013.
He’s probably not as sharp as he once was, but his Moir Stakes fifth was brave and he loves the tight turns at the Valley (12-5-1-1).
If the champion can get to the front from barrier two, he and Damian Browne can dictate the pace and hold on for a place in the Manikato Stakes trifecta that is sure to feature the easing favourite Chautauqua ($2.35 out to $2.70) somewhere in there.
Read our insider 2016 Manikato Stakes Betting Tips and place your exotic selections on the race online at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
