<p>The Manikato Stakes, run over 1200m at Moonee Valley, is widely regarded as the premier sprint race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The race has been rescheduled since its inception in 1968 (when it was first named the Freeway Stakes), with the most recent change occurring in 2024, from Cox Plate Day (late in October) to its current late September slot, to lend it more credibility as a lead-up to The Everest, held at Randwick in mid-October.</p> <p>Significantly, mares have a wonderful record in the Manikato Stakes with 12 winners. This year the race is dominated by top-class mares.<br /> <br /> Outstanding horses to win a Manikato Stakes include Imperatriz, Bella Nipotina, Chautauqua, Lankan Rupee, Buffering, Sepoy, Hay List, Miss Andretti, Sunline, Redoute’s Choice Rubiton, Strawberry Road, Vain, Dual Choice, Winfreux and the great horse himself, Manikato, who won it in 1979 and 1982. The race has been named after him since 1985.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year’s Manikato Stakes was won by the Ciaron Maher-trained Southport Tycoon (ridden by Mark Zahra), who produced a withering finish to run down stablemate Growing Empire in a thrilling finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manikato Stakes 2025 Preview and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Track:</strong> Moonee Valley.</p> <p><strong>Distance/type: </strong>1200m. Weight-for-age.</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Friday night, 26 September.</p> <p><strong>Total prizemoney:</strong> $2,000,000.</p> <p><strong>First prize:</strong> $1,200,000.</p> <p><strong>Manikato Stakes – Race and Time:</strong> Race 7 (9.15 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Weather and Track</h2> <p>The Moonee Valley track was rated a Soft 5 on Wednesday. The BOM is&nbsp; predicting showers over the next two days, but nothing serious. The surface can be expected to remain in the low Soft range, but could get to Good 4 by race time.</p> <p>The rail is out 3 metres for the entire circuit. The most recent Moonee Valley meeting was on September 6 (Moir Stakes meeting; Good 4) when the rail was out 5m. Horses came off the pace to win that day.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p>Only three trainers with starters in this year’s Manikato Stakes field can claim to have won it previously.</p> <p>Chris Waller has the favourite Lady Shenandoah. He won the Manikato with Danleigh in 2009. Rob Heathcote, whose oldtimer Rothfire finished second in the 2022 Manikato and returns for redemption, won the race with Buffering in 2013. Mick Price, now training in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, won the 2014 Manikato Stakes with Lankan Rupee.</p> <p>Chris Munce (training in partnership with his son Cory) won seven Victorian Group 1 races as a jockey, including the 2004 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Savabeel. Now, as a prominent trainer, he will saddle up Payline as his first Manikato Stakes runner as a trainer.</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p>The late Frank Reys holds the record for the most Manikato Stakes wins. His four came quickly on two horses in five years – Dual Choice (1970-71) and Tauto (1973-74).</p> <p>Of the 10 jockeys with a ride this year, only Craig Williams, Nash Rawiller and Mark Zahra are past winners. Williams (Alabama Lass), hot from a Group 1 double at Caulfield last week, has won on Bella Nipotina (2022) and Loving Gaby (2019). Rawiller (Rothfire) won on Typhoon Zed in 2008 and Zahra (Ameena) produced a gem of a ride weaving through traffic to win last year on Southport Tycoon.&nbsp;</p> <p>The hot favourite is the Sydney mare Lady Shenandoah, who will be ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, who is yet to win a Manikato Stakes. Other leading jockeys, with a ride this year, who haven’t won a Manikato Stakes include Blake Shinn (Charm Stone), John Allen (Skybird) and Michael Dee (Magic Time).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Speed Map</h3> <p>It’s hard to see the Manikato Stakes being run at a torrid pace because there’s probably only two horses that are genuine on-pace runners, the New Zealand mare Alabama Lass (barrier 5) and the longshot South Australian Sir Sway (barrier 3). Alabama Lass has the raw speed to lead this field.</p> <p>Expect James McDonald to send the favourite Lady Shenandoah forward from barrier 10. It’s likely McDonald will aim for position three-wide with cover, but don’t be surprised if he presses on to sit outside the leader. From that position, the Lady can dominate this race. Nash Rawiller, on Rothfire, also might press forward, hoping to park Lady Shenandoah wide or get onto her back.</p> <p>The mares Magic Time (barrier 1) and Ameena (barrier 4), and to a lesser extent Charm Stone (barrier 2) – if she can hold her position – are poised to get the gun runs behind the speed. Barrier 6 for Skybird looks advantageous, although her propensity to be slow out is always a problem. She will be one of the late swoopers with Baraqiel and Payline.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Point of Interest</strong></h3> <p>Track specialist: Moonee Valley is a tricky circuit, but one horse who has mastered it is Baraqiel, who has had four starts at the track for four wins, including the G1 Moir Stakes at his most recent start when he charged home late between horses.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Manikato Stakes 2025 Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Manikato Top Tip&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>Lady Shenandoah</strong></p> <p>Outstanding mare heading towards The Everest. She is already a three-time Group 1 winner over distances 1400m, 1500m and 1600m. Trainer Chris Waller has kept her sharp for this sprinting campaign. Flashed home late when a first-up second in the Concorde Stakes (1000m). The 1200m is more to her liking. Bank on a quality James McDonald ride to get her home from a wide draw.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Manikato Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Alabama Lass</strong></p> <p>New Zealander who was good in the Moir when she had to work on the pace, but got bloused late by Baraqiel. She looks the likely leader, will be fitter and the in-form Craig Williams rides.</p> <p><strong>Skybird</strong></p> <p>Stiff not to win the Moir when she got hemmed in along the rails and didn’t see daylight. She possesses a big sprint and from a suitable draw must be respected.</p> <p><strong>Magic Time</strong></p> <p>Proven Group 1 winner. Looked in need of the run at Caulfield but she still had the class to win with 59kg, beating Miss Roumbini, who has since franked the form. She will be tucked away behind the pace from barrier one. Only needs a clear run to be in the finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Manikato Roughies</h3> <p><strong>Charm Stone</strong></p> <p>Group 1 winner over 1200m in Adelaide in May. Co-trainer Mick Price makes no secret of his admiration for this mare, who has had a few injury problems. Trialling strongly.</p> <p><strong>Ameena</strong></p> <p>Wasn’t suited on wet ground in the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill last week. Backs up fitter and on a firm track, and from a good barrier. Leave her out at your own risk.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Manikato Stakes Same Race Multi (combination)</h3> <p><strong>Lady Shenandoah </strong>– Top Two</p> <p><strong>Alabama Lass </strong>– Top Three</p> <p><strong>Skybird, Magic Time, Charm Stone </strong>– Top Four</p> <p><strong>Ameena </strong>– Top Five</p>