The second best sprint race during the Spring Carnival is the Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) and it is set to highlight racing on Friday night, the eve of the Cox Plate. An absolute cracking field of ten has been assembled, with the Queensland warrior Buffering the dominant favourite thanks to two dominant wins this time in and the fact he has drawn barrier one. His main dangers, if any, appear to be Lone Rock, who was luckless in the Schillaci behind Buffering, and Sea Siren, who has trialled well and has the wood on Buffering when they raced during the Winter Carnival in Brisbane.
Other feature races are the $120,000 Listed Printside William Crockett Stakes (1200m) and the $120,000 Listed Jeep Fillies Classic (1600m).
Race One: Spotless Handicap 3000m Form Guide
Back Me: Got it down between three runners- Buxted, Verdant and Crafty Cruiser. The consistent horse is Crafty Cruiser and he always gives 110% each run, so he will go on top out of this trio.
Don’t Back Me: Anything to beat the three mentioned above. They are the clear standouts for mine.
Big Danger: Verdant meets Crafty Cruiser 0.5kg better off for a length defeat at Mornington. Verdant does probably have more upside. If he is ridden cold and put to sleep from the barrier, he is a definite danger. Buxted toughed it out hard to win here two back, then stuck on ok in the Metropolitan. Has the class on these and he will run the 3000m right out.
Roughie: Morganza probably isn’t well weighted compared to the others, but she is a tough grinder and she’ll be whacking away at the finish.
Race Two: City Jeep Handicap 2040m Form Guide
Back Me: Manilla Jewel didn’t look comfy in the slop at Cranbourne in the Pinker Pinker Classic behind Chateaux Margaux. She is much better suited on top of the ground and does race well at Moonee Valley. She looks the way to go at a price.
Don’t Back Me: Just have my reservations about Khandallah. She had an absolute picnic in front in the race mentioned above and really should have won, but was held on the line for second.Can’t have her here.
Big Danger: Innocent Lady contested the same race and she also didn’t appreciate the wet conditions. Her kiwi form was very good and she has taken on some above average gallopers in Australia in the past. Definite threat.
Roughie: Silent Attitude has been racing superbly, even though it hasn’t been up against much. Led from the front and spanked them last start. Tougher here, but mares that are in form stay in form.
Race Three: Major Putts Handicap 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: First of the specials tonight and it’s Sea Lord. Surprised many with his two wins to kick off a new prep at this track/distance, then ran a cracker behind Miss Marx before bumping into a nice race at Caulfield and sticking on well after doing a stack of work. He should get a very comfortable lead here, dictate and win.
Don’t Back Me: Can’t have Sir Fernando. He was ordinary last start at Adelaide after having every chance. Can’t see him winning here.
Big Danger: Excellantes probably didn’t handle the straight course in the Gilgai when resuming. Trialled brilliantly before that, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he was to win. He worked well around this track on Tuesday and can certainly turn around his first up run and win.
Roughie: It is more than beyond him, but keep an eye on this first starter, Hollywood Gothic. Has trialled well and ran smart time. The stable might be aiming quite high, but she obviously must have some ability.
$500 Sea Lord Free Bet
Race Four: Printhouse William Crockett Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: The stablemate, Whateverwhenever, allowed us to enjoy the weekend last Saturday, so I’ll give Snipzu a chance here at odds. As I said before Caulfield, the key to her is drawing a decent barrier and she got that at Caulfield and worked home very strongly late. If she can jump clean here, she’ll be able to sit much closer to the speed and prove hard to beat.
Don’t Back Me: The rider pinched the race for Agueda at Rosehill last start with no weight. Not sure about her running 1200m against a quality field.
Big Danger: Saturn Rock probably had her chance last start, but she was caught wide. If she can slot in here and perhaps with a colder ride, she can definitely win here.
Roughie: A question mark on what she has beaten, but all you can do is win and that is what Angelic Light has done in her last two starts. Looks to be a filly going places, so it’ll be interesting to see how she goes against this lot.
Race Five: Essendon Mazda Challenge (89) 955m Form Guide
Back Me: Certain horses are suited by certain hoops and this fits the bill of Umgeton and Froggy Newitt. He seems to race best when Newitt is on top and they get conditions to suit tonight. Not that much pace inside him, so he could easily fly the gates and lead comfortably and over the 955m, he’ll be awfully hard to hold out if that situation eventuates.
Don’t Back Me: No Means Go has been a good sprinter at Darwin, but he does take on a hot field here and has drawn terribly given he is a fast horse from start to finish.
Big Danger: It’s Crunch Time hasn’t been seen since May but when he was racing, he was ultra consistent. If he has come back in the same order, then he is right in contention. Just all depends what Rodd does from the tricky draw.
Roughie: Gold Zero can be a speed demon, but she can also take cover. If she does elect to take cover here, she may have the last crack at these at good odds.
Race Six: Sportingbet Manikato Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Buffering does look the one to beat and he has everything going for him. He is flying, he has barrier one, Bowman sticks, should get a reasonable run in front and he’ll be awfully hard to beat. He deserves a group one and he won’t get a better chance than here.
Don’t Back Me: Sea Siren does have the wood on Buffering, but gee it’d be a huge effort if she was to win a major group one race first up. Only the real good ones can do it. She is good, but is she real good?
Big Danger: Well Lone Rock probably still can’t get out the pocket she was in at Caulfield. It was a very poor ride from Zahra because he didn’t show much vigour and initiative when the race heated up. If she gets normal luck, she can certainly threaten Buffering.
Roughie: Ready To Rip went within a lip of beating Buffering in the Moir yet seems great value at $18. He should get the gun run off the speed and if there is to be a surprise, it will come courtesy of this bloke.
$500 Buffering Free Bet
Race Seven: Jeep Fillies Classic 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Stella Lante was the unlucky runner in the Thousand Guineas behind Commanding Jewel. She was travelling beautifully in the run before not really getting a clear crack until the final furlong where she hit the line strongly. Handles Moonee Valley well and has drawn a perfect barrier to make amends for a last start defeat.
Don’t Back Me: I am going to put a line through Love For Ransom. I think we all got a bit over excited with her win first up and since then, she has done nothing. Last chance for most punters here, but she’s had enough chances for me.
Big Danger: Mareeza was one of the runs of the day on Caulfield Guineas Day. She sat back in a race which was run at a snails pace, before being peeled out wide and flashing hard late, although she probably peaked at the 50m, suggesting she needed the run and the fact that the mile will suit her.
Roughie: Volume One was run off her legs on debut in a nice maiden event at Cranbourne before getting going and winding up hard for fourth. She is definitely looking for this distance, maybe more. The inside barrier will ensure she isn’t too far away and she could run a cheeky race at odds.
Race Eight: Triforce Country Cup 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Oregon Spirit has really had no luck for a while and deserves to win another race. Was caught wide in the Balaklava Cup yet beaten just over a length, had no clear run in the Gold Nugget at Ballarat and then was stiff in the Bairnsdale Cup where he sat a mile off them and charged late. He loves Moonee Valley and looks to have found a lovely race.
Don’t Back Me: Forty Thirty runs good races, but he hasn’t won for a little while and that is a big concern heading into this race. 58kg and barrier 11 don’t help either.
Big Danger: The Wingman has produced a couple of recent eye catchers, suggesting he isn’t far away from winning again. Ran a good race at Caulfield in a hot event and will appreciate a drop in depth here. Olly sticks and he should be there when the whips are cracking.
Roughie: Lord Wimble has been up for a while, but he continues to race so well. Had his chance in the same Caulfield race that The Wingman contested but stuck on for fourth. He looks a threat in a very open race.