The Cox Plate Carnival at Moonee Valley kicks off tonight with the running of the Group One Manikato Stakes headlining a quality meeting of racing. View our tips and selections for Friday nights Moonee Valley races.
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Race One: 8 Zoumanor
Race Two: 2 Pleasuring
Race Three: 1 Widgee Turf
Race Four: 4 Waging War
Race Five: 7 Goldfinch
Race Six: 14 Isaurian
Race Seven: 2 Kementari
Race Eight: 5 Tamasa
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BEST BET: Race Seven Number 2 Kementari
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 2 Pleasuring
LONG SHOT: Race One Number 8 Zoumanor
Full Preview: View the Full Cox Plate day TIPS and PREVIEW
Racing News:
THE MANIKATO STAKES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
* Group One, 1200m sprint, weight-for-age
* Purse of $1 million makes it Australia’s richest thoroughbred race under lights
FIELD
* Magic Millions winner Sunlight and last season’s Randwick Guineas winner Kementari are vying for favouritism
HISTORY
* First held in September of 1968 as the Freeway Stakes, it was run over six furlongs and won by Winfreux
* Renamed in 1984 after dual winner Manikato, buried at Moonee Valley where he won five William Reid Stakes
* Moved in 2012 from September to the night before the Cox Plate
* Run on a tight turning, StrathAyr track (turf with sand base), 1805m circumference and 173m home straight
TALKING POINTS:
* Malaguerra holds the Mooney Valley 1200m track record with Miss Andretti (2006) at 1 min 09.29 secs
* Five horses have won the race at least twice: Dual Choice, Tauto, Spinning Hill, Spark Of Life and Manikato
WHAT SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING
* “She’ll have to run a career-best but her work is good” – Tulip’s co-trainer Ben Hayes
* “She’s handled everything I have put to her but just as the coach, I feel I’ve done everything I can do to give her the best opportunity” – Sunlight’s trainer Tony McEvoy
* “He (U S Navy Flag) probably has to pick up the pieces again, which I’m hoping he can do” – Aidan O’Brien’s foreman TJ Comerford
