Manikato Stakes: Pro punter preview, video and betting strategy

It’s the Friday night feature of Moonee Valley‘s Cox Plate weekend, the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

Manikato Stakes 2022: Pro punter preview

Track It’s a Good 4 at the moment but there’s meant to be a little bit of rain coming, so it really depends when it comes. The rail is in the true. In general, The Valley has been very leader-ish and traditionally this meeting has played well for on-pacers too.

Speed The pace is good here. Coolongatta, The Astrologist, Rothfire and Best of Bordeaux will all go forward and battle it out.

📺 Video preview

Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

5 Paulele [$3.70] didn’t have much luck first-up in the Moir Stakes, then ran well second-up to win the Schillaci. He maps to get a good run here and is the horse to beat.

10 Bella Nipotina [$5.00] is flying, running second in the Moir Stakes after winning the Listed Carlyon Stakes (both here at The Valley). She box-seats here and is a great chance if she gets a clear run in the straight.

14 Coolangatta [$6] has won twice over this distance, though they were as a two-year-old with slow closing speed. I’m happy to oppose her here over 1200m with a lot of pressure on her outside.

7 Rothfire [$6.50] has run well both runs this prep around here, albeit both over 1000m. He’s better suited here over 1200m. He’ll race handy and can run to his best.

13 Best Of Bordeaux [$13] is racing honestly. This is a big jump in class and he’ll have to do some work from the barrier. Rough chance.

2 Eleven Eleven [$15] is first-up here. He ran well first-up last prep. He’ll get back but will be running on with clear running.

“He was the sharpest horse on the clock this morning.”

Eleven Eleven was on fire around @TheValley ahead of the Manikato Stakes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rfCSc8cyl4

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 17, 2022

9 September Run [$19] wasn’t suited first-up in the Moir Stakes. She has run well here in the past, but she’s drawn wide and will get back. I’d prefer others.

8 The Astrologist [$21] is an honest horse that races on the pace. He’s got some chance here.

11 Roch ’N’ Horse [$26] is racing well but all her best figures are down the straight. She’s drawn out here. I’d prefer her at Flemington.

1 Behemoth [$34] has drawn wide here and gets the blinkers on for the first time. I’d prefer him over further and with a better draw.

4 The Inferno [$41] gets a long way back and will have a lot of good horses in front of him. I doubt he can round them all up.

12 Jamaea [$61], 3 Streets Of Avalon [$91] and 6 Shaquero [$101] aren’t up to this in my opinion.

Betting strategy

Two-horse strategy
Paulele
Rothfire

Paulele is certainly the horse to best for mine… hopefully we get a bit of a drift on raceday, I’d like around $4. Rothfire looks about the right price to me and can certainly figure here. I’d like to back them both.

Bella Nipotina is the other one who’s right in this, but she’s just a bit short for my liking at the moment.