The Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes headlines a huge Friday night under lights at The Valley!
With one eye on The Everest next month, I Wish I Win steps out alongside the likes of Hayasugi, Estriella and exciting up-and-comer, Growing Empire, and it truly does profile as one of the race’s best editions in recent memory.
I’ve run the rule over all eight races, and you can find my complete Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Night tips below!
Race 1 - 6:15pm
MSC Signs VOBIS Silver Handicap (1200m))
Gallant Son puts his unbeaten record on the line when he resumes in Race 1 on Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Night.
The well-bred colt only made one appearance at the races during his debut prep but simply couldn’t have been more impressive, winning the 1100m Sale maiden to the tune of six lengths.
With the benefit of that experience and some time away from the track, he can continue his rise through the grades this week.
2 Units Gallant Son
Race 2 - 6:45pm
Drummond Golf Handicap (1200m)
Baraqiel is hard-fit and strikes another winnable race at The Valley this week.
Baraqiel stamped himself as a horse to follow by winning each of his first four career starts, while he has since filled the minors in consecutive runs down the famous Flemington straight.
He will need some luck this week from a wide draw, but he certainly looks up to the class of something like this.
2 Units Baraqiel
Race 3 - 7:15pm
Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 1 (955m)
The Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 1 is a perfect race for speed machine, Passeggiata.
Passeggiata hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but she absolutely flies fresh, and he ability to bowl along in front at a high speed appears as though it’ll be ideally suited to a sprint at The Valley.
The $7 about her in betting at publish is a touch of overs, in my opinion.
2 Units E/W Passeggiata
Race 4 - 7:45pm
Group 2 Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes (1600m)
Just four horses will seek the ballot-free entry into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate that is awarded to the Feehan Stakes winner, but what this field lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in quality.
Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni, Attrition, Antino. All four wouldn’t look out of place in the winner’s stall, but there can only be one winner, and I think it will be Pride Of Jenni this week.
She returned a rare flat performance in the Memsie Stakes first-up from a spell, but Pride Of Jenni looked like she was almost back at her best when a close second behind Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes a fortnight ago.
I’m confident that run will have capped her off nicely, and she’ll relish the conditions here at The Valley.
2 Units Pride Of Jenni
Race 5 - 8:15pm
Group 3 Ladbrokes Scarborough Stakes (1200m)
This is an excellent edition of the Ladbrokes Scarborough Stakes with several quality three-year-old fillies engaged, including Bold Bastille.
She was sent off a popular pick in the market against the older horses when resuming in the Carlyon Stakes here last month but was knocked off by subsequent Group 1 winner Mornington Glory, while a return to three-year-old fillies’ company last time out heralded a credible second placing in the Cap D’antibes.
Fitter third-up, I like this return to The Valley, and she just need some luck from the barrier to be in the finish again.
2 Units E/W Bold Bastille
Race 6 - 8:45pm
Group 2 MGI Stutt Stakes (1600m)
Daggers is the one for me in this year’s Stutt Stakes.
He’s only made three appearances at the races so far, but Daggers stamped himself as colt to follow by winning each of the first two impressively, while he was last seen finishing a length third in the Exford Plate a fortnight ago.
He’s proven here at The Valley, the mile looks suitable at this point of his reparation, and he can stamp himself as a genuine Caulfield Guineas contender by winning again.
3 Units Daggers
Race 7 - 9:15pm
Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m)
Another outstanding edition of the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes looms and while most horses do have claims, I simply cannot steer clear of I Wish I Win.
We know how good this horse is; you certainly don’t need me to reel off his CV, but he returned to action this time right here at The Valley and boy, his late work in the Moir Stakes was eye-catching.
I’m of the opinion that if that race was run over the 1200m he would have been the winner, and with that in mind, and natural improvement, I think he wins on Friday night.
3 Units I Wish I Win
Race 8 - 9:45pm
Group 2 Ladbrokes Stocks Stakes (1514m)
Grinzinger Belle was excellent in her first run back a fortnight ago and I’m confident she can go on with it in the Stocks Stakes.
The Shamexpress mare has always shown good ability, but she took a forward position in the Group 2 Let’s Elope fresh at Flemington earlier this month and kicked away from a dominant four-length win, easily the best of her career to date.
With natural improvement and getting further out in trip, I’m confident she can do it again.
2 Units Grinzinger Belle