Elite level racing lights up The Valley on Friday night, and we’ve got a crack field of sprinters to go through in our 2025 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Preview.
Ten exciting gallopers will take to the tight Moonee Valley circuit for the $2 million sprint which is the traditional follow-up to the Moir Stakes and a race won by many of the greats including Lankan Rupee (2014), Sepoy (2011), Hay List (2010), Miss Andretti, Sunline (2000m), and Dane Ripper (1998).
The Valley specialist Baraqiel won this year’s Moir and is out to complete the double and retain his undefeated status at the track.
The favourite however is Chris Waller’s boom mare Lady Shenandoah who heads south for the first time in the hunt for her fourth Group 1 trophy.
So, will the best in betting be first past the post? Or do we have an upset pending from the likes of Skybird or Alabama Lass?
Read on for our expert runner-by-runner guide to the 2025 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes!
- Top 2 – No. 2 Baraqiel
- Top 3 – No. 9 Alabama Lass
- Top 4 – No. 5 Magic Time
| 2. Baraqiel (7) J: Ben Allen 58.5kg 63×11T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin | ||
| 5. Magic Time (1) J: Michael Dee 56.5kg 367×1T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 9. Alabama Lass (5) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 211×2T: Ken & Bev Kelso |
1. Rothfire (8) – Robert Heathcote
Odds: $15 (at time of publish)
Eight-year-old Brisbane visitor Rothfire has his seventh start at The Valley where, as a younger horse, he showed good form on the tight circuit winning the 2022 McEwen Stakes before a second in that year’s Manikato albeit beaten five lengths by Bella Nipotina.
He’s failed to really recapture his best form over the past season with his last victory being in January of 2024 at Toowoomba.
Look, his winter at home showed glimpses of the former Heathcote top-liner – who has shown incredible resilience throughout his career plagued by setbacks – when runner-up at big odds in the Doomben 10,000, but that was probably more due to the Heavy rated track than anything.
Fresh his run in the Moir for ninth was sound, and he did look to run out of room late, so he’ll enjoy the extra furlong this weekend.
With Nash Rawiller back aboard – his ninth jockey change and the last to win on him – Rothfire is expected to jump positively and race on pace, a tactic Heathcote felt was missing in his luckless Moir Stakes run.
He’s got the experience and did show up sharp in a lead-up gallop, but I don’t think he’s got enough improvement to really challenge.
2. Baraqiel (7) – Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin
Odds: $5 (at time of publish)
I think this proven The Valley specialist looks outstanding value in the Manikato with the Snitzel seven-year-old looking to make it five-from-five at the track.
Some horses just love the tight turns, and this gelding is certainly one.
Lightly raced due to a life-threatening injury, Baraqiel gives new authority to the term comeback king.
He has been flawless this prep going back-to-back at the track in the Listed Norman Carlyon and the Group 1 Moir Stakes, the latest of which saw him beat Alabama Lass by a half-length when showing off his brilliant turn of foot.
A sprinter that knows how to fight and fly home, he’s drawn to get a similar run to that of the Moir and emulate Imperatriz to complete the double.
Comes into his Grand Final full of momentum, has the stable’s confidence, a lovely affinity with the track and Ben Allen being given full tactical freedom for the ride makes him the danger.
I’m taking him for the win.
3. Payline (9) – Chris & Corey Munce
Odds: $46 (at time of publish)
The second Queenslander in the field, Payline is one of the roughies in betting.
He ran better than expected at even longer odds in the Moir when fifth just 1.5 lengths away at 50/1, and that is encouraging.
Having come into full maturity now, the Shooting To Win five-year-old will benefit greatly from that run – his first at the circuit – and has a much better second-up record (5:1-3-0).
Justin Huxtable was full of post-race praise after the Moir performance and sticks in the saddle on Friday night.
A genuine short-distance horse, Payline is yet to win over further than 1100m but is a four-time placegetter from his seven goes at 1200m.
After rewatching his Group 1 run here, I think he shapes up as a dark horse with genuine upside who comes into Top 4 contention if the pace is on.
Lacks a little class, but the event could prove more open than the markets suggest.
4. Sir Sway (3) – Sue & Jason Jaensch
Odds: $91 (at time of publish)
At 90/1 at time of publish, Sue & Jason Jaensch’s Sir Sway is the rank outside.
I gave this guy a little love at the same price in the Moir and he ran 10th.
The barrier (14 of 14) certainly did him no favours, and he did stick with the task after getting caught out wide.
Jockey Lachlan Neindorf warned, “If he draws a barrier in the Manikato he’ll serve it up to them.”
He gets the gate to prove himself with barrier three. Will it be enough?
Constantly underrated, he was strong at home back in May when second to Reserve Bank in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) but was suited to the handicap conditions.
Blinkers go on, he wasn’t disgraced last start, and the 1200m suits better but I don’t think I can put him in the money this time.
5. Magic Time (1) – Grahame Begg
Odds: $7.50 (at time of publish)
Grahame Begg saddles-up a very good mare in Magic Time who is back up in grade chasing back-to-back wins this prep.
The six-year-old daughter of Hellbent races for Yu Long Investments and sees Moonee Valley for the first time on the weekend.
She boasts a better than 50% winning strike rate over six furlongs with five wins from nine attempts, including her win fresh in Caulfield’s Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) on August 30 when coming from well back to make up lots of late ground.
Carting 59kg she gave weight away to the runner-up Miss Roumbini (56kg) who then franked the form with her surprise second in last weekend’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes behind Sepals.
That bodes well for Magic Time on Saturday, she comes back to 56.5kg at WFA in another plus and Michael Dee retains the ride.
Her second-up record is solid (6:2-1-2), but while barrier one is a dream gate historically in this event, she’s not the best suited to the inside alley so will need to work to get into a clear midfield position to feature.
With the right run she’ll make her presence felt and isn’t without Top 3 claims.
6. Lady Shenandoah (10) – Chris Waller
Odds: $2.35 (at time of publish)
Lady Shenandoah is the well supported favourite to post her fourth Group 1 success racing second-up in the Manikato for Waller.
This bonny four-year-old daughter of Snitzel has the outside alley (10 of 10) to overcome but despite the wide draw she’s tipped to handle her first trip to The Valley.
Hard to knock this mare on class as she’s been the picture of consistency in her eight starts to date with five wins including a three-length Group 1 Flight Stakes win over the Randwick mile as a filly last October.
Her autumn was flawless and culminated with her narrow win over the older mares in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
Fresh this confirmed The Everest contender was runner-up when narrowly denied in a photo with Headwall in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) where she was gallant in defeat having been held up.
Fitter now and ready to atone after losing a race that should have been hers, she’s better suited to the 1200m.
The only query for mine is how she’ll go the Melbourne way of racing having lined up exclusively in Sydney so far.
J-Mac stays on and he’ll know what to do from the gate.
She cannot give them too big a lead and the tight bend will find her out if she’s trying to go round the field late.
No doubting her star status but at the price I think I’ll take the proven Moonee Valley performer for the outright win.
Don’t forget to also check out our The Spring Prospect Watchlist: A Natural Ready to Go from Lady to Queen for more on the spring ahead for Lady Shenandoah!
7. Charm Stone (2) – Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
Odds: $23 (at time of publish)
Charm Stone resumes drawn well in gate two with Blake Shinn booked to ride this five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible.
She’s proven at the track having won the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes here as a three-year-old in 2023 before her brave fifth only a length of Militarize in that year’s Golden Rose.
Her career since has been so topsy turvy that it’s tough to really get a gauge on just how she’ll stack up here.
She was runner-up in the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Cup in the summer, won a Group 1 at Morphettville claiming the Robert Sangster in April but then things went amiss when she crossed last in The Goodwood.
We haven’t seen her at the races since, although a recent Cranbourne jump out showed us a glimpse of her potential when second over 800m behind Jimmy Recard.
I expect she’ll be taken back the early stages and fitness could be lacking for her to chase home the fitter and better performed runners she’s facing fresh.
8. Skybird (6) – Mitchell Freedman
Odds: $7.50 (at time of publish)
Mitchell Freedman’s Exosphere mare, Skybird, ticks the Group 1 box having won Flemington’s Black Caviar Lightning in the autumn in a 40/1 upset.
She went around first-up in the Moir running sixth and she had zero luck in the run getting caught for room and unable to show what she’s got.
That said, I still think she was pretty flat overall.
Her 1200m record is strong (4:2-1-0) and she did win here as a filly in 2023 over the mile, but I’m not sure she’s come back brilliantly.
Not convinced she’s got enough improvement even with a clearer run to challenge.
9. Alabama Lass (5) – Ken & Bev Kelso
Odds: $6 (at time of publish)
Another of the runners I think shapes up as a genuine value contender is this Ken & Bev Kelso trained Kiwi raider who is ultra consistent and right up to the challenge.
Craig Williams rides her from an ideal gate five draw where she looks poised to potentially add to her excellent career record that sits at six wins and four seconds from ten starts.
Across the Tasman she’s been outstanding at the top level, her Australian debut had her carry 57kg to a half-length win in a Flemington Listed event in the autumn and she has come back well as a more mature four-year-old this prep.
In the Moir she was second over the line behind Baraqiel with Williams doing the steering, and with winning form up to 1400m she’ll relish 1200m now.
Having sat on pace first-up, fitness had her beaten in what remained a good return.
She’s had four 1200m assignments for two wins and two seconds, Williams said she handled the Valley very well and if she settles in the lead without showing the same keenness she’ll take some running down.
10. Ameena (4) – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Odds: $41 (at time of publish)
Four-year-old Tassort mare Ameena lines-up at a big price for the Freedman’s second-up off a resuming run in Sydney where things definitely didn’t go her way.
She hasn’t won since taking out last year’s Silver Shadow fresh by the barest of margins as a filly and I’m not sure she’s really up to a WFA Group 1 at The Valley.
In Adelaide last time in her form was good when runner-up to Charm Stone in the Robert Sangster before a fourth with a light weight in The Goodwood, but are those really the strongest form lines to follow into the spring?
Kicking off at Rosehill a fortnight ago she ran fifth to Manaal in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes getting held up behind the front runners with nowhere to go a furlong out from the line.
Yes, she was luckless there and is drawn for a kinder run from gate four.
The booking of the in-form Mark Zahra for Friday night’s feature is a positive, but she’s untested at The Valley and think will be somewhere at the tail come the finishing post.
Good luck punters!
Don’t forget to check out our The Punters’ Playbook: The Valley Spring Carnival Deep Dive for the inside word on the jockeys, trainers and races to watch over the following months!