2022 Manikato Stakes betting preview | Friday, October 21

What	2022 Manikato Stakes
Where	Moonee Valley Racing Club – Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039
When	Friday, October 21, 2022
Prizemoney	$2,000,000
Distance	1200m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Weight For Age
2021 Winner	Jonker (5) \| T: Tony Gollan \| J: Daniel Moor (58.5kg)
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The Group 1 Manikato Stakes is the feature event on the opening night of the Cox Plate Carnival, and a capacity field of 14 sprinters have accepted for the 1200m dash this Friday night.

Heading the market is last-start Schillaci Stakes winner Paulele at $3.60, while Moir Stakes quinella Bella Nipotina ($4.40) and Coolangatta ($6) are deemed to be the biggest danger to the Godolphin sprinter.

It will be the charge of the light brigade early on with Best Of Bordeaux, Rothfire, Roch ‘N’ Horse and Coolangatta from barrier one all looking to hold a prominent spot. Expect the likes of September Run, The Inferno and Jamaea to be settled at the rear of the field and flashing home late.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 Manikato Stakes.

The way the Godolphin sprinter Paulele won the Schillaci Stakes suggested he was going to be hard to beat in the Manikato Stakes if connections opted to bypass The Everest. They did just that, and from barrier six on Friday night he is the one to beat over 1200m at The Valley. With the in-form James McDonald sticking on board, we expect to see Paulele settled three pairs back in the moving line, and as long as ‘JMac’ keeps him out of traffic approaching the home turn, Paulele has the finishing sprint and the ability to finish over the top of some potentially vulnerable leaders. He was run off his feet in the Moir, but with the extra 200m he gets on Friday, Paulele is a deserving favourite with online betting sites.

September Run had plenty against her in the Moir Stakes when resuming. The 1000m was simply too sharp for her first-up and it was next to impossible to make up ground from the rear of the field on that night. With an even playing surface and the extra furlong, we expect the William Reid Stakes winner from earlier in the year to relish getting back to the Moonee Valley 1200m. She improves with a run under her belt each campaign having won three times from six second-up efforts, and with Kerrin McEvoy stick on board, she is the one backmarker we expect to see flashing home down the centre of the track. If she is not too far back at the 400m mark, she has the electric turn of foot required to put this field away. The $18 on offer with Ladbrokes looks a great each-way price.

With just 51kg on her back (1kg more than what she carried in her Moir win), Coolangatta has to be respected if she can hold out her rivals again from barrier one. Bella Nipotina will need plenty of luck having drawn barrier two with her want to get back in the field, while last-start Roman Consul Stakes winner Best Of Bordeaux could run a cheeky race up on speed with just 53kg on his back and Tim Clark holding the reins.