Manikato Stakes Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2025

The Manikato Stakes commands a prestigious position in the Melbourne Spring Carnival, shining as a vital spectacle in a series of electrifying races. Traditionally held under the famous lights at The Valley, this contest has burgeoned into a must-watch event for race aficionados, bettors, and key industry figures. 

The charm of the Manikato Stakes is not only anchored in its Group 1 distinction but also in its capacity to draw the elite of sprinting talent from across Australia. Many other key races take place on the same weekend as the Manikato Stakes. If you’d like to learn more about those races, check out our Group One races list.

The Manikato Stakes stands as a premier launch pad for some of Australia's top sprinters into further riches. Many believe that the Manikato Stakes is the sprint race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. This is probably why the race has such a high viewership each year.

We’ve seen the race move around in terms of the date in recent times. Previously, the race was moved to the day before the Cox Plate, but now the race has been moved to about a month before the Cox Plate. There are heaps of racing at Moonee Valley during the Spring, so it’s no wonder many believe it to be one of the top tracks in the country.

The team here at OnlyRacing cover every aspect you care about for the Manikato Stakes. So, if you’re looking for horse racing betting information on the race or even field and form guide details, we’ve got you sorted. You’ll be a Manikato Stakes expert in no time!

With an impressive $2 million purse up for grabs, it's undeniably a noteworthy race to clinch, with the victor taking home a handsome sum of $1.2 million. The top eight runners get a slice of the pie as well. Check out the breakdown below:

If you’re looking for Manikato Stakes tips, then you’ve come to the right place! It’s our job to provide readers with the best tips going around and our experts take their job very seriously. Our experts are waiting until race week when the final field is confirmed to provide their horse racing tips. We have heaps of tips on offer as well, including general Moonee Valley tips for all the racing action held at this track.

Our Manikato Stakes tips have a little something for everyone including a best bet, next best and best roughie. We go through all the important information about each and every runner and pick the top horses. We’d never tip a horse that we wouldn’t bet on ourselves! 

Our Manikato Stakes tips for the race in 2025 aren’t available just yet. Our experts are waiting until race week for more information about the confirmed field before getting started with their tips. In the meantime, you can check out everything our experts put together for the race in 2024:

Manikato Stakes Best Bet - I Wish I Win

It took me a while, but I’ve landed on I Wish I Win for the Manikato Stakes. There are a lot of live chances in this year’s edition of the race, but I like the way this is set up for him. The gelding put in a great performance in the Moir Stakes, but I think the 1,000m wasn’t enough for him, so he’ll enjoy the additional 200m here.

Some were also worried about his ability to handle the Moonee Valley track, but he put that to bed last time out. He is currently on the second line of betting in what is a very open market. At this distance, he has three wins and six placings, from nine starts. The barrier draw has not been kind, but he is good enough to overcome that I reckon.

Manikato Stakes Next Best - Hayasugi 

Another runner I have my eye on that I think will perform well in the Manikato Stakes is Hayasugi. She is also coming from the Moir Stakes, where she finished second, behind Mornington Glory by half a length. Hayasugi is currently on the third line of betting with PlayUp, listed with odds of $5.50.

She is already a Group 1 winner over the 1,200m, which is what she gets here. Thanks to the WFA conditions, she has practically nothing on her back (50kg), this is compared to about half the field that has to carry 58.5kg. An 8.5kg swing is massive and to top it all off, she jumps from barrier two!

Manikato Stakes Best Roughie - Veight

Honestly, in this year’s open Manikato Stakes, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Veight win this. He is a genuine first-up kind of horse, who has a perfect three-from-three first-up record so far in his career. Last time out, he won the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse in March.

The Group 1 winner is currently listed with odds of $10, which I think is very strange and people are only avoiding him because unlike many in the field, he doesn’t have a race under his belt yet. However, I think this will work to his advantage. He is already a winner here at Moonee Valley and has been solid in his two trials, so let’s see what he can do on Friday.

Betting on the Manikato Stakes and other notable Australian horse racing events offers a thrilling chance to showcase your understanding of the sport. You can opt for simple Fixed Win or Place bets or venture into more complex exotic wagers, catering to a wide array of betting preferences. 

Whether your strategy leans toward multis, exotic wagers, focusing on standout jockeys, or identifying the most backed bets of the day, this section aims to equip you with the knowledge needed for a savvy wager. You’ll have all the knowledge you need to be confident when placing bets.

Anticipation is high for the Manikato Stakes, a riveting Group 1 showdown set at Moonee Valley Racecourse. When the time is right to place a bet, navigating the myriad of Australian betting apps can be daunting, but our goal is to simplify this process by recommending several trustworthy options. 

Before you delve into our suggestions, familiarise yourself with the Manikato Stakes lineup to pinpoint your favoured horses. It's essential to take into account the odds a bookmaker offers. Doing a bit of legwork by comparing the odds given by various bookmakers for your chosen market can aid in identifying the one with the most favourable odds. 

Opting for one of the best Australian betting sites that quotes the best odds amplifies your potential returns. For an extensive roundup of Australian bookmakers that cater to Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing enthusiasts, our bookmaker reviews page is at your disposal.

Your personal comfort with a bookmaker shouldn't be overlooked. Many Australian bettors lean towards bookmakers they've interacted with before, often because of a preferred app or platform. On our bookmaker reviews page, you'll find evaluations on each bookmaker's trustworthiness, aiding you in a well-informed choice.

Betting sites bonuses can be pivotal in deciding on a bookmaker. Our OnlyRacing bonus offers page showcases the array of incentives and bonuses Australian bookmakers extend to existing users. Some might even have unique deals tailored for the Manikato Stakes, warranting a closer look.

In essence, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to picking a bookmaker for the Manikato Stakes. It remains imperative, however, to transact with a reputable bookmaker (like EliteBet, PalmerBet or Unibet) and complete any required verification steps before betting. 

Each year, when race week rolls in, we get super excited because the final field will be announced! It’s not race week yet, so we don’t know which runners will line up for the Manikato Stakes. However, if history is anything to go by, we can expect a bumper field.

Along with the field for the Manikato Stakes, you should check out the odds for the race, if they are available. Checking out the odds will give you some sort of inclination of which runners are currently more favoured in the market and could potentially make an appearance.

While we wait for race week to roll around, you can check out the Manikato Stakes field that lined up for the race in 2024 here:

In 2024, we saw a field of 13 runners line up for the Manikato Stakes on Friday. No emergencies are listed either, so aren’t the pre-race scratching of Chain Of Lightning, the field was reduced to just 12 runners.

Unfortunately, scratchings happen all the time in horse racing. It is never nice to see a horse scratched, but it can be for several reasons and not just because the horse isn’t fighting fit. Scratchings can happen at any time between when the final field is announced and just minutes before race jump time.

Along with any scratchings, you should also check out the barrier draw. The barrier each runner jumps from can have an influence on how the race pans out. Different race tactics will likely need to be thought out, depending on which barrier each runner draws.

You know what they say - the stats don’t lie! And this is certainly the case when it comes to the Manikato Stakes form guide. For a race that has been running for as long as the Manikato Stakes, we’ve got a lot of stats and data to go through. 

The whole point of doing a form guide is to find patterns in the data that can hopefully point you in the direction of a winner. If you don’t have the time to do this yourself, we have some good news for you. The OnlyRacing team has gone through and found all the key form indicators that you need to know. Check out the details below!

The clear lead-up race for the Manikato Stakes is the Moir Stakes, which is also held at Moonee Valley. Another lead-up race that is worthy of checking out is the Gilgai Stakes, which is run over the same distance. 

Moonee Valley is a unique track with tight turns, so it pays to check out horses that have had previous success at this track. With a track like Moonee Valley, it makes the barrier draw even more important. So, check out horses that have good gate speed, so they can settle where they want in the field.

We have seen that since 2009, only one Manikato Stakes winner has jumped from a barrier wider than nine. With this, it is also important to keep in mind that the race doesn’t always attract 10+ runners each year. 

Mares have a fairly decent record in the Manikato Stakes, so it’s worth checking them out. Since 1994, we have seen 11 mares win the race. Along with this, favourites have performed well, winning on seven occasions since 2007.

Since 2014, every single winner except for the 2024 winner, Southport Tycoon, has had at least three runs under their belt in their prep before taking on the Manikato Stakes. When looking at the age of winners, you should avoid 3YOs, in the past 32 years, we have seen only three 3YOs win the Manikato Stakes.

A race like the Manikato Stakes has a lot of history and we have seen some of the best racehorses ever compete and win the race. We have so many options to choose from and feature in this section, but we only have room for a handful of the best Manikato Stakes horses.

We’ve made the tough decisions and picked out some horses to feature. We go through their career in more detail including their major wins and any other honours they may have received. Check out all the details below:

Manikato - 1979 & 1982

We couldn’t have a list of the best-ever horses to compete in the Manikato Stakes without talking about the horse the race is named after, Manikato! He won over $1 million in prize money throughout his career, thanks to wins in races like the William Reid Stakes, the Golden Slipper and the Caulfield Guineas.

Dane Ripper - 1998

Dane Ripper won the 1998 Manikato Stakes along with 11 other races throughout her career. She amassed over $3 million in prize money and won some pretty big races including; the Cox Plate, the Stradbroke Handicap and the Australian Cup. In 1998, Dane Ripper was named the Australian Champion Filly or Mare.

Sunline - 2000

Sunline finished her career with a record of 48:32-9-3, which included winning the 2000 Manikato Stakes. She was named the Australian Horse of the Year for three years in a row, from 2000 until 2002. Some of the biggest races she won included; the Cox Plate, the Flight Stakes and the Doncaster Mile.

Miss Andretti - 2006

Miss Andretti won the Manikato Stakes in 2006 and ended her career with a record of 31:19-3-2. She was named the 2007 Australian Horse of the Year and won key races like the Newmarket Handicap, the Winterbottom Stakes and the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Throughout her career, she pocketed a total of $2,848,991 in prize money.

Chautauqua - 2015

The Grey Flash captured the hearts of many Australians during his time racing. He made almost $9 million in prize money and was named the Australian Champion Sprinter in 2016. Some of the key races he won throughout his career included; the TJ Smith Stakes and the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

The Manikato Stakes odds are probably one of the most important aspects to consider if you’re going to bet on the race. The odds for any race, including the Manikato Stakes, are as fickle as they come. You’ll notice the odds will be changing constantly and different bookies may even have different odds for the same markets.

As we get closer to the Manikato Stakes, more markets will open up, so if you want to place your bet on something more exotic, you can do so! There will be many different horse racing markets that you can bet on, no matter the bookie you prefer to bet with.

If you’ve come here to find out what the odds are for all the runners in the Manikato Stakes, we’ve got some unfortunate news for you. The Manikato Stakes odds are yet to be released from PlayUp. We will keep an eye on things for you though and bring you the information as it comes to hand.

One of our recommendations is to bet when the market is listed as “Before Noms”. This is because you’ll get your cash back if the horse you picked doesn’t make the final field. As well as this, you’ll notice that the price you’re getting is potentially a low higher than compared to if you’re placing your bets the day of the race.

While we can’t tell you the odds for the 2025 Manikato Stakes, let's take a look back and see how each of the confirmed runners in the 2024 race stacked up:

*Odds correct as of 25/09/2024.

Named in homage to one of Australia’s most celebrated sprinters, the Manikato Stakes is a race steeped in tradition, determination, and legendary equine prowess. Taking place at the iconic Moonee Valley Racecourse, the race is an emblematic sprint event that showcases the best of Australian horse racing.

Initiated in 1968, the Manikato Stakes was first won by a horse named Winfreux, galloping over a consistent distance of 1,200 metres. It was formerly known as the Freeway Stakes until 1984 when it was fittingly renamed after the iconic sprinter Manikato. 

Acquired for a mere $3,500, Manikato, the son of Manihi, became a sensation on the tracks, amassing over $1 million in winnings from his spectacular career. He not only secured two victories in the race now bearing his name but also enjoyed significant achievements.

For example, he won the William Reid Stakes on five consecutive occasions from 1979 to 1983. Moreover, the chestnut gelding stood out for clinching both the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Golden Slipper, with an astonishing 29 triumphs from 47 starts.

The evolution of the race's classification mirrors its growing prestige. Initially a Principal Race, it was elevated to Group 2 status in 1978, before reaching its pinnacle as a Group 1 race in 1989. This shift reflected its increasing importance in the horse racing calendar and the fact the race is in the middle of one of the biggest horse racing carnivals of the year. 

By 2012, the race was strategically repositioned to be part of the renowned Cox Plate weekend, taking place on a Friday evening, setting the stage for the grandeur of the Saturday Plate. This has since changed, and the Manikato Stakes is now run about a month before the Cox Plate.

Delving deeper into its celebrated history now. We have seen four horses – Strawberry Road, Rubiton, Dane Ripper and Sunline – have achieved the remarkable feat of claiming both the Manikato Stakes and the Cox Plate titles. 

This unique double victory is especially noteworthy given the races' stark distance difference. Another captivating aspect of this sprint event is the consistent success of mares. Since 1994, mares have claimed the title on ten occasions, with a filly adding to that tally in 2019.

We’ve made finding out the latest Manikato Stakes results as easy as possible. You’ll get all the results-related information in this section including a table with the finishing order of all the runners in the most recent Manikato Stakes, along with a race replay so you can see for yourself how the race unfolded.

For the Manikato Stakes in 2024, we saw somewhat of a boilover as massive $26 roughie, Southport Tycoon, got the chocolates by 0.1L. In second place was the Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire, who was also the pre-race favourite.

Filling in the final minor placing was another other of the more favoured runners in the market, I Wish I Win, who jumped with odds of $5.00 to win the race. In the end, the Manikato Stakes was run in a time of 1:09.91 and there was a total of just 5.8L that split the entire field.

Check out the full Manikato Stakes results below:

It’s time to relive all the epic action of the Manikato Stakes! For your viewing pleasure, check out the video below:

There is usually only one winner in every horse race, except in the rare case of a dead heat. If you’re looking for more information on all the recent Manikato Stakes winners, you’ve come to the right place. Check out all the winners of the Manikato Stakes since 2010 below:

But wait, there’s more! If you’ve still got some burning questions about the Manikato Stakes, this section is for you. We’ve gone through and answered all the common questions people have about the race. Check out all the details below: