Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes

The $2 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes is a Group 1 sprint held at Moonee Valley and currently takes place on Cox Plate in late October.

2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Results

  • 1st: #6 Imperatriz
  • 2nd: #7 I Am Me
  • 3rd: #3 Uncommon James



The Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes is one of the premier weight-for-age races held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Victoria during the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Named after the superb sprinter Manikato, the race offers $2 million in total prize money as of 2022.

The race often takes place under the lights at The Valley on the Friday night prior to the Cox Plate.

In 2023 the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes will run on Cox Plate Day on a Saturday in late October.

Run over 1200 metres the Manikato Stakes is sponsored by Ladbrokes.com.au and attracts a star-studded field of sprinters with many coming off an earlier Moonee Valley run in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) the month before.

Both Buffering (2013) and Lankan Rupee (2014) ran second in the Moir Stakes before their respective Manikato Stakes victories. The 2018 Manikato Stakes winner Brave Smash also improved on a lead-up second in the Moir Stakes before his victory, but placed eighth in Sydney’s The Everest in between the two Group 1 sprints at The Valley.

Imperatriz (2023) was the last sprinter to complete the Moir Stakes – Manikato Stakes double when the star mare made it four straight victories at the track.

The 2021 Manikato Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Bella Nipotina running third next-up in the VRC Sprint Classic behind Nature Strip.

Bella Nipotina ran second in the Moir Stakes in 2022, and she went on to demolish her rivals in the rescheduled Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes winning by over four lengths on Cox Plate Day.

The Manikato form was again franked by the 2022 winner Bella Nipotina who went on to place in a host of subsequent events including running third the following April in the inaugural $4 million The Quokka race in WA.

The 2023 Manikato Stakes ran on Saturday October 28, 2023 at Moonee Valley Racecourse as part of Cox Plate Day and was won by Mark Walker’s ‘Queen of The Valley’, Imperatriz ($1.40F) saluting by over three lengths. 

Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes
Date: Saturday October 28, 2023
Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: Weight-For-Age
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $2 million

2023 Manikato Stakes Results

  • 1st: #6 Imperatriz ($1.40F)
  • 2nd: #7 I Am Me
  • 3rd: #3 Uncommon James

Mark Walker’s Moonee Valley specialist, former New Zealand-trained mare Imperatriz ($1.40F), saluted in the style of her odds-on price with a dominant three length success to make it four-from-four on the trot at the course when taking out another Group 1 at The Valley in the 2023 Manikato Stakes results.

Click here to read more on the big win by the odds-on favourite Imperatriz in the Manikato Stakes 2023.

Check out the official Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes 2023 Results & Finishing Order below once the $2 million sprint takes place at The Valley on the Cox Plate Day 2023.

2023 Manikato Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 6 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Opie Bosson 4 56.5kg $1.40F
2 7 I AM ME Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 3.25L 5 56.5kg $6
3 3 UNCOMMON JAMES Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted Damian Lane 3.65L 2 58.5kg $10
4 1 THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 3.75L 3 58.5kg $41
5 4 JIGSAW Cindy Alderson Daniel Moor 7L 6 58.5kg $31
6 5 I AM WAR Trevor J Andrews Jamie Mott 7.4L 1 58.5kg $91
SB 2 BUENOS NOCHES Matthew Smith Blake Shinn 0 58.5kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Manikato Stakes Betting Odds

The latest Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes 2023 odds on the field of star sprinters facing off at Moonee Valley will be listed below complete with links to the markets at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au so you can lock in your Manikato Stakes tips as soon as betting opens.

Jonker ($5.50 in 2021) and Imperatriz ($1.40 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Manikato Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Manikato Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Manikato Stakes Tips

Top Manikato Stakes betting tips include looking for Group 1 performers with previous experience at the tight Moonee Valley circuit, backing the Moir Stakes graduates from earlier in the season, and looking for horses that have finished in the money in the Manikato Stakes results from previous years.

  • To Win: #6 Imperatriz ($1.45 at time of publish) – BET NOW

There’s zero value in this year’s Manikato but it is impossible to tip against the odds-on favourite here. This super mare is flying and chases her fourth win not only on the trot but at the track. She is a genuine Moonee Valley specialist and two of her past three here have been in Group 1 company including over the 1200m in the William Reid over the autumn. Fresh she was outstanding in the McEwen and then her Moir Stakes success in race record time put the writing on the wall for the Manikato. She is fit, she’ll relish the six furlongs now, and with just six rivals it is not hard to see why she is being backed as if unbeatable.

2023 Manikato Stakes Field & Barriers

The Manikato Stakes field attracts a star-studded line-up of spring sprinters, many of which are proven Group 1 performers. Horses that contested Sydney’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) during the autumn often target the Manikato Stakes in the spring.

A key lead-up race into the Manikato Stakes field is Flemington’s Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) with Chautauqua (2015) recently completing the double.

Following a run in the Manikato Stakes field horses may target the Group 1 VRC Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight over the Melbourne Cup Carnival, a race the 2015 Manikato winner Chautauqua ran second in.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes field and barrier draw is released on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below as soon as announced.

The Manikato Stakes 2023 final field features just seven final acceptors with Moir Stakes winning mare Imperatriz chasing her fourth straight win at the track from a gun barrier four draw as the odds-on favourite.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the Manikato Stakes 2023 field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 400x9275x4 THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 3 58.5kg 103
2 123x57x138 BUENOS NOCHES Matthew Smith Blake Shinn 5 58.5kg 109
3 11x2128x32 UNCOMMON JAMES Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted Damian Lane 2 58.5kg 109
4 7x111101x5 JIGSAW Cindy Alderson Daniel Moor 7 58.5kg 105
5 1161x900x2 I AM WAR Trevor J Andrews Jamie Mott 1 58.5kg 80
6 8x11121x11 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Opie Bosson 4 56.5kg 118
7 x11117x161 I AM ME Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 6 56.5kg 109

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Manikato Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Manikato Stakes in 2023 close on the Friday prior to race week.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes nominations drew just 16 entries with all-in betting led by the odds-on favourite Imperatriz who has won her past three starts at the track consecutively including the Group 1 Moir Stakes last time out.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 11x344x121 ASFOORA M 5 Henry Dwyer 111
2 x30236x333 BELLA NIPOTINA M 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 111
3 123x57x138 BUENOS NOCHES H 4 Matthew Smith 109
4 x3899464x3 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING M 5 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 104
5 0x6117x217 ESPIONA M 5 Chris Waller 111
6 x11117x161 I AM ME M 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 109
7 1161x900x2 I AM WAR G 5 Trevor J Andrews 80
8 8x11121x11 IMPERATRIZ M 5 Mark Walker 118
9 7x111101x5 JIGSAW G 5 Cindy Alderson 105
10 21x0x988x4 LOMBARDO G 7 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 106
11 6690x12x20 OVERPASS G 5 Bjorn Baker 111
12 6760×68586 ROCKETING BY G 6 David Pfieffer 102
13 1110412×71 SHE DANCES M 4 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 96
14 400x9275x4 THE INFERNO G 7 Cliff Brown 103
15 11x2128x32 UNCOMMON JAMES G 5 Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted 109
16 x01133x350 ZAPATEO M 5 James Cummings 108

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Manikato Stakes History

Inaugurated in 1968 as the Freeway Stakes, the race became the Manikato Stakes in 1984. The event was first won by Winfreaux and then in 1979 and 1982 Manikato claimed the race as his own. Manikato went on to win the William Reid Stakes five years in a row. In a total of 49 career starts, the legendary horse managed 29 wins and 13 places. In 1984 Manikato died from an illness and was buried at the Moonee Valley racecourse.

The Manikato Stakes has produced several WS Cox Plate winners including Sunline in 2000-01, Dane Ripper in 1997, Rubiton in 1987 and Strawberry Road in 1983.

Double winners of the race include Dual Choice in 1970-71, Tauto in 1973-74, Spinning Hill in 2002-03 and Spark Of Life in 2004-05. The fastest winning time recorded since 1980 was by Our Westminster in 1989 with 1 minute 8 seconds. The slowest winning time was by Silver Bounty in 1981 with 1 minute 17 seconds.

In 2020 Hey Doc made history) first dual champion on non-successive years since the race’s now namesake Manikato (1979, 1982) and in doing so also set a new race record time of 1:08.76.

In 2022 the Manikato Stakes meeting on the Friday night was abandoned due to lightning and rescheduled to run on the Saturday’s Cox Plate Day card with Bella Nipotina winning by nearly five lengths.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes remained on Cox Plate Day and was won in flying fashion by the Moir Stakes winning mare Imperatriz.

Recent Manikato Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Manikato Stakes
1st Imperatriz 1 minute 9.59 seconds
2nd I Am Me
3rd Uncommon James
2022
Manikato Stakes
1st Bella Nipotina 1 minute 11.60 seconds
2nd Rothfire
3rd Best Of Bordeaux
2021
Manikato Stakes
1st Jonker 1 minute 9.36 seconds
2nd Bella Nipotina
3rd Ingratiating
2020
Manikato Stakes
1st Hey Doc 1 minute 8.76 seconds (R)
2nd Trekking
3rd Dirty Work
2019
Manikato Stakes
1st Loving Gaby 1 minute 9:29 seconds
2nd Vital Silver
3rd Anaheed
2018
Manikato Stakes
1st Brave Smash 1 minute 9.36 seconds
2nd Spirit Of Valor
3rd Kementari
2017
Manikato Stakes
1st Hey Doc 1 minute 9.96 seconds
2nd In Her Time
3rd Malaguerra
2016
Manikato Stakes
1st Rebel Dane 1 minute 10.99 seconds
2nd Fell Swoop
3rd Japonisme
2015
Manikato Stakes
1st Chautauqua 1 minute 9.5 seconds
2nd Srikandi
3rd Rebel Dane
2014
Manikato Stakes
1st Lankan Rupee 1 minute 10.3 seconds
2nd Angelic Light
3rd Famous Seamus
2013
Manikato Stakes
1st Buffering 1 minute 11.44 seconds
2nd Lucky Nine
3rd Sessions
2012
Manikato Stakes
1st Sea Siren 1 minute 11.32 seconds
2nd Mental
3rd We’re Gonna Rock
2011
Manikato Stakes
1st Sepoy 1 minute 11.08 seconds
2nd Sister Madly
3rd More Joyous
2010
Manikato Stakes
1st Hay List 1 minute 9.94 seconds
2nd True Persuasion
3rd Eagle Falls
2009
Manikato Stakes
1st Danleigh 1 minute 12.5 seconds
2nd Phelan Ready
3rd Nicconi
2008
Manikato Stakes
1st Typhoon Zed 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Absolut Glam
3rd Kaphero
2007
Manikato Stakes
1st Gold Edition 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Vormista
3rd Dr Nipandtuck
2006
Manikato Stakes
1st Miss Andretti 1 minute 9.2 seconds
2nd Dance Hero
3rd Sassbee
2005
Manikato Stakes
1st Spark Of Life 1 minute 11.5 seconds
2nd Perfectly Ready
3rd Our Egyptian Raine
2004
Manikato Stakes
1st Spark Of Life 1 minute 13.3 seconds
2nd Yell
3rd Dilly Dally
2003
Manikato Stakes
1st Spinning Hill 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd True Glo
3rd The Big Chill
2002
Manikato Stakes
1st Spinning Hill 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Bel Espirit
3rd Mistegic
2001
Manikato Stakes
1st Piavonic 1 minute 12.9 seconds
2nd Sunline
3rd Falvelon
2000
Manikato Stakes
1st Sunline 1 minute 11.6 seconds
2nd Honour The Name
3rd Miss Pennymoney

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