Moonee Valley Racecourse lights up tonight for Manikato Stakes Night featuring the Group 1 Manikato Stakes 2015, betting tips for the sprint classic detailed below.

Buffering is the Races.com.au tip to become a dual Manikato Stakes winner under the lights at Moonee Valley in 2015. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Ten line-up in Moonee Valley Race 7 at 9:45pm (AEST) this evening with markets at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Best Tote or SP + 20% on tonight’s feature race – for the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) led by Chautauqua.

The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Encosta De Lago five-year-old is looking for his third win from as many starts this time in after taking out a Group 2 double to kick off his campaign and pays $2.15 at an easing price in the Manikato Stakes odds.

He has Tommy Berry back aboard, Berry riding him for the TJ Smith Stakes win and All Aged Stakes third in Sydney during the autumn, and needs to stay out of trouble from barrier two.

The speed up front will aid the favourite’s cause, Chautauqua looking to become the fourth favourite in six years to salute for the punters.

What beats the top fancy? The bookies have the next best in Manikato Stakes betting as the rails-drawn Terravista ($5.50) from the Sydney stables of Joe Pride, last start Moir Stakes winning eight-year-old Buffering ($7) and the top fancied mare in the mix Srikandi ($7.50) who is first-up and shooting for her third Group 1 win in as many starts.

So can Chautauqua and Berry get the job done tonight or is there an upset Manikato Stakes result on the cards at the Valley?

1^st

#1 Buffering ($7)

Buffering may be looking to break the hoodoo of eight-year-olds in the Manikato, none winning in over 30 years, but his form at this track and distance is far too good to ignore. This is the fifth year on the trot Heathcote’s Brisbane raider runs in the race, which he won in 2013. Will need to do a bit of work from barrier seven, but he’s won five from 10 at the track and is an 11 time winner over 1200m. Three of his career victories have been over 1200m at the Valley and he comes off a first-up Moir Stakes win here from barrier six. That was his third Moir win and at his best he beats the favourite.

2^nd

#2 Chautauqua ($2.15)

Deserving favourite is on the ease in betting so gets better and better value every time he goes out. Barrier two looks a little tricky, but Berry knows this horse very well and can give him a clever ride. The pace in this should suit and he’ll be charging home late. The two lead-up Group 2 wins have him rock hard fit, including his Moonee Valley debut in the McEwen that was very impressive, and this is his pet distance (10-4-5-0).

3^rd

#4 Rebel Dane ($12)

The value looks to be Gary Portelli’s Sydney raider, the six-year-old back in his best form yet having won the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) first-up and then finishing second to Terravista in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) last time out. He hasn’t raced at Moonee Valley since his sixth in the William Reid back in late March, but he has a good 1200m record (13-3-2-2) and is drawn for the challenge in barrier four.

Lock in Best Tote or SP + 20% on your Manikato Stakes 2015 betting tips tonight and win more at Ladbrokes.com.au!