Golden Rose winning colt Astern is one of three three-year-olds among the 22 Manikato Stakes first acceptances for 2016 taken by Racing Victoria (RV) this week.

Astern is one of three three-year-olds among the 2016 Manikato Stakes first acceptances this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Photo: Steve Hart.

Held on the eve of Cox Plate Day under the lights at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Friday October 21, this year’s $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) went through the latest stage of declarations on Tuesday as did the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

A trio of youngsters are out to stop the older champions in the weight-for-age clash this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival for the first time since Sepoy (2011) with the John O’Shea-trained Astern, the autumn’s Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and his undefeated stablemate Russian Revolution.

Last year’s Manikato Stakes winner Chautauqua returned to racing last Friday nights and was defeated in a shock result crossing fourth as the beaten favourite behind Mick Price’s gun three-year-old sprinter Extreme Choice.

Despite the loss, the Team Hawkes-trained super star remains favourite in pre-field Manikato Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $2.60 to go back-to-back in the classic and add to his impressive $6.5 million in prize money to date.

Godolphin’s Medaglia D’Oro colt Astern is the second best fancied first acceptor in the all-in Manikato Stakes odds at a quote of $5.50 to hand O’Shea his second win after the success of Sea Siren (2012).

Astern has won five of his seven starts to date including the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) by an impressive 2.3 lengths two back.

He was defeated last Saturday at Royal Randwick however when narrow runner-up to the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Russian Revolution in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).

Co-trainer Peter Snowden confirmed after the Epsom Day win, which took the record of Snitzel colt Russian Revolution to four wins from four career starts, the team were looking at a VRC Derby Day run in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on October 29 at Flemington.

He is still listed as a $17 hope to take out the Manikato Stakes a month earlier.

Snowden prepared then three-year-old Sepoy for his Manikato Stakes success and also has Capitalist in the first acceptances this season.

Winner of the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) as a two-year-old, the Written Tycoon colt was last seen running third to his stablemate in the Roman Consul Stakes and pays $13 in the pre-first acceptance Manikato markets.

The other top fancies are the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler ($9) who has winning Group 1 form at the track / distance, Robert Heathcote’s Moonee Valley specialist Buffering ($13) who took out the 2013 Manikato Stakes and Price’s 2014 winner Lankan Rupee ($13).

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have also paid the first declaration fee for All Aged Stakes winner English who, along with the Lindsay Park-trained Sheidel, are the only two mares still in the mix.

Last Sunday’s Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) winner The Quarterback, Kiwi miler Turn Me Loose and veteran eight-year-old Sydney sprinter Our Boy Malachi are also among the first acceptors.

The 2016 Manikato Stakes final acceptances close on October 18 at 8:30am (AEDT).

See below for the latest entries and then head to Ladbrokes.com.au for access to the top all-in betting markets on all the upcoming Group 1 spring features.

2016 Manikato Stakes First Declarations

Moonee Valley Racecourse – 21/10/2016