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Sunday hosts the weekend’s feature sprint in Melbourne with $2 million up for grabs in a typically top-class edition of the Ladbrokes-sponsored showdown, and Races.com.au have broken down the full Manikato Stakes 2026 field providing our full preview, tips and best bets right here.
With The Valley undergoing redevelopment, this year’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) will be run and won at Caulfield and the weight-for-age event has drawn an outstanding field of 13.
Sitting top of the latest Manikato Stakes odds at Ladbrokes is the flying Chris Waller-trained Beiwacht paying $3.20 and firming to make it three Group 1 victories on the trot.
The blueblood Bivouac entire went out a Group 1 All Aged winner in Sydney over Lazzura and Jimmysstar before kicking off where he left off with a commanding, all-the-way three length romp home over veteran Mr Brightside here in the Memsie Stakes.
He was so strong over his pet 1400m trip that the decision from Waller to drop him back in a strong 1200m event could come into question, but he’s drawn a dream in gate three and Nash Rawiller sticks aboard.
From the low draw he’ll land on speed and could just come out on top and become the first Manikato Stakes favourite since Imperatriz ($1.40 in 2023) to salute.
The danger at Manikato Stakes odds of $5.50 is the Tom Dabernig-trained Oliveanotherday who strung together five straight wins before the streak came to an end down the Flemington straight last start.
The ultra-consistent Nicconi four-year-old is undefeated at Caulfield following his eye-catching 1.5 length Group 3 The Heath 1100 victory here fresh before going down a length to cross fifth as the beaten odds on favourite in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis.
Back at Caulfield he’ll be better and ready to bounce back after the straight just found him out on a Good (3) surface.
From gate five with Harry Coffey in the saddle again he’ll appreciate the sting out of the course and get on the speed with no excuses this time.
A further two spring sprinters are under double figures for the win with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar ($7) and Trent Edmond‘s exciting mare Extragalactic ($8.50).
Maher has a terrific record in the Manikato having prepared three of the past seven winners and looks to have a genuine chance to add to that with his veteran speedster Jimmysstar second-up and chasing atonement.
The three-time Group 1 champion and former The Everest placegetter is a genuine Caulfield specialist with five wins from eight starts at the track.
He didn’t seem to like the 1400m fresh in the Memsie when a disappointing ninth to Beiwacht but dropping back to the six furlongs looks the right move now and he’s been kept ticking over with a subsequent winning trial.
Blinkers go on to help sharpen him up, the flying Ethan Brown sticks with and at his best he’s capable of giving this a shake.
The mares finished on top of the Manikato Stakes results last year with Charm Stone, and the best of the females in the markets this year is Deep Field four-year-old Extragalactic.
On fire last campaign, she was very competitive during the Adelaide Carnival finishing runner-up in both the Group 2 Tobin Bronze and Group 1 The Goodwood.
She got this prep underway in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and at a big price was right there in the finish crossing fourth only a length off My Gladiola.
Two-from-two second-up she’ll improve off that and up to 1200m now is perfect.
Big tick is James McDonald coming aboard for the ride from gate two.
The Moir Stakes winner My Gladiola meanwhile shapes up as a terrific each way play at $12 to complete the double despite John McArdle‘s smart grey being winless over further than 1100m.
After announcing her return in style, the talented young mare surged to the top level with an upset first-up win after stalking the speed and proving too strong late.
While the rise to 1200m presents a fresh challenge, she has performed competitively at the distance before and now returns as a more seasoned and race-fit mare.
Jamie Mott retains the ride after a well-judged effort in the Moir, and another favourable run could see her right in the finish.
Other standout value plays in the Manikato this spring include former The Everest hero Giga Kick ($10) chasing his first win since last November’s Champions Sprint, consistent four-year-old Napoleonic ($13) who ran second in the Group 2 Missile Stakes in Sydney, the defending champion Charm Stone ($20) racing first-up from out wide and the Peter Snowden-trained Beadman ($26) who has been left alone by the punters again despite his excellent third fresh behind Tempted at 30/1 in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes.
The 2026 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes is scheduled as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEST) on Sunday’s nine-race card.
2026 Manikato Stakes Best Bets
Favourite: No. 5 Beiwacht
| 5. Beiwacht (3) J: Nash Rawiller 58.5kg 261×1 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months won by 3 len in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m on a soft track defeating Mr Brightside with 58.5kg at $6. Previously second-up 2nd of 10 in the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on March 7 over 1300m, 0.6 len behind Joliestar carrying 56kg at $9. Clearly the one to beat again. Best form is over further but he gets a lot in his favour and might just be too good. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 11 My Gladiola
Best Roughie: No. 7 Beadman
2026 Manikato Stakes Same Race Multi Tip
$13 (at time of publish) through Ladbrokes
- Top 3 – No. 5 Beiwacht
- Top 4 – No. 11 My Gladiola
- Top 6 – No. 7 Beadman
