Jockey Mark Zahra will partner the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained English under the lights at The Valley on Cox Plate Eve in the 2017 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes field.

English heads to Moonee Valley for the 2017 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes under the lights on Friday October 27. Photo: Steve Hart.

Zahra hasn’t partnered the daughter of Encosta De Lago since her second last (11^th) behind Malaguerra at Flemington last Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).

This time in Blake Shinn has been the regular rider of the now five-year-old, aboard English for her three spring runs so far.

Over the weekend she lined-up in the inaugural $10 million The Everest (1200m) and finished a credible mid-field sixth beaten under three lengths by the impressive Peter & Paul Snowden-trained winner Redzel.

Waterhouse & Bott will now head south with English to race next-up at Moonee Valley on October 27 in the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m).

“We were happy with the run [in The Everest] considering where she settled in the run from the wide barrier,” co-trainer Bott told Racing Victoria on Monday.

“The track wasn’t really suiting horses like her that get back in the field.

“She has come through the run in great order and we’ve pencilled in the Manikato for her next run.”

It has been a while between drinks for the 2016 All Aged Stakes winner whose only victory since was a first-up win on a Heavy (10) Randwick track defeating Redzel in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) back in March.

English has raced in Melbourne just twice before, Zahra aboard for both failed runs, with the Darley Classic flop following her seventh behind upset winner Rebel Dane in last year’s Manikato Stakes.

She was only two lengths beaten in the race 12 months ago, and currently pays $9 in the pre-field Manikato Stakes odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.

Next Tuesday’s Breakfast with the Best could feature English, depending on when the team decided to travel to Melbourne with her.

“We will let her get over the run from the weekend and then make plans but she could arrive in to Melbourne just before the Manikato,” Bott said.

On the back of a brilliant The Everest second, the Lindsay Park-trained Memsie Stakes winner Vega Magic dominates early Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes betting at $3.50.

The other best fancied for the night sprint showdown are In Her Time ($5) who missed out on a The Everest run but scored a consolation win in last Saturday’s $500,000 Sydney Stakes and Chautauqua who got too far back closing for fourth in The Everest results.

To check out the latest Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes 2017 markets head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.