The Manikato Stakes 2016 is the race to tune in for at Moonee Valley Racecourse tonight, betting tips and the latest odds for the spring sprint feature found below.

Due to jump at 9:30pm (AEDT) as Moonee Valley Race 7, this year’s $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) features a class line-up of 11 hopefuls.

The Manikato Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are still led by the reigning Team Hawkes-trained champ Chautauqua.

The six-year-old has eased out from $2.35 opening odds to $2.50 to go back-to-back in the weight-for-age showdown and he is out to atone for a first-up loss when fourth to Extreme Choice at the track in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).

Tonight’s distance will suit the internationally-prove champion as he has won seven of his 15 starts at the 1200m for a further six seconds and a third.

His record second-up is also solid consisting of two wins, three seconds and a third.

Occupying the second line of the Manikato Stakes odds out from $5.50 to $7 is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained three-year-old Written Tycoon colt Capitalist.

The last three-year-old to win the Manikato was Sepoy (2011), prepared by Peter Snowden, and Golden Slipper winner Capitalist has been targeted for this race specifically.

There’s rain around in Melbourne however and if the track gets too wet the gun youngster could scratch out and be saved for the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The big market mover meanwhile backed in from $12 to $9 is Fell Swoop who is the only non-previous Group 1 winner in this year’s Manikato Stakes field.

Matthew Dale’s Not A Single Doubt five-year-old is still well-performed at the highest level however including the second to Chautauqua in the autumn’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in Sydney.

So should you stick with the favourite Chautauqua or is there value tipping an upset Manikato Stakes result tonight?

Read our exclusive Two Word Manikato Stakes 2016 Form Guide for more info on tonight’s showdown.

1^st

#8 Fell Swoop ($9)

There are plenty of proven Group 1 winners in this star-studded clash but we’re happy to follow the money trail and back the market mover Fell Swoop to break his elite level maiden. He’s come close at the highest level on a number of occasions, including the TJ Smith Stakes. He comes off a third first-up in Sydney, but will be fitter for the run. Second-up he is two-from-three and he’s got a stellar record at this distance (6-4-1-0). He is also proven at Moonee Valley and from barrier three with the champion hoop Hugh Bowman aboard, he can box-seat behind The Buff and close late.

2^nd

#2 Chautauqua ($2.50)

Deserving favourite will be hard to beat and he’ll relish the 1200m after going down the beaten favourite here over the 1000m in the Moir. This Encosta De Lago gelding is the world’s top sprinter, he just needs to prove it again against a cracking field. Moonee Valley holds no fears (3-2-0-0) and the distance is his preferred (15-7-6-1). He won from barrier two last year and has the rails run tonight, barrier one producing three of the past seven Manikato Stakes winners. On paper that reads well, but really the inside gate isn’t where you want to be in this speed battle.

3^rd

#6 The Quarterback ($14)

The value punt in the field and best Each Way chance is definitely Robbie Griffiths’ Street Boss six-year-old who is a Group 1 winner at Flemington over Black Heart Bart (2^nd) and Chautauqua (3^rd) down the straight in the Newmarket. That’s some pretty top form and he is underrated. First-up he won the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m), also at Flemington, which is the race Chautauqua won on way to his Manikato success 12 months ago. Plenty of boxes ticked, just needs to handle the Valley, which he hasn’t really done to date.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our insider Manikato Stakes 2016 tips make sure you’ve got access to the weekend’s hottest Melbourne racing odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au!