Chautauqua is currently available at 2015 Manikato Stakes odds of $2 and he has opened as a dominant favourite in betting for the Group 1 sprint that will be held at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Chautauqua and Terravista are set to clash again in the 2015 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Chautauqua was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished a close third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 18 and he has made it two wins from as many starts since he returned to the races.
The five-year-old showed that he had no problems getting around Moonee Valley when he recorded an effortless win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) on September 5, but he did not have it as easy in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 4 and he was forced to make up a great deal of ground late after being blocked for a run.
Terravista beat Chautauqua in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington last year, but he has since finished behind his rival on three occasions and he is currently on the second line of Manikato Stakes betting at a quote of $5.50.
The Captain Rio gelding was given three barrier trials before the start of his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he looked in trouble at the top of the straight in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 3, but jockey Hugh Bowman was able to weave a passage and get the six-year-old home.
While Chautauqua is a clear favourite in Manikato Stakes betting, the best backed runner since the final field was released this morning has been Srikandi, who has been backed from $6.50 into $6.
Srikandi missed the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but stamped herself as one of the most talented sprinting mares in the country when she took out the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6 and the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.
The only other horse that is available at single figure 2015 Manikato Stakes odds is veteran gelding Buffering, who is priced at $8 to become the first horse since Manikato himself to win the Manikato Stakes in non-consecutive years.
Buffering missed the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival due to injury and he had not had a race start since he finished a credible sixth behind Aerovelocity in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 14, but he was still able to lead from start to finish to score a typically gutsy victory in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 2.
There has been a sprinkling of early betting support for Alpha Miss ($13 into $12) in the 2015 Manikato Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes, while Rebel Dane has drifted from $11 out to $12.
Don’t miss out on the 2015 Manikato Stakes special that is available with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% on every single runner in the race!
