Fifty five of the world’s standout sprinters have been included in 2015 Manikato Stakes nominations, to be contested over the 1200m course at Moonee Valley on Friday evening, October 23rd.
2014 champion Lankan Rupee has been included in 2015 Manikato Stakes nominations. Photo: Sarah Ebbett
Champion sprinter Lankan Rupee charged home win a contentious 2014 edition of the Manikato Stakes and has been confirmed in nominations for the 2015 Group 1 race.
A five-time Group 1 champion, Lankan Rupee undoubtedly found career-best form to date through the 2014 Autumn Carnival; taking out the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) with complete ease first-up before winning each of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in succession.
Only managing second in each of the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) in the lead-up to his 2014 Manikato Stakes triumph, the Redoute’s Choice gelding returned this year for success in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on February 21st, but failed to fire in each of his two most recent starts.
Terravista was unlucky to finish fifth in the fanning end to last year’s edition and has been included in 2015 Manikato Stakes nominations.
Terravista returned last spring for consecutive wins in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and Group 2 The Shorts (1200m) prior to the Manikato Stakes; progressing to undoubtedly a career-best effort to date for success in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).
Having finished third in each of the Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes most notably in autumn, the Captain Rio gelding will return this time in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 2nd.
Angelic Light is a proven Moonee Valley performer and arguably leads the charge of mares included in 2015 Manikato Stakes nominations alongside the Ciaron Maher-trained Srikandi.
Angelic Light spent more than a year in the paddock with a strong of unfortunate ailments prior to her 2014 Spring Carnival campaign, but returned to racing in blistering form and delivered Lankan Rupee a shock defeat in the McEwen Stakes.
Failing to fire in the Moir Stakes, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor ran second in the Manikato Stakes before again failing to match the late pace in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth.
Srikandi was the standout performer through the 2014 Brisbane Winter Carnival and has returned to racing this year in even greater condition.
Finishing outside the first three only twice in 13 career starts, Srikandi charged home to win the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) upon resuming this year, and while unable to figure when eighth in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) and sixth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m), responded in the best way possible in taking out each of the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) and Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) most recently.
