The $2million Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m) has drawn an outstanding field of 13 with a mix of Sydney and Melbourne formlines coming together and gun three year-olds taking on the established sprinters with Yulong set to field three runners and they have a slot to fill for The Everest.
Yulong bought up big at the mare sales this year and their acquisitions included Group I winning sprinter Chain of Lightning, bought for $2.5million at MM National and Group II winner Kimochi, bought for $2.2million at Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Both mares were left in work with their previous trainers Peter Moody/ Katherine Coleman and Gary Portelli to continue racing for another season and both come into this WFA test after encouraging first up runs.
Kimochi won the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) in Sydney and Chain of Lightning closed off well to be beaten three lengths in the Group I MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) with both suited by the step to 1200m.
The third Yulong runner is progressive Zoustar colt Growing Empire, who will be looking to continue his winning run coming into his toughest test to date with four straight wins next to his name following a debut second back in February.
Fellow three year-olds Coleman and Hayasugi ran super races in the Moir and are drawn in gates one and two, while heavy hitters I Wish I Win and Veight are drawn out in 12 and 9.
All in all this shapes as one of the most exciting sprints of the year, all eyes on The Valley tomorrow night!
$2m GROUP 1 MANIKATO STAKES (1200m)
Friday night, The Valley
No. – Horse (Sire) – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – I WISH I WIN (NZ) (Savabeel) – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – Luke Nolen – 12 – 58.5kg
2 – VEIGHT (Grunt) – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Damian Lane – 9 – 58.5kg
3 – RECOMMENDATION (Shalaa (IRE)– Ciaron Maher – Michael Dee – 5 – 58.5kg
4 – SOUTHPORT TYCOON (Written Tycoon) – Ciaron Maher – Mark Zahra – 3 – 58.5kg
5 – JOHNNY ROCKER (Jukebox) – Nick Ryan – TBA – 13 – 58.5kg
6 – CABALLUS (I Am Invincible) – Bjorn Baker – TBA – 8 – 58.5kg
7 – CHAIN OF LIGHTNING (Fighting Sun) – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – TBA – 4 – 56.5kg
8 – ESTRIELLA (I Am Invincible) – Ciaron Maher – Blake Shinn – 10 – 56.5kg
9 – KIMOCHI (Brave Smash (Jpn) – Gary Portelli – Jason Collett – 6 – 56.5kg
10 – CLIMBING STAR (Zoustar)– Phillip Stokes – TBA – 11 – 56.5kg
11 – COLEMAN (Pierata) – Matt Laurie – Kerrin McEvoy – 1 – 52kg
12 – GROWING EMPIRE (Zoustar) – Ciaron Maher – TBA – 7 – 52kg
13 – HAYASUGI (Royal Meeting (IRE) – Clinton McDonald – Jamie Kah – 2 – 50kg
