MOONEE VALLEY PREVIEW September 25, 2009 MANIKATO STAKES (WFA 1200M) Race 6, 9.20pm (Melbourne time) Some of Australia’s best horses – not only sprinters – have won the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (WFA 1200m) at Moonee Valley, including Vain, Manikato, Strawberry Road, Rubiton, Sunline, Redoute’s Choice, Tauto, Dane Ripper and Dual Choice. Friday night’s sprint looks a very even race on paper, and also it represents a clash between the old and the new. The established champion Apache Cat, from barrier 12, will need to be on the top of his game to beat the rising stars Nicconi, Mic Mac and Swift Alliance. I doubt he can do it, and if he does win, it will prove to be one of his best performances in a career that boasts eight Group 1 wins; two of them over this course and distance. Nicconi is the horse that looks ready to take the next step to stardom. The 4YO was brilliant in winning the G3 Ian McEwen Stakes (WFA 1000m) at the Valley 13 days earlier. He looked burly and trainer David Hayes said Nicconi wasn’t anywhere near his top – Hayes also said Nicconi is the best sprinter he has trained. That’s a wonderful endorsement of the son of Bianconi who is a half-brother to Hayes’ recently retired Group 1 star Niconero. Jockey Craig Williams should be able to position Nicconi within striking range of his rivals – and no horse has a quicker turn of foot, including the noted strong-finisher Secret Flyer and the 2009 Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready. The strength of Nicconi and Mic Mac at the end of their races will be enough
SPEED MAP Predicted positions on settling
to see them fight out this finish. Nicconi gets the nod because he might be too quick for Mic Mac, who is coming back from 1600m (2nd in the G1 Dato Tan Chin Nam) to 1200m. In Mic Mac’s favour is a tremendous will to win and a high level of fitness after three runs this preparation. Trainer Greg Eurell has had only 13 days to fresh him. The worry for jockey Damien Oliver is finding the right passage for Apache Cat from his wide draw. If the predicted heavy rain arrives, then parking wide might be the best place to be, so watch the racing patterns in the previous five races before you discount Apache Cat’s chances. Secret Flyer will find the 1200m much more suitable than the 1000m scamper of the McEwen, when Nicconi’s burst from the 400m left him wallowing. However, Secret Flyer gathered himself and hit the line strongly. He also loves the Valley. The tips: Nicconi to beat Mic Mac, Apache Cat, Secret Flyer, Lucky Secret and Swift Alliance
TEMPO - MODERATE The speed map shows that this year’s Manikato Stakes is unlikely to be a quickly run affair. Only two horses are genuine speedsters – Lucky Secret and Swift Alliance – and neither is likely to pressure the other to keep the tempo up. Lucky Secret’s style is to pounce on the pace, ease and then kick for home from the 600m. He has the pace to cross from his wide draw if jockey Brett Prebble desires, but he can better control the tempo by parking outside Swift Alliance, who will go forward.
AND ALSO What a cracker of a meeting it is at Moonee Valley on Friday night as the city’s “little club” puts on a show worthy of grand final weekend while getting as much publicity as possible at a time when there is only one story – and that’s not racing. You can honestly say “daylight second” when you look at the night-time Group 1 sprint, the Manikato Stakes. Nicconi looks the goods, but he’ll have to be as good as we think he is to win. And the 3YO Group races are classy. And the Listed JRA Cup over the Cox Plate distance (2040m) has the night’s best bet in a ripper race. And, for good measure you can back some of the world’s top riders in a jockey challenge based on the threerace series between Hong Kong’s team of four and Australia’s bestVictorian quartet. And all of this after using the opening race as a “sighter” on how the track will play. To that best bet – Jolie’s Shinju. Singapore’s sweetheart has drawn the inside gate and can’t help but get the run of the race in front without playing ducks and drakes (other than easing wide in the run if the track forces it). Expect Ronnie Stewart to set a pace to suit her over a distance she covered comfortably in winning the Singapore Derby. Down several grades from her third in the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam (1600m), without opponents of the cailbre of Whobegotyou and Mic Mac, and fitter and more settled, she is the one – even if the early $2.40-$2.50 looks skinny. To have any hope in the Cox Plate she simply has to win this. Stephen Howell