EQUINICS – RACE 8
THE MANIKATO STAKES
Grade I / Group 1 | 12 Furlongs | Turf | Fillies & Mares 4YO+
Queensland, Australia
By Lindsypark
First of all, a bit about the horse this race is named after.
The Manikato Stakes honours one of the greatest sprinters Australia has ever produced. I have found it quite humorous that the two races I’ve written up have had a sprint race named after a stayer and a staying race named after a sprinter. Has the host residency lost its way in naming these races?
Manikato was an Australian-bred chestnut gelding, foaled in 1975, and was trained initially by Bon Hoysted before Bon’s death saw his brother Bob Hoysted take over. Under Bob, Manikato developed into one of the defining horses of Australian racing in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
He was certainly no overnight sensation. Manikato cost just A$3,500 as a youngster but went on to race 47 times for 29 wins, eight seconds and five thirds, earning more than $1.15 million. He became only the second Australian horse after Kingston Town to surpass $1 million in prizemoney. If he raced today, imagine what those earnings would look like!
His two-year-old season announced that something special was coming. In 1978, Manikato won both the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper, before adding the Caulfield Guineas later that year. That combination demonstrated that he wasn’t simply a specialist sprinter — he had the class to compete successfully at a range of distances.
But it was at Moonee Valley where Manikato truly became a legend.
His most remarkable achievement was winning the William Reid Stakes five consecutive times from 1979 through 1983. No other horse has matched that feat in Australian racing, and it remains one of the most extraordinary records in the sport. Sadly, the Moonee Valley track has been ripped up and is being reconfigured at the moment to fit in development, so that while the track has been reconstructed before, it has never been changed like this, and all that history is just that now…memories.
Now to the race
1. TASTE OF LIQUOR (JPN, 6F) 11/1 – Corzacan6
Record: 25-5:5:2 | Earnings: $461,359
Just a Way x In the Wings x King Kamehameha
Taste of Liquor brings five wins from 25 starts into this race and more than $461,000 in US earnings. The six-year-old Japanese-bred mare was claimed back in 2024 and has featured in Graded and Stakes since then with her best result a 2nd in the Cedora D Stakes over 9.5F a year ago. She has plenty of racing experience behind her but will need to produce something special to match the credentials of the leading contenders here. At 11/1, she sits in an interesting part of the market and could be one to watch if the long-distance test brings out improvement.
2. LA CASANOVA (IRE, 6F) 5/1 – Maclones
Record: 30-9:10:2 | Earnings: $739,098
Fastnet Rock x Sadlers Wells x Forty Niner
La Casanova has been around the block, with 30 career starts producing nine wins and more than $739,000 in US earnings. This six-year-old mare has a G1 second placing in The Shinoda Stakes way back in March last year and comes into this off back-to-back stakes victories. She knows what is required when the pressure goes up – is she still up to this class? She doesn’t boast the winning percentage of some of the younger contenders, but experience over a long campaign can count for plenty. The 12-furlong trip looks within her wheelhouse given her turf-long profile. If the younger mares overdo it early, she could be the one charging home late. A seasoned contender worth respecting.
3. TWIRLIN PATCH COTC (KY, 5F) 8/1 – Cotclaim
Record: 30-6:6:6 | Earnings: $384,031
Twirling Candy x More Than Ready x Danehill
Twirlin Patch Cotc has six wins from 30 starts and has banked more than $384,000 in US earnings. The five-year-old brings plenty of Stakes experience to this Group 1 assignment, however, has never faced a Group class and sits at 8/1 in what looks a competitive market. She’ll need to improve on her overall winning strike rate to challenge the major contenders, but with a record that reads 30- 6:6:6 she could be the devil of this field. She will go to the front and give them something to chase, but can she hold on? At the current price, she is an interesting runner who shouldn’t be completely overlooked.
4. PIVOTAL ROCK GAL (IRE, 5F) 20/1 – Atw7
Record: 23-5:5:3 | Earnings: $242,389
Fastnet Rock x Pivotal x Montjeu
Pivotal Rock Gal has five wins from 23 starts and has earned just $242,000 all in Maidens, Claims and Allowance grades. This represents a considerable jump in class. While she has not yet appeared in a graded or stakes feature, this 5yo has the breeding to be competitive but will need to improve sharply feature in this Group 1. That said, she has plenty of race experience and could benefit if the race turns into a stamina test. She looks more like an upset hope than a leading contender at this stage. A big effort would be required.
5. EVIL JEZZABEL (IRE, 6F) 3/1 – Asrstar5
Record: 22-10:6:1 | Earnings: $4,816,480
Sea the Stars x Sadlers Wells x Storm Cat
The first of multiple Sea the Stars bred runners in the field. The standout name on the current list and, quite simply, the mare they all have to beat. Evil Jezzabel is trained by none other than the sneak thief himself and brings a remarkable 22 starts for 10 wins and a staggering $4.816 million in US earnings. A Hall of Fame inductee and End-Of-Year Award winner, she has already proven herself at the highest level with 4 G1 victories and a last start win in the G2 Sheepherder Beach Hcp. The 12F journey should hold no fears for a mare with this sort of class and record. She brings the best credentials in the field and will be expected to give the younger mares a serious lesson. If she brings her A-game, this is her race to lose – The wet track is no issue, only a voodoo doll could stop her.
6. SIGYN BAWI (ENG, 4F) 8/1 – Musse1
Record: 16-8:1:1 | Earnings: $470,948
Dubawi x A.P Indy x Sadlers Wells
Sigyn Bawi is one of the interesting younger mares in the field, sired by Dubawi out of the HoF mare Dynawells with 8 wins from just 16 starts, all on the turf surface. The four-year-old has already collected nearly half a million dollars and has both a stakes victory and G1 placing in the Shinoda Stakes on her résumé. A 50 percent win strike rate is impossible to ignore, particularly for a mare still with room to improve. She steps into deeper water here, but her previous form suggests she is not simply making up the numbers. If she gets the right run over the long trip, she could give the established stars plenty to think about. Will get waaaay back and be charging home. Will this be too short or is she the voodoo doll?
7. PULL YOU UNDER (IRE, 5F) 7/1 – Xpansion5
Record: 23-11:4:2 | Earnings: $789,570
Sea the Stars x Dubawi x Hearts Cry
Our second Sea the Stars entry, Pull You Under comes into this Group 1 with a very handy record, boasting 11 wins from 23 starts. The five-year-old mare has banked close to $800,000 in US earnings and has already tasted graded stakes success with a G3 victory in the Lincoln Park Cup back in January…Lincoln Park? Can we get that changed to Linsdypark please Frank? She also won the CEO classic G3 three starts ago and faced a wet track in the G1 The Mikhail the Great Stakes where she ran on late but didn’t look like she enjoyed the swim. She doesn’t possess the jaw-dropping résumé of Evil Jezzabel, but there is plenty of winning form here. Her consistency and experience make her a genuine threat if the favourite fails to fire. The 12-furlong test will ask a serious question, but she looks capable of answering it. One of the more obvious dangers on the current list.
8. PYROPHOBIC (GB, 4F) 14/1 – Veeman17
Record: 14-3:0:0 | Earnings: $279,270
Frankel x English Channel x Ela-Mana-Mou
Representing the Veeman stables is Pyrophobic. She has only 3 wins from 14 starts but has been progressing through the grades has shown enough quality to earn a place in this company with a Stakes win over 11.5F We Can See Turf Mare Stayer followed by a close-up 2nd in the G2 Corridor. Consistent speed figures and a last start step up to this race distance saw her finish midfield but coming home strong. While her earnings have pushed comfortably beyond $250,000. She will need to find a little more winning punch against several mares with stronger strike rates. Still, the form credentials are there, and she has earned her opportunity. The mile-and-a-half journey could bring out another level if she settles and gets the right tempo. Don’t completely dismiss her at this stage.
9. CRANSTO (KY, 4F) 37/1 – Lightng122
Record: 12-5:2:1 | Earnings: $197,184
Rombauer x Kyllachy x Mastercraftsman
Cransto is an interesting breed, out of the little-known sire Rombauer, arrives with 5 wins from only 12 starts. Started her career exclusively on dirt, switching exclusively to turf in her last 5 starts over distances between 14-16F. She has already landed a stakes race and banked almost $200,000, but this is another significant step up in class. Her lighter race record could mean there is improvement still to come, which makes her an intriguing runner for the longer journey. She will need to take another leap forward against several proven graded winners. Will she be too dour for this one? Only time will tell. A good trip and genuine staying pace could help her cause. An outside chance, but certainly not without appeal.
10. SURFING RESERVE (IRE, 4F) 8/1 – Teece5
Record: 17-3:7:0 | Earnings: $700,701
Sea the Stars x Kingmambo x Sadlers Wells
Surfing Reserve is an interesting 4yo (our 3rd Sea the Stars bred runner) who has won three of her 17 starts but has already accumulated more than $700,000 in US earnings. Her breeding has two of the same horses as the favourite Evil Jezzabel, but with Sadlers Wells in the DDS spot instead of the DS. Was beaten by a head in the Vicky Oaks back in October last year by one of the sneak thief’s runners. At 8/1, the market clearly gives her a chance despite the relatively modest win tally. She comes into this off a solid 5.5 length win in the Majestic Lightning Turf Mare Memorial at Stakes level, running a solid 113 SP. Her earnings suggest there is genuine quality underneath the record. The 12F trip will be an important test, and if she handles the wet track, she could be a serious factor.
11. PAINTED THE STARS (FR, 5F) 16/1 – Commbank
Record: 12-4:1:1 | Earnings: $115,138
Cloth of Stars x Frankel x Distorted Humor
By Temu Sea the Stars stallion Cloth of Stars, Painted the Stars is a lightly raced mare with record of 4 wins from 12 starts, all in Maiden, Claim and Allowance fields. She has surpassed the $100,000 mark in US earnings but is a long way behind the favourite. The French-bred mare has allowance-winning form and is yet to appear in stakes or graded races. success of several of her rivals. Her 50 percent win strike rate is attractive, however, we saw her compete in two legs of the Twitch Champions Cup earlier this year, where she was claimed twice. Her new owner commbank has run her twice at allowance level for modest results, where she got back and ran on, meaning there may be more upside than the raw badges suggest. This is a big ask over 12 furlongs against an accomplished group of mares. She’ll need absolutely everything to go right. A fascinating outsider if she can find another gear and stick it right up those pompous Sea the Stars mares.
12. SENKO KAMOKU (JPN, 4F) 7/1 – Newnewfydowns
Record: 16-9:5:0 | Earnings: $656,845
Daiwa Major x Galileo x Deep Impact
Senko Kamoku is a fascinating runner with nine wins from 16 starts and an impressive 87% W:P:S record. The Japanese-bred 4yo has won at G2 level and has earned more than $650,000 in US dollars. Those nine victories make her one of the most accomplished win machines in the current field. She lacks the Hall of Fame résumé of Evil Jezzabel, but her raw record is right up there with the best. Her most recent start was the City of Troy Stakes against the boys, running 2nd in a field of 6. She was beaten 10.5 lengths by the 4yo colt Frankel Mandate but destroyed the 4 other older geldings in the race. She will appreciate the return to mares class here, having won the G2 10F Hannah Barbera Cup from wire to wire with an outstanding 114 SP. Prior to the G2 v the boys, she was on a 4-win streak. If you are looking for an upset, this could be your girl.
Good luck to all runners, I have Evil Jezzabel on top – if everything goes right, she just wins. If it doesn’t, look out for the 12, 10 and 6 & 2. As a roughie lover, I’d like to see the 11 finish well too.
Lindsypark
Thanks for a great preview!!! Good luck to all!!!