| What | Manikato Stakes Night 2025 |
| Where | Moonee Valley Racecourse – Gate 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 |
| When | Saturday, September 26, 2025 |
| First Race | 6:15pm AEST |
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Visit Dabble |
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The Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) headlines proceedings on a stacked eight-race program at Moonee Valley this Friday night, marking the eve before AFL Grand Final Day.
With showers forecast on Friday, the track is expected to remain a Soft 5 throughout the program, and with the rail in its true position, there shouldn’t be too many excuses for fancied runners.
Below are HorseBetting.com.au’s free tips for Manikato Stakes Night 2025, which is set to commence at 6:15pm AEST.
Manikato Stakes Tip: Skybird
Skybird was a horror watch for her backers in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) fresh, running up plenty of backsides and never seeing daylight. She did well to only be beaten 2.27 lengths, and with clear air at the right time, there is no doubt she would have finished closer. She draws in barrier six, so with a bit of luck John Allen can stay one off the rail this time around. With a strong turn of foot and the ability to handle rain-affected ground, Skybird looks over the odds with horse racing bookmakers in the 2025 Manikato Stakes.
Manikato Stakes
Race 7 – 
#8 Skybird (6)
5yo Mare | T: Mitchell Freedman | J: John Allen (56.5kg)
Stutt Stakes Tip: Vinrock
Vinrock is arguably the best three-year-old in Victoria, and he gets his chance to flex his muscles in the 2025 Stutt Stakes (1600m). The three-year-old colt bounced back from a below-average first-up run with a dominant win in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m). He meets a similar field to what he disposed of last time, and as long as Mark Zahra can get across from barrier eight, Vinrock should prove too hard to gun down.
Stutt Stakes
Race 4 – 
#1 Vinrock (8)
3yo Colt | T: Matt Laurie | J: Mark Zahra (57kg)
Feehan Stakes Tip: Treasurethe Moment
Treasurethe Moment gets a chance to bring up a 10th straight win when she lines up in the 2025 Feehan Stakes. She draws barrier one and will no doubt be the one chasing tearaway leader Pride Of Jenni for most of the race, but she has the ability to absorb that hot pressure — much like she did first-up when winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m). This will be her first go at Moonee Valley, but she simply should be too good for her rivals once again.
Feehan Stakes
Race 6 – #6 Treasurethe Moment (1)
4yo Mare | T: Matt Laurie | J: Mark Zahra (56.5kg)
Stocks Stakes Tip: Splash Back
Splash Black was hitting the line with intent in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) when beaten less than a length by the classy Lazzura last time out. She gave the eventual winner too much of a start from the rear of the field but showed enough to suggest she was worth following. She steps up to the 1500m for the first time in her career in the 2025 Stocks Stakes, and with a genuine tempo expected, the race should set up perfectly for Splash Back to build through the gears and blouse her rivals late.
McKenzie Stakes
Race 8 – 
#9 Splash Back (2)
6yo Mare | T: Grahame Begg | J: Jordan Childs (55kg)
Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Esha
Esha was slow away in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last time out and had to burn too many carrots to be up on a hot speed. Stepping back in grade in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m), she should be too speedy for this lot. The three-year-old filly was a dominant Moonee Valley 1000m winner fresh, and from barrier six on Friday, Mark Zahra will look to dominate proceedings once again. If Esha can handle the step up to 1200m, she should simply be too slick.
Best Bet
Race 5 – #7 Esha (6)
3yo Filly | T: Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | J: Mark Zahra (56kg)
Manikato Stakes Night quaddie tips for Moonee Valley
Moonee Valley quadrella selections
Friday, September 26, 2025
- 7-9
- 6
- 2-5-6-8-9
- 4-5-7-9
Horse racing tips
