Manikato Stakes 2026

WHO:

Gun weight-for-age sprinters

WHAT:

Group 1 1200-metre weight-for-age

WHEN:

Sunday 27 September 2026 (run and won by Jimmysstar)

WHERE:

Caulfield Racecourse in 2026, while Moonee Valley is rebuilt

WHY:

To share a prize pool of AUD$2,000,000

Who will win the Manikato Stakes?

The Manikato Stakes has been an intriguing weight-for-age sprint over the last few years.

Run over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley at Group 1 level, only the best of sprinters can handle the high pressure of the Manikato. 

Recently, favourites have had a particularly tough time winning the event, and the run continued through 2026. Imperatriz at $1.40 in 2023 is the only favourite to have won since Chautauqua, and the last three runnings went to Southport Tycoon at $21, Charm Stone at $31 and Jimmysstar at $6.50.

Chautauqua (2015) was the last favourite to win the Manikato Stakes at $2.5. 

A horse of his mould is required to win such a race; sustained speed and an ability to handle the pointed elbow corners of Moonee Valley. 

For 2026 the elbows were not a factor. With The Valley closed for reconstruction the race moved to Caulfield and to a Sunday in late September, and Jimmysstar won it from off the pace with a sustained run down the Caulfield straight that would not have been possible at Moonee Valley. If the race stays at Caulfield in 2027, the on-pace bias of the old venue should be weighted down.

Typically gallopers who come from the Moir Stakes (1000m) and the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) are the runners to really keep an eye on. 

In 2019, Loving Gaby came from a Group 2 event at Caulfield the start prior to score victory. 

Some runners have also used this race as an afterthought following The Everest. 

Brave Smash (2018) surged to victory after an eighth place finish in the Everest at his prior start. 

THE EARLY CONTENDERS

PORTLAND SKY
THE INFERNO
CRYSTAL BOUND
SEPTEMBER RUN
SWATS THAT
PORTLAND SKY

Raced first-up in the McEwen Stakes (1000m) and he looks on track to win a nice this spring after a good resuming run. 

He was the winner of the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) albeit in a dead heat during the autumn carnival to prove his Group 1 winning ability. 

The one big thing in his favour as well his ability to handle the Moonee Valley track. 

Suspect trainer Matt Laurie has a lot of improvement left for this horse after only being given one jump out prior to his resuming run. 

Racing is what is going to bring this horse on and he has to be a serious consideration in the Manikato Stakes.

THE INFERNO

Cliff Brown has stated his sprinter is good enough to stake his claim for a slot in The Everest. 

His win in the McEwen Stakes really put his name in the headlights after sizzling up the middle of the Moonee Valley straight to run away from his rivals. 

He defeated Portland Sky on that occasion, but he did have the fitness edge over him. 

It will be interesting to see how this horse progresses through the spring and if he does indeed find his way into the Everest. 

Even he does not, this race will definitely be on the cards as a target given how well he handled the track. 

CRYSTAL BOUND

This three-year-old filly has limitless potential and could be the massive improver as head deep into the spring. 

She had to chase down Dosh up the straight over 1100 metres when resuming from a spell and not fully fit, but by golly did she show an incredible will to win. 

She looks a horse to just know where the finish line is as she showed her strength late in the race to pick off Dosh and win running away from her. 

Her ratings and times read that of a ready-made Group 1 horse and being a filly she is going to get a significant weight advantage over the majority of this field. 

She looks a real prototype Moonee Valley horse with her ability to jump fast, settle under her rider with ease, and then let down with a sharp turn of foot. 

If we go back to her debut win at Moonee Valley, she smashed the clock over 1000 metres with brutal sustained speed.  

Hard not to like what this girl has produced in her short-lived career thus far.

SEPTEMBER RUN

She is a mare full of talent as we saw during her successful campaign as a three-year-old which saw her register victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. 

The only knock on her in this race is her racing pattern. 

She is a real get-back run-on type of horse which does not really bode well on the Moonee Valley track. 

Having said that, her resuming run over 1000 metres in the McEwen Stakes, when settling near last, showed punters that she may have returned to somewhere near her best. 

She ran some nice closing sectionals, but whether or not that is going to be good enough to overcome her racing pattern is what begs to be seen. 

SWATS THAT

Swats That, much like her four-year-old rival September Run, will return to the track after competing in the big Group 1 sprint races during the Melbourne spring carnival as a three-year-old. 

She ran bottlers in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington despite not winning and then just found the going a bit too tough when her campaign came to an end in the William Reid Stakes (1200m).

The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained sprinter has shown her ability to handle Moonee Valley having won the Scarborough Stakes (1200m) by two lengths last spring. 

Given her adept nature at running well at the Valley,  the Corstens stable will likely target this filly at the Manikato Stakes. 

EARLY TIP – Crystal Bound each-way $9.5/$3.1

Crystal Bound looks untapped. 

The three-year-old filly has a real Loving Gaby vibe to her and could actually be a better horse than the Manikato Stakes winner of 2019. 

Praying Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace send her to this race with only 50kgs to carry around a track she already knows so well. 

THE FAMOUS WINNERS

2026-2010

Jimmysstar (2026) gave Ciaron Maher his second Manikato Stakes after Bella Nipotina (2022), and became the first horse to win the race at Caulfield after its move from The Valley. Charm Stone (2025) at $31 and Southport Tycoon (2024) at $21 were two of the biggest upsets in the race’s history, while the brilliant mare Imperatriz (2023) remains the shortest-priced winner of the modern era at $1.40. Jonker (2021) led all the way for Tony Gollan.

Chautauqua produced one of the most stunning wins in the Manikato Stakes when he ‘pounced, raced away and won like a champion’ as described by commentator Greg Miles. ,

Colloquially known as ‘The Grey Flash,’ he stormed home to defeat a handy field and etch another Group 1 to his name. 

Tony McEvoy’s stable star Hey Doc (2017, 2020) joined four other horses, including Manikato himself, to have won the race twice. 

It does not end there with John McNair’s champion Hay List (2010) making the most of Black Caviar not being there. 

Sepoy (2011), Buffering (2013) and Lankan Rupee (2014) round out the multiple Group 1 winners to have taken out the Manikato Stakes. 

2009-1999

Gun mare Miss Andretti (2006) headlines the star sprinters to have won the Manikato Stakes in this decade of racing. 

Spinning Hill (2002, 2003) scored back to back victories in the race, while Sunline (2000) sprinted sharply as she headed off towards Cox Plate success in the same preparation. 

1998-1988

Redoute’s Choice (1999) and Dane Ripper (1998) headline the winners from 1988-99. 

Street Ruffian (1990), Spanish Mix (1994) and Poetic King (1996) were some of the other well known sprinters to charge to victory in the Manikato Stakes. 

Other winners

What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man!

Manikato, the horse who this race in named after, won this race twice in his career. 

His 1979 and 1982 triumph in the race led the racing governing bodies in Victoria to name the race in his honour.

RECENT WINNERS

How do I bet on the Manikato Stakes?

Punch in betnation.com.au on your internet browser or download and open the Bet Nation application on your smart phone.

Find the racing futures markets and click on the Manikato Stakes markets.

The 2026 race has been run. The Manikato form now points to The Everest at Randwick on 17 October, where Jimmysstar and the other Manikato runners can be backed in the futures market, and the 2027 Manikato Stakes market will open after the spring.

Here you will find all the main horses you can back to win the Manikato Stakes.