What better way to kick off AFL Grand Final weekend than with Group 1 racing under lights at Moonee Valley!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes will headline a quality eight race program on Friday night and with five of them, including all four quaddie legs, to be run at group level, we're in for a real treat.
I've delved deep into the form, and you can find my detailed selections below in my Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Night preview.
Don't forget to also check out our The Punters' Playbook: Moonee Valley Spring Carnival Deep Dive to help guide your spring racing bets at The Valley!
Race 1: MSC SIGNS HANDICAP BM84 1200M
No. 7 NDOLA
NDOLA returns to the races and the son of Justify has been gelded since we last saw him on raceday.
A three-time winner, he recorded his first stakes placing last campaign when finishing the runner up in the CS Hayes Stakes to last weekend's Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Sepals.
He looked to struggle at seeing out the mile in both the Australian Guineas and VOBIS Gold Reef before heading to the paddock.
Given three recent jump outs, he looks to have come back in top order and draws to get the right run under Luke Currie.
Race 2: DRUMMOND GOLF BRIAN KRUGER HANDICAP 3YO 1200M
No. 5 OLIVEANOTHERDAY
OLIVEANOTHERDAY comes off an impressive maiden victory and I think she can go on with it.
The Nicconi filly was brilliant on debut when powering home from the tail to finish a narrow runner up at Warracknabeal and arguably should have won.
Over the 1125m at Geelong last start, she settled in the box seat and despite being held up for the much of the straight, she extended strongly late to score by over a length.
She looks to have plenty of upside and gate five should see her every chance under Jordan Childs.
Race 3: LADBROKES 55 SECOND CHALLENGE SERIES 1 – HEAT 1 BM84 955M
No. 8 GRAND LARCENY
GRAND LARCENY returns to the races.
The Zoustar gelding just had the two runs last prep and scored a strong first up win on the Caulfield Heath before going down narrowly in heavy going at Randwick.
He put together back to back wins in his prior campaign, one of which was over this course and distance.
A dynamic sprinter on his day, the lightly raced five-year-old continues to impress each preparation and he looks to have returned in good order having pleased in a recent Flemington jump out.
Blake Shinn will do the steering for team Hawkes, and the inside draw can see him settle in striking distance.
Race 4: CARBONE LAWYERS STUTT STAKES 3YO SW GROUP 2 1600M
No. 1 VINROCK
VINROCK bounced back to his brilliant best last start to take out the Listed Exford Plate and he looks beautifully placed here out to the mile.
The Matt Laurie trained son of I Am Invincible took all before him in his first preparation, saluting on debut in a Pakenham maiden before wins in the Group 2 VRC Sires and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
He was only plain when resuming in the McNeil Stakes but with the added fitness, he let down strongly to score by 1.75 lengths last time.
The way he found the line suggests he'll relish the rise in trip, and he gets in extremely well here under the set weights conditions of the 2025 Stutt Stakes.
Race 5: DOMINANT SCARBOROUGH STAKES 3YO FILLIES SW GROUP 3 1200M
No. 7 ESHA
ESHA was found to be lame after pulling up in the Moir Stakes and I think she can bounce back.
At just her third race start, the daughter Extreme Choice was thrown in the deep in as she lined up for her first Group 1 contest.
She settled outside the leader and was in it until the 100m mark, where she quickly dropped off, but it was a solid effort given that she had a genuine issue.
She'd been unbeaten in two prior starts, scoring a dominant win on debut back in it May and she picked up where she left off, with a very similar performance when resuming over this course and distance last month.
A quality filly, she looks nicely placed with the drop back in grade and I think the rise to 1200m will suit in Friday night's Scarborough Stakes.
Race 6: LADBROKES FEEHAN STAKES WFA GROUP 2 1600M
No. 6 TREASURETHE MOMENT
TREASURETHE MOMENT proved superior when resuming in the Memsie Stakes to make it nine straight wins and despite a setback last week, I think she can maintain her win streak in the Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes.
After showing mild signs of colic, the star mare was sent straight to the vets and thankfully the team reported that she was back to her bright self in no time.
She's unbeaten in three second up appearances, as well as two starts over the mile and whilst she's yet to step out around the Valley, I think she'll be well suited here.
With Damian Lane sidelined, Mark Zahra will take over the steering and the inside draw should see her settle as head of the pack with Pride Of Jenni expected to take up her customary front running roll.
Race 7: LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES WFA GROUP 2 1200M
No. 2 BARAQIEL
BARAQIEL is unbeaten around the Valley, and I think it's set to stay that way.
The seven-year-old son of Snitzel was too good when resuming in the Norman Carlyon and proved he was the real deal as he recorded his first Group 1 triumph last start in the Moir Stakes.
His injuries have been well documented, but the Corstens / Larkin team have done a remarkable job with him and there's no doubting he's up to this level.
He's a five-time winner over 1200m and I think he's the one to beat.
Race 8: LADBROKES STOCKS STAKES MARES SW GROUP 2 1500M
No. 7 OH TOO GOOD
OH TOO GOOD was terrific when resuming in the Let's Elope Stakes and she will have taken plenty of benefit from the run.
Always wide, in the 1400m event, she charged home to get within a short neck of Lazzura.
With that run under her belt, the slight rise to 1500m looks ideal and she remains unbeaten in three runs over this trip.
A very honest mare, she's worked through her grades with relative ease, and a stakes win looks imminent.
Craig Williams will take the mount for Pakenham trainer Kevin Daffy and with even luck off the wide gate, I think she can get the job done in the Stocks Stakes.
