The Early Oil: Brad Waters’ best bets and value play for Manikato Stakes night at The Valley on Friday

Night racing resumes with Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes meeting, which could conclude with a big result for a Perth mare in the Group 1 Stocks Stakes.

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Friday night’s Manikato Stakes meeting at The Valley.

• Clinton Payne’s Manikato Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

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BEST BET
ALSEPHINA (Race 8, No. 5): Made a terrific Melbourne debut when caught wide at Flemington first-up. She’ll only be improved and will be better on firmer footing.

BEST VALUE
BENAGIL (Race 5 No. 11): Won her two winter starts but has impressed at her recent jumpouts. She can measure up to this harder contest from the inside draw.

SNEAKY CHANCE
THAMES (Race 1, No. 7): Has improved with racing, winning her last two in strong fashion. She’s up in class but drawn to have every chance with Jamie Kah aboard.

EARLY QUADDIE
3, 6, 7, 8/2, 5, 10, 11, 14/1, 3, 9, 12/1, 4
$100 flexi for 62.5 per cent

BIG6
1, 3, 9, 12/1, 4/1, 4, 5, 11/2, 5/1, 8, 12, 13/1, 5
$100 flexi for 11.5 per cent

QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 4, 5, 11
Race 6: 1, 2, 4, 5
Race 7: 1, 8, 12, 13
Race 8: 1, 5
$100 flexi for 78 per cent

Exciting three-year-old Stanley Express will return in the first race of Friday night’s meeting at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos

RACE 1: 6:15PM MSC SIGNS VOBIS SILVER HANDICAP (1200m)
Night racing resumes at The Valley and a strong three-year-old race opens proceedings. STANLEY EXPRESS (2) showed outstanding ability to win a $1 million race on debut and has trialled well leading up to this. THAMES (7) is getting better with racing and gets in on the limit weight. STOLI BOLLI (6) didn’t have the best of luck in Stakes grade last time and can improve. GALLANT SON (8) was a dominant debut winner and could show something fresh.
SUGGESTED BET: Stanley Express to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Gallant Son $3.60 – $3.

RACE 2: 6:45PM DRUMMOND GOLF HANDICAP (1200m)
Difficult race but WAR MACHINE (10) impressed at every outing last time in and has jumped out well to prepare for this. The gate is the only query. MARBLE ARCH (5) also resumes and has a good record over 1200m. PEACE TREATY (14) will be fitter for two runs in and looks ready for this class rise. MARS MISSION (11) has good form at The Valley and is drawn to have his chance first-up.
SUGGESTED BET: War Machine to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Peace Treaty $7.50 – $6.50.

• Place Du Carrousel to improve in Turnbull

RACE 3: 7:15PM LADBROKES 55-SECOND CHALLENGE HEAT 1 (955m)
BEAST MODE (3) is racing well over longer trips but has the early pace to give himself every chance. HOLY RACKET (9) goes well first-up and was close-up in a recent Cranbourne trial. CELUI (4) floes fresh and will find this easier than his Queensland winter assignments. UNFLINCHING (1) will find this easier than his solid first-up outing in Sydney.
SUGGESTED BET: Box quinella 1, 3, 4, 9.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Frilled $10 – $6.50.

Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni will again do battle in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

RACE 4: 7:45PM GROUP 2 LADBROKES FEEHAN STAKES (1600m)
A four-horse field for the Feehan Stakes but it should be an enthralling contest. MR BRIGHTSIDE (1) was too strong in the Makybe Diva Stakes and will be suited stalking the leader. PRIDE OF JENNI (4) improved significantly at Flemington and will be harder to run down this time. ATTRITION (3) got too far back on this track last time out but stepping up to 1600m will suit. ANTINO (3) was competitive in the Makybe Diva Stakes and could place again here.
SUGGESTED BET: Just watch and enjoy.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Mr Brightside $1.95 – $1.85.

• Friday fields prove The Valley’s Spring changes work

RACE 5: 8:15PM GROUP 3 LADBROKES SCARBOROUGH STAKES (1200m)
An open race for three-year-old fillies but BENAGIL (11) impressed in her two runs last time in and has shown she is back in good order at the jumpouts. Barrier one is a plus. TOBENORNOTTOBE (5) pushed forward and tried hard down the straight at Flemington first-up and will be fitter. GEEGEES MISTRUTH (4) chased well at Caulfield first-up and will be better for this. ENEEZA (1) was consistent in top races as a two-year-old and has drawn well.
SUGGESTED BET: Benagil each-way.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Benagil $15 – $11.

• Brad Waters’ Blackbook: Six horses to follow from Victorian jumpouts and trials

RACE 6: 8:45PM GROUP 2 MGI GOLF STUTT STAKES (1600m)
EVAPORATE (2) is flying with three straight wins, his last two at The Valley, and there’s no reason he won’t be in the finish of this. DETROIT CITY (5) closed well in an on-pacers’ race at Flemington and should enjoy the longer trip at The Valley. RUE DE ROYALE (1) was too good at Bendigo first-up and will only be improved. DAGGERS (4) wasn’t far away when up to 1400m at Flemington but could improve sharply on firmer footing at The Valley.
SUGGESTED BET: Evaporate to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Henlein $8 – $7.

Exciting colt Growing Empire can stake his claim for The Everest as he leads trainer Ciaron Maher’s four-pronged attack in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. @gilbertgardiner@cmaherracing@YulongInvest@TheValleyhttps://t.co/YhOE1iS8AO

— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) September 24, 2024

RACE 7: 9:15PM GROUP 1 LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES (1200m)
GROWING EMPIRE (12) is a three-year-old on the rise and can make the jump to top company after two brilliant wins against his own age. HAYASUGI (13) ran on well when closer-up in the Moir Stakes and will enjoy stepping up to 1200m. ESTRIELLA (8) covered ground before fighting on well in the Moir Stakes first-up and will be fitter. I WISH I WIN (1) will give a start from the wide draw but will be charging late.

SUGGESTED BET: Growing Empire to win.

LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Estriella to win $8 – $6.50.

• Fresh is best for The Everest hopeful Kimochi

RACE 8: 9:45PM GROUP 2 LADBROKES STOCKS STAKES (1514m)
Happy to back the Perth mare ALSEPHINA (5) to improve on her promising first-up in which she covered ground before chasing well in soft ground. RUMBLED AGAIN (8) has gone well in both runs this time in and placed at this level at The Valley in the autumn. FIRE OF ETNA (9) was a narrow winner first-up and could remain unbeaten over this distance. GRINZINGER BELLE (1) led throughout to win the Let’s Elope Stakes and will again give them something to chase.
SUGGESTED BET: Alsephina to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Grinzinger Belle $3.10 – $2.60.

Originally published as The Early Oil: Brad Waters’ best bets and value play for Manikato Stakes night at The Valley on Friday