Adelaide sprinter Viddora takes aim at hot shots in Manikato Stakes for trainer Lloyd Kennewell

LLOYD Kennewell reckons his star sprinting mare Viddora is ready to run the race of her life in Friday night’s Manikato Stakes.

Viddora tries to hold off She Will Reign in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. Picture: VINCE CALIGIURI/GETTY IMAGES

VIDDORA is facing her greatest challenge but trainer Lloyd Kennewell believes the star sprinter is primed to run the race of her life in Friday night’s blockbuster Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The $1 million Group 1 Manikato (1200m) features many of the heavy hitters of Australian sprinting, including the $8m-winning superstar Chautauqua and Vega Magic, who won the Goodwood at Morphettville in May and was an outstanding second behind Redzel in the inaugural running of the $10m The Everest at Randwick a fortnight ago.

The Manikato field is so star-studded that Viddora is rated a $17 chance in latest UBET fixed-odds markets, despite her luckless last-start second in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at the Valley a month ago when she was beaten a lip by She Will Reign.

“You’d have to say it’s the strongest field she’s faced. You’ve got Chautauqua and Vega Magic ... but I’m not scared of them,” Kennewell said. “It’s a good test but she’s a good mare. The only thing she hasn’t won is a Group 1. She deserves to be there and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I think she’ll acquit herself really well. She’s absolutely spot-on. This is what I’ve had her set for all along. This is her grand final.

“I think a few of the others have found their top already and the question is whether they can maintain it.”

Kennewell said Viddora had thrived since her Moir effort and had given every indication she should be at her peak on Friday night.

“She’s really, really well,” the Morphettville trainer said.

“A month between runs has actually suited her. She’s really good fresh. She’s had some nice hit-outs each week. Probably her best gallop was last week then she just had an easy, maintenance gallop this week to have her ready to go.”

Viddora has drawn handily in barrier four with regular jockey Joe Bowditch in the saddle.

It seems Kennewell isn’t the only one keen on Viddora’s prospects, with UBET reporting strong interest for the mare. “She’s been a very good go at odds,” UBET’s Nick Curry said. “She’s the best backed horses with us outside of Chautauqua and Vega Magic.”

Originally published as Adelaide sprinter Viddora takes aim at hot shots in Manikato Stakes for trainer Lloyd Kennewell