The 2015 Manikato Stakes field has been released and ten of the most talented sprinters in Australia are set to contest the Group 1 event that will be held at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Chautauqua (barrier two) confirmed his status as one of the best sprinters in the world when he took out the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 and he has recorded two wins from as many starts since he returned to the races.
The Encosta De Lago gelding absolutely stormed home late to take out the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 5 and he found the line strongly after having some traffic issues in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 4.
Chautauqua and Terravista (barrier one) have clashed on a number of occasions and the great rivals will start right next to each other in the Manikato Stakes this weekend.
Terravista was scratched from the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) due to concerns about the wet track, but he returned to the races with a strong effort in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 and connections are confident that he will take plenty of benefit out of the run.
Another sprinter that is set to take winning form into the Manikato Stakes is the extremely popular Buffering, who returned to the races with a typically brave front-running effort in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on October 2.
Buffering (barrier seven) took out the 2013 edition of the Manikato Stakes and he was far from disgraced when he finished seventh in the thrilling edition of the race last year.
The other last start winners in the Manikato Stakes field is rising mare Alpha Miss (barrier eight), who upstaged Lankan Rupee to take out Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m), and the consistent Fast ‘N’ Rocking who savaged the line late to take out the Listed Caulfield Village (1200m) at Caulfield on October 14.
Srikandi (barrier ten) will be the fresh horse on the scene in the Manikato Stakes and she will have the chance to record her third straight victory at the highest level of racing after her stellar 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign.
The Dubawi mare led from start to finish to record an impressive win in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben
One of the most interesting runners in the 2015 Manikato Stakes field is Rich Enuff, who is set to wear blinkers when he is partnered by Noel Callow in the Group 1 event.
Rich Enuff (barrier six) looked as though he was going to develop into one of the best sprinters in Australia as a three-year-old, but he has failed to perform at his best in three race starts this preparation and he finished 15th in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.
The 2015 Manikato Stakes field is rounded out by Rebel Dane (barrier four), Tiger Tees (barrier 9) and Griante (barrier five).