Dual Group 1 winner at The Valley circuit, Imperatriz, looks a hard to beat favourite in Saturday’s 2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes.

Imperatriz is clear favourite in 2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes betting this Cox Plate Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley features a double-shot of elite level racing this year with the meeting’s marquee race supported by the Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) for the sprinters.

It is a small seven-horse Manikato field this season with the Mark Walker-trained Moir Stakes winning mare Imperatriz boasting a stranglehold over the market.

She chases her fourth straight win at the track having won the William Reid Stakes over the six furlongs in the autumn before doing the McEwen Stakes – Moir Stakes double this time in.

The ultra-consistent daughter of I Am Invincible is unbeaten at the course, has a brilliant 1200m record (7:5-1-1), and will relish getting out over the distance third-up and fit.

Opie Bosson continues associations on the mare who won the Moir over 1000m in a new record time of 56.47 seconds.

The speed will be on again when she jumps from the ideal barrier four draw on Saturday facing just six rivals, and she is at justifiably short Manikato Stakes odds of $1.45 through Ladbrokes.

Second elect at $6.50 bringing in different form lines from up north is the Matthew Smith-trained The Everest contender Buenos Noches.

Jockey Blake Shinn is riding in terrific fashion this season and partners the Supido four-year-old from barrier five on Saturday.

The horse was third fresh in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) in mid-September before his eighth when 3.5 lengths off the winner Think About It in the world’s richest turf race at Randwick on October 14.

Punters can get $7 Manikato Stakes odds on two other runners with the talented I Am Me from the Maher/Eustace stable and Uncommon James the others most likely.

I Am Me is a genuine 1200m runner with four wins from six starts at the distance including her good win in the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on The Everest Day.

Queenslander Uncommon James is also out to build on a great record over the 1200m having won three of his four starts at the distance.

The Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained Cable Bay five-year-old won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) last prep and has been good this time in with a Moir Stakes third and last start Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) second.

The Inferno is at $26 to improve on his fourth in the Moir at 60/1, while the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw pays $31 in the current markets.

I Am War ($101), drawn the rails for his acid test here, rounds out the field and markets at triple-figures.

2023 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.