Jumping as the odds-on favourite in the Luxbet markets for the $500,000 Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Elusive Quality colt Sepoy was never threatened when they coasted to a commanding two and a quarter length victory over the John Sadler-trained Sister Madly ($17).

Finishing off the winning Manikato Stakes 2011 Trifecta was Gai Waterhouse’s resuming mare More Joyous ($4), who although never looked the winner finishing a further three lengths away third, did look fit and beautiful in the coat hinting at better things to come this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The first juvenile in over two decades to win the Blue Diamond Stakes – Golden Slipper double last season, Sepoy is now undefeated as a three-year-old having won all three of their starts this spring.

The Moonee Valley night racing result boosted the Darley-owned colts’ impressive race record to eight wins from nine starts, Sepoy now having earned over $3.4 million in career prize money.

While connections certainly believe their boy could give undefeated turf queen Black Caviar a run for her money, at this stage the 2011 Coolmore Stud Stakes is the main spring aim for Sepoy.

Run on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is one of four elite level features at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, October 29, 2011.

Sepoy could still clash with Black Caviar next race after the Coolmore just seven days later in the $1 million Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on Emirates Stakes Day as last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Star Witness did when running second to the ‘Black Flash’ in the 2010 Patinack.

To get behind Sepoy next race at the hottest odds, and to view the latest spring carnival betting odds and options on the upcoming Group 1’s, head to our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet today.

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2011 Manikato Stakes Results & Finishing Order

First it was Sepoy opening at odds on figures, plenty though this was too short for a horse going to open grade for the first time so they looked for value elsewhere.

Then there was More Joyous, will she bit fit enough first up and how will she go on the Moonee Valley track.

After that it was the likes of Atomic Force and Buffering, very generous odds for horses of proven ability.

This of course was all before the rain came and that’s thrown thing up in the air once again.

Read below and discover all the fluctuations from the 2011 Manikato Stakes betting to date.

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2011 Manikato Stakes Betting

Happy Zero:

He opened at $21 but the rain seems to be something that in his favour according to punters. He came in as far as $17 fixed price and is now back out to $19.

Buffering:

You could get $19 for Buffering at opening time and that looked to be over’s as he came down first to $18 and then $17. Since then though he’s drifted all the way back to opening price.

Atomic Force:

Here’s the big mover and one that’ll continue to fall as long as the rain does. Atomic Force was a $12 open at Luxbet and that was smashed into $10. Hasn’t stopped there though, he’s now single figures at $9.50.

More Joyous:

With Sepoy opening so short early on More Joyous found support and came in from $3.00 to $2.80. With the money for others though she’s back out to the $3.00 open.

Sister Madly:

This last start winner has been bouncing around all over the place. She opened at $12 and then got out to $12 before being hit into as far as $11. She’s steadied now though and is back to where she started.

Rue Maple:

The roughie of the field, opened at $81 and hasn’t been touched, there it remains.

Kulgrinda:

Bit of a wrap for this horse but it hasn’t been seen in betting. He opened at a $13 fixed price and went out as far as $17. In a point to $16 but no big money to date.

Sepoy:

The $1.90 was always too short in a field like this and the punters agree. He’s out to $2.10 now but still hasn’t been hit hard with such quality horses around him.

2011 Manikato Stakes Tips

With that all being said who do we think will win the 2011 Manikato Stakes?

It’s such a tough ask and even with only eight runners they have the quality to produce an result.

In the end though we’re going with #3 Atomic Force, he loves these conditions and the wetter the better.

In second spot we have #8 sepoy, he should get a good trial off Buffering out in front and box seat his way to a strong finish.

Third across the line we’re tipping #2 Buffering. He’s beaten Atomic Force before and at the 1200m around Moonee Valley we think he’ll just hold on form a fast finishing More Joyous.

Sure Sepoy stands out like a sore thumb with his seven from eight record but the fact is it takes a horse of his calibre to overshadow these other highly performed race horses.

Each on deserves its spot in the 2011 Manikato Stakes field and each one is capable of winning the event.

In fact although there are only eight horses in the race, together they have combined prize money of over $10 million.

The lowest earner is Kulgrinda and even he has over $200,000 from just seven career starts.

Sepoy is the highest, he’s tallied $3.1 million form eight starts thanks largely to his Golden Slipper triumph.

In terms of most wins though, that belongs to More Joyous, she has 14 victories from her 19 career starts.

If you’re looking for experience, that belongs to Atomic Force which will be having his 33rd career start tomorrow night.

As you can see there’s plenty to think about, so check out our Manikato Stakes form guide below where we rate their chances individually.

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2011 Manikato Stakes Form Guide

Happy Zero:

With eight wins from 15 starts he’s a genuine winner but this is some imposing company. He has the most patchy form coming into this race and really needs to improve to be a danger.

Buffering:

Outstanding Queensland horse which will take plenty of running down from out in front. Won at the valley first up last start, he can certainly do it again.

Atomic Force:

Only just beaten by Buffering here last start and if he had an extra stride he would have got him. Loves the 1200m and he’s a group 1 winner, wet ground only helps his causes, big hope.

More Joyous:

With a winning rate like hers she’s just about the fvaourite in every race she runs in. Don’t worry about it being her first up run, she’s fit and she can win this race.

Sister Madly:

Sure it’s a jump in grade but she beat a a big field and a quality field last start. She’ll take improvement form that run too, don’t ignore her.

Rue Maple:

The roughie of the field but it’s run second in four of its last six. I don’t think it can win here but there’s no reason it won’t be an exotic player.

Kulgrinda:

Got a bit lost last start but if you forget that run things look good for this horse. Just seven starts for four wins and a second, never underestimate Moody and Nolen.

Sepoy:

He’s an out and out champion and he just doesn’t know how to lose. Big step up here though and he really needs to prove himself. He wins this he’s a dead set superstar not just in Australia but the world.

All the big guns have accepted for the race making sure this is going to be an electric 1200m Group 1 test.

More Joyous makes her return for the spring after a long break following the Doncaster Mile and Sepoy steps up to open company for the very first time.

Other top liners in the race include Group 1 champion Atomic Force and the horse that beat him last start Buffering.

Rounding out the field are the talented Rue Maple, Happy Zero, Kulgrinda and last start winner Sister Madly.

It’s guaranteed to be one hell of a race and certainly something you won’t want to miss.

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2011 Manikato Stakes Final Field

The numbers themselves will fall short of a capacity field but it’s the quality that’s in them that makes it so impressive.

In addition to this the 2011 Manikato Stakes will also be the first time we get a couple of matchups that we’ve been waiting months to see.

Firstly is the return of More Joyous, the superstar Waterhouse mare back to capture yet another Group 1 on one of the most impressive resume’s in Australian racing.

Second it’s Sepoy, the three year old superstar which will graduate to Group 1 open company for the first time in his career.

Third it’s Atomic Force and Buffering, Buffering just held on last time they met and he got him up in Queensland as well, these tow are building a big rivalry and only centimetres will spit them.

There’s plenty more talent in the 2011 Manikato Stakes nominations as well so check out the list below and get ready to bet with Luxbet.

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2011 Manikato Stakes Nominations

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Manikato Stakes Favourite’s

Crystal Lily @ 9 – 3yo Filly recently ran 2nd in The Goodwood Group 1 at Allan Scott Park

Beaded @ 11 – 5yp Mare placing 2nd in the Tatts Tiara and Stradbroke plus 1st in the Doomben 10,000

Love Conquers All @ 26 – 5yo Hawkes trained recently came 2nd in the Doomben 10,000

Response @ 26 – 4yo Mare trained at Flemington won the 2011 SportingBet Classic at Morphetville

The 4yo Mare trained by Peter Moody has had sensational lead up form winning the PLTE at Moonee Valley and Sabois Reliance Stakes at Allan Scott Park.

The forward running racehorse is one of the flagship performers from the Heathcote stable and is a worthy contender for the 2011 Manikato Stakes title.

Heathcote made the declaration as he announced his plans for the Melbourne spring with Buffering and stable mate Woorim to fly the flag in the majors.

The trainer is still in search of a maiden Group 1 victory but it is drawing closer on the back of a dominant season in Brisbane and a number of developing horses.

Buffering has been back in work for a month now after his spell and has only a few weeks left before making the trip south to Melbourne.

He’s set to have his first up run at Moonee Valley on September 10 where he’ll run across 1000m in the Group 2 Ian McEwen Trophy.

He’s been booked for a flight in the first week of September, the same flight that Woorim will be on.

Woorim though will have one run before making the trip, a 1000m race at Doomben on August 27.

His main goal will be later in September when he runs over 1400m in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

“Woorim will have his first start here on August 27 then will fly to Melbourne with Buffering,” Heathcote said.

“His second run will be in the Sir Rupert Clarke, the same race he finished third behind Response last year.”

Heathcote says both horses have come back in tremendous shape from the spell and he’s keen to give them as much time as possible to settle into Melbourne.

“I’ve been given approval to stable my team at Flemington and there’ll be a few others go down to join them later on,” Heathcote said.

“Buffering has been in work for three weeks. He had four weeks in the paddock after the winter and he’s done brilliantly.

“Unfortunately, I probably won’t have enough time to give him a barrier trial here before he goes away.”

Buffering has shown in the past though that he works well at the start of his campaigns and he’s expected to be in top shape by the time the Manikato Stakes rolls around.

The 1200m is also ideally suited so Heathcote will be looking for a big run to justify further top flight events later in the carnival.

“I’m not sure what he’ll run in after the Manikato Stakes,” Heathcote said.

“But I’ll be avoiding Black Caviar at all costs right throughout the spring.”

Buffering has run into Black Caviar and Hay List already when they were competing during the Brisbane winter carnival.

He finished third to the duo in the BTC Cup leading many to think he’s more than capable of winning a Group 1 should he not face them in the field.

It was a winter prep of mixed fortunes which started off so well when he won the Group 2 Victory Stakes.

Following the BTC Cup though he struggled in the Doomben 10,000 coming home last after being checked early on.

His last two runs showed a renewed spirit though as he ran fourth in the Stradbroke Handicap and then fourth again in the Healy Stakes.

His forward running style is also well suited to the short Moonee valley circuit so the 2011 Manikato Stakes appears a perfect fit for Heathcote and Buffering.

Damian Browne is tipped to continue his prosperous association with the Heathcote stable and will partner both Buffering and Woorim across the Melbourne carnival.

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That means you can bet on Buffering for free when he line sup in the 2011 Manikato Stakes later in the year.

John McNair’s Hay List was tested mid stage by Peter Moody’s Reward For Effort, but he pushed on to beat True Persuasion (9) by a relaxed two and a half lengths. Third place was taken by Eagle Falls (4) at 3.8 lengths back from the favourite.

Number 5 was scratched from the exciting night race on a dead track. SportsBet paid $29.40 for the 6,9 Quinella, the Exacta (6,9) paid $33.10, while the Manikato Stakes trifecta (6,9,4) left punters with a cool $216.80. If you picked the First 4 tonight (6,9,4,7) you got just over a grand, it paid $1001.00.

The 2010 Manikato Stakes features a final field of nine gallopers, but the punters are all getting behind the ideally drawn Hay List (barrier one), the gelding currently at the very short opening price of $1.85 through Sportsbet.

If the track rates better than Heavy then Reward For Effort can win this at juicy odds through SportsBet

The next shortest priced entry is dual Group 1 winner All Silent at $7.50.

Drawn mid-field in barrier nine, All Silent has an impressive record at Flemington but is yet tested on the tight Moonee Valley circuit.

At equal $7.50 odds with All Silent is the Hawkes-trained Love Conquers All.

The Mossman four-year-old won the Missile Stakes last month but failed at their most recent start, finishing dead last in the Bobbie Lewis Quality.

Still money is coming in for Love Conquers All, due to jump from barrier six with Jim Cassidy aboard.

Equal third-favourites are the David Hayes-trained Eagle Falls (barrier seven) resuming racing after a four month spell, and Bank Robber (barrier three) back on the track for the first time since January, both paying $11 at Sportsbet in the early markets.

*Note: Bank Robber has been scratched from the Manikato Stakes

Meanwhile one of our top picks, the Peter Moody-trained Reward For Effort is out to $12, a very generous price considering the Blue Diamond Stakes winner’s ideal barrier two draw and impressive recent record.

The only thing raining on Reward For Effort’s parade is the chance the track will rate Slow or worse on Friday night, the star four-year-old needing a dry, firm track to race its best.

The 2010 Sportingbet Manikato Stakes is scheduled as Race 6 at Moonee Valley on Friday night and is due to jump at 9:15pm.

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2010 Sportingbet Manikato Stakes Odds