The Valley will be rocking on the eve of the AFL Grand Final with the running of the GROUP 1 Manikato Stakes. A big crowd is expected on course for the sprint and the weather looks Fine with a top of 18 degrees during the day. The track should remain a Soft 5 as race one starts us off at 6:15pm (AEST).
The Manikato starts at 9:15pm (AEST) with Baraqiel (Group 1 Moir Stakes Winner) the current favourite in what is an open affair. The Feehan Stakes will be run before the feature at 8:45pm (AEST) with the return of the Matt Laurie trained Treasurethemoment.
Brendan Bunworth previews and provides his best bet for each race below and if you're keen to follow in his tips, conisder joining Dabble!
Also, consider backing in Dabble's Friday Night Racing Super Dabble - Moonee Valley Race 5 Esha to Run Top 2 at $2.50*. Max Bet $25
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Friday, September 26th 2025
Race 1: MSC Signs Handicap 1200m - 6:15pm (AEST)
(13) Daggers has a pretty good first up record and gets experienced Nash Rawiller on top for the first time. Last time he was second up he was excellent when 2nd at Flemington and that was in a harder race than this.
(5) Sunshineinmypocket has won 5 races from 7 starts on Good tracks so will love a track upgrade. Is 2 from 2 over the 1200m.
(7) Ndola won a Flemington jumpout on September 12 and is resuming. Luke Currie has won 3 times prior when on board.
(13) Daggers WIN
$4.50 (1 unit)
Race 2: Drummond Golf Brian Kruger Handicap 1200m - 6:45pm (AEST)
(5) Oliveanotherday finished off hard when a first starter at Warracknambeel (2nd) and followed that up with a strong win at Geelong when $1.60 fav. Barrier 5 looks ideal and conditions suit suit with the track being a Soft 5.
(1) Prestar will find this race easier than his Rosehill 8th last start. The sting out of the ground helps.
(7) Barari rises in distance but has been running on well. The extra 200m looks ideal and he will be one of the best finishers.
(5) Oliveanotherday WIN
$4.00 (1 unit)
Race 3: Ladbrokes 55 sec Handicap 955m - Heat 1 - 7:15pm (AEST)
(8) Grand Larceny has drawn inside here which might help if he steps away well. He usually settles midfield so will need little bit of luck but he goes well forBlake Shinn and he runs well fresh.
(2) Unflinching hasn’t raced since winning at The Valley on February 7 over this distance. He has had a number of jumpouts leading into this and this.
(4) Rich Fortune hasn’t placed on a Soft track yet but he has Williams on and he jumped out well for Jerome Hunter.
(8) Grand Larceny WIN
$3.00 (2 units)
Race 4 Carbone Lawyers Stutt Stakes 1600m - 7:45pm (AEST)
(1) Vinrock should win again for Matt Laurie and Mark Zahra. He will settle handy and he has beaten most of his opponents previously. It shouldn’t rain on the night and conditions suit. He had barrier 11 last start at Flemington but was way too good for his rivals over 1400m. The mile looks fine.
(9) Romantic Encounter won well on the Heavy for the Hayes boys and is over the odds here. He is having his second start and there is no reason why he can’t Place in this race at good odds.
(2) West Of Swindon was 2nd to Vinrock last start and Ben Melham stays on. The colt may want the track to Dry out so it becomes Good.
(1) Vinrock WIN
$1.75 (4 units)
Race 5: Dominant Scarborough Stakes 1200m - 8:15pm (AEST)
(7) Esha led but got tired on resumption at this track with Jamie Melham on (8th) last start (GROUP1) but should be a lot stronger this time around. She is 1 from 1 on Soft tracks and I think Melham will take her straight to the front again from barrier 6. This race is obviously easier than the Group 1 Moir and there should be less pressure over the first section. She has won at The Valley before and she is one of my better bets of the night.
(2) Memo was 9th in the Group 2 Furious at Randwick last start but has trialled up well since. Likes the distance and has placed in harder races than this.
(9) Point Barrow settled midfield, ran on well and scored the W at Hillside last start. Harder here but comes into calculations if they go too hard early.
(7) Esha WIN
$2.60 (3 units)
Race 6: Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes Group 2 1600m - 8:45pm (AEST)
(6) Treasurethemoment returns after winning the Group 1 Memsie on August 30. She has won 10 from 12 for Matt Laurie and it really just looks like she will tick this race off her Spring schedule. She is unbeaten over the mile and she has never lost on a Soft track. Will likely settle midfield and hook out at the 400m to try and run the leading contingent down.
(1) Tom Kitten should improve after getting too heated last start when 5th in the Group 1 Makybe Diva. The reports suggest he is flying at trackwork and he is a big chance if 100 percent. Did miss a run though after being scratched at the barrier in the Memsie.
(2) Attrition won a trial at Donald and he does race well for Beau Mertens who is on top again. Will want (5) Pride Of Jenni to go very fast so he can close late.
(6) Treasurethemoment WIN
$1.55 (4 units)
Race 7: Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes GROUP 1 1200m - 9:15pm (AEST).
(6) Lady Shenandoah has drawn wide in 10 but with hot pace in this race she just might get some cover when she hooks out wide over the final 300m. The mare should have won the Concorde when first up (2nd) and JMAC settled her back on that occasion like she will be in this race. Loves Dry ground and I reckon the 1200m distance is her favourite. Her second up form is excellent and if she doesn’t get caught wide she is the one to beat.
(8) Skybird was very unlucky when 6th in the Group 1 Moir last start and I think she will trail into the race on the back of Lady Shenandoah in this race. She does get a long way back but she has a huge finish on her. Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner and John Allen stays on for Mitch Freedman.
(2) Baraqiel won the Moir after getting the right runs and the Corstens Team will fancy their chances here with suitable track conditions. Is third up here and he will be 100 percent fit now.
(6) Lady Shenandoah WIN
$2.40 (3 units)
Race 8: Ladbrokes Stocks Stakes 1500m - 9:45pm (AEST)
(5) Abounding was only beaten a half a length in the Group 3 Let’s Elope last start and the Robbie Heathcote trained mare returns on a type of track she enjoys. Barrier 6 looks ideal and she will likely settle midfield before Blake Shinn pulls her out for a sustained run at the 400m. First look at the track&distance but she has won 2 races when third up from a spell.
(7) Oh Too Good is fit and running very well. A deserved favourite here with Willow on top and she is 3 from 3 over this distance.
(6) Molly Bloom will likely get too far back in this race but will be one of the best finishers. Drops 5.5kg for this though and could place at big odds.
(5) Abounding WIN
$4.00 (2 units)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 2, 7, 9
Leg two: 6
Leg three: 2, 6, 8
Leg four: 5, 7
