Manikato Stakes Odds - Imperatriz odds-on for Moonee Valley sprint

Imperatriz is one of the best sprinters in Australasia and despite receiving many offers to contest The Everest, Te Akau Racing has stayed in Melbourne with the five-year-old, who has impressed with two big wins at Moonee Valley in September.

After a brilliant display first-up in the McEwen Stakes, she broke her own track record for the Moonee Valley 1000m when taking out the Group 1 Moir Stakes on September 29.

1200m third-up looks ideal for the Kiwi mare, a galloper who has won over a mile and her one try over this track/trip resulted in a Group 1 William Reid Stakes victory.

Imperatriz is the short favourite to win the 2023 Manikato Stakes, with $1.50 the current quote with Ladbrokes.

I Am Me is one of two runners on the second line of betting, with this sprinter a five-year-old mare by I Am Invincible (same as Imperatriz).

The Maher & Eustace galloper bounced back to winning form third-up when taking out the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick and despite doing most of her racing in New South Wales, she has won two of four Victorian starts.

I Am Me shares a $9 quote with Uncommon James, a Queensland sprinter who was well held behind Asfoora second-up, however, he was keen with the blinkers on for the first time and they've now been removed.

Last year's Manikato Stakes winner Bella Nipotina ($10) also features in the early markets and while she's been mostly competitive in nine subsequent starts, the six-year-old hasn't won in 12 months.