Timeform Australian SmartPlays: Friday October 26

Moonee Valley plays host to racing on Friday & Saturday

Timeform's Australian team bring you three SmartPlays on Moonee Valley's Friday card.

A good night's racing (Friday morning in the UK) highlighted by the Group 1 Manikato is the perfect appetiser to Saturday's Cox Plate and a great chance to build a bank for the big day ahead. The City Jeep Handicap (09:15 BST) for the mares provides a good early betting opportunity with the Ellerton/Zahra trained mare Khandallah looking extremely well placed on her latest piece of form. Khandallah pushed Chateau Margaux to within 5lbs last time out and that mare has since boosted that form by splitting international cup fancies Gatewood and Brigantin in the Geelong Cup. Form looks rock solid for this and she appeals as a great play around the $8.00n/a mark where she is currently trading.

The same stable turns out their 3yo filly Big Chill in the Group 2 Fillies Classic (11:45 BST) later on the card. A very even lot of fillies line up for the race and with very little separating many of them on form the run of the race can prove decisive. Big Chill looks set to get to the front without too much hassle with a potentially soft run in front and first run on these giving her a good edge. And the $9.00n/a appeals as a good price for her to come out on top.

The feature of the card, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (11:15 BST), sees the tough Queenslander Buffering ideally placed to take what would be a well deserved first Group 1 success. Having run into the likes of Black Caviar and Hay List throughout his career, Buffering has been in the first four home at the top level on no less than 7 occasions without winning one but with that pair off the scene, and his biggest danger tonight coming into the race first up, he is expected to have his night in the spotlight. The $2.22n/a currently trading looks a fair bet for a horse that we have marked in the red.

Moonee Valley SmartPlays
Back Khandallah @ $8.00n/a in the 09:15
Back Buffering @ $2.22n/a in the 11:15
Back Big Chill @ $9.00n/a in the 11:45

Visit timeform.com to get your FREE TIMEFORM CARD for Moonee Valley. And remember, the Cox Plate card will be covered in full live on Timeform Radio.