Vega Magic out to pull a rabbit out of the hat after close Everest second

11.30am BST Moonee Valley
Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes | 6f | Group 1 | 2yo+

Vega Magic failed to reach the summit of Everest at Randwick last Saturday week, but he got very close to the peak and is a warm order to gain some compensation in this Group 1 sprint.

The five-year-old almost pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the Everest but failed by three-quarters of a length to reel in Redzel having turned for home nearer last than first. It was a remarkable effort to get so close from where he was and race sponsor Ladbrokes make him 5-4 favourite to make amends at Moonee Valley.

The all-important barrier draw took place at the track on Tuesday and Vega Magic received stall three.

Chautauqua, winner of the race in 2015, has not been so fortunate on the draw front and is out in stall ten of 11, but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes says the speedy seven-year-old has never been better and has come out of his fast-finishing fourth in the Everest in fine fettle.

"I reckon he's better. It's pretty hard for a seven-year-old to come back and improve but his work Tuesday morning was the best I've ever seen," Hawkes said.

"He has settled back in really good. He's happy to be here. He loves wet tracks. Sydney has been rock hard so he's been doing the rain dance the last two days and it's working so far."

The Ben Smith-trained In Her Time is seeking a hat-trick and her trainer was pleased with what he saw during her final workout at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.

Smith said: "I'm happy with her. She wasn't out to do too much as she's had three runs in six weeks. She travelled down well and has settled into Flemington nicely."

Manikato Stakes
Ladbrokes: 5-4 Vega Magic, 9-2 In Her Time, 6 Chautauqua, 10 English, 14 Malaguerra, Viddora, 16 Spieth, Super Cash, 20 Rock Magic, Voodoo Lad, 25 Hey Doc

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