Why Gannon is taking on Manaal in the Champagne Stakes and the value runner he's keen to be with

Mick Gannon is taking on short-priced favourite Manaal in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Fresh off winning the Inglis Sires' in impressive fashion a fortnight ago, Manaal has been met with plenty of market support for trainer Michael Freedman.

He brings strong formlines to the weekend with gallant runs in the Golden Slipper and a second-up win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

However, Gannon believes Anode is the bet in the 1600m feature as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt looks to improve off a big Sires’ run and turn the tables over a lot of the rivals he met in that 1400m event.

“Anode had to give a fair weight swing to a lot of these last start and this time around Anode has the weight swing well and truly in his favour,” Gannon told SENTrack.

“Of those that come through the Inglis Sires’ Anode is clearly the one on top, Manaal is obviously the one that’s thereabouts but she had her fifth run of this preparation as a lot of these horses are and for a filly that’s a pretty big effort.

“I’m happy to lean the way of Anode, we haven’t touched on the way the track is going to play but interestingly enough the rail is in a position where you think on pace would be the place to be.

“Lanes 4-10 are going to be ideal across the day and in a small field I think Anode is the bet back with a better weight and with Adam Hyeronimus back on board he can steal the race.”

Anode ran seventh in the Inglis Sires’ but was just over four lengths behind the winner in Manaal.

Adam Hyeronimus has ridden Anode three times for two seconds and a third.

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