Moonee Valley Racing Club launches its night racing season this Friday with the $500,000 Manikato Stakes the headline act.

It's one of only three Group 1s the Moonee Ponds club gets to host each year and generally attracts a brilliant field.

Dane Ripper, Redoute's Choice, Sunline, Miss Andretti and Gold Edition are among the recent winners and the honour roll should only get stronger with Hay List, All Silent and Eagle Falls among those engaged this year.

But while the sprinters take centre stage, one of the support races will prove a significant spring pointer if recent history is anything to go by.

The night's middle-distance event - the JRA Cup - has proven the Spring Racing Carnival's hidden gem.

An upgrade this year means the 2010 edition will be worth $200,000 and carry Group 3 status, but previously it was only a $100,000 Listed event.

But that didn't prevent it for unearthing horses who would go on and become headline horses of recent spring carnivals.

Last year's edition was the race in which the horse that captured the public's imagination, unfashionable gelding Alcopop, burst to prominence.

The South Australian went on to start $4.80 favourite in the Melbourne Cup and while he managed only sixth in the Flemington two-miler, the horse that won the nation's greatest race - Shocking - ran third in the JRA Cup.

Two years earlier, Maldivian was an even more emphatic winner of the race that was first run in 1949 but has been known as the JRA Cup since 1993.

He strolled home by 4.5 lengths before going on to claim Group 1 glory two weeks later in the Yalumba Stakes.

He would have started one of the shortest favourites in Caulfield Cup history but was sensationally scratched at the barrier after cutting his head on the starting stalls.

Master O'Reilly, who finished third to Maldivian in the JRA Cup, went on to win that Caulfield Cup, while Maldivian got his major glory in the following season's Cox Plate.

Maldivian's tale was similar to that of El Segundo. While El Segundo managed to escape a barrier mishap in the 2005 Caulfield Cup, he had to settle for sixth as the $4.20 favourite.

But the week before he also secured his maiden Group 1 success in the Yalumba having earlier posted a sensational JRA Cup win.

El Segundo had to wait 12 months longer than Maldivian to add his name to the Cox Plate honour roll, winning the 2007 edition after being nosed out by Fields Of Omagh in the 2006 renewal.

This year's field is well-placed to continue the JRA Cup's evolution as a key spring event.

Trainer Jake Stephens is hoping the race again proves a springboard to prominence for Alcopop, who hasn't won since claiming the Herbert Power Handicap the start after last year's JRA Cup.

But he's got top weight (57kg) and a field of rivals in pursuit of the weight penalty that will enhance their chances of a start in the Caulfield Cup.

The Bart Cummings-trained Precedence, Lee Freedman's Above Average and David Hayes-trained Victoria Derby runner-up Extra Zero head the list of horses in that category.

Impressive grey Linton is also well down the Caulfield Cup order of entry, but such is owner Lloyd Williams' opinion of him that he remains entered for the Cox Plate.

Perhaps the horse the Cups hopefuls have to worry about is Rainbow Styling, who last week denied punters and those chasing a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption with his upset win in the Naturalism Stakes.

The JRA Cup precedes the Manikato Stakes, which showcases Australia's latest sprint sensation, Hay List.

The former Western Australian has created a massive impression in just three starts since crossing the Nullarbor and will this weekend look to stretch his career record to 11 wins from 13 starts.

He was an impressive winner of the McEwen Stakes at his Victorian debut on September 11 and can emulate Miss Andretti, who in 2006 completed at the McEwen-Manikato double at her first two runs back from a spell.

Globetrotters All Silent and Eagle Falls are out to repeat the performance of Danleigh, who won last year's Manikato first up, as is former Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding Bank Robber, who will be having his first run for Mark Kavanagh.

Other highlights of Friday night's card are the presence of Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby hopefuls including Liveandletdie, Bullbars and The Ruffian in the $200,000 Group 2 Stutt Stakes, while star interstate fillies Military Rose, Chance Bye and Solar Charged will content the $150,000 Group 3 Champagne Stakes.