Just Thinkin’ has assumed favouritism for the $1 million Bondi Stakes at Randwick, a new race for three-year-olds.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Just Thinkin’ has taken over from Godolphin’s Subedar at the head of the market for Saturday’s 1600m-race with the two at $3.80 and $5 respectively ahead of Wednesday’s final acceptances.
Just Thinkin’ finished fourth in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 5 won by Victoria Derby favourite Shadow Hero.
At $6, Bottega is next in the market with Glen Boss aboard after putting his hand up to ride Mr Quickie in Saturday’s Cox Plate in Melbourne.
The Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie has been named second emergency but Bottega’s trainer Gerald Ryan says as far as he is concerned, Boss was always on Bottega.
“As far as I know he rides Bottega and we have been told no different,” Ryan said.
Bottega finished third in the recent Stan Fox Stakes won by his stablemate Colada but the latter is at $11 with Robbie Dolan to ride.
Trainer Kris Lees will run Red Cardinal in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup rather than the City Tattersalls Cup at Randwick, both over 2400m.
Red Cardinal has not yet passed the first distance qualifying clause for the Melbourne Cup.
“Red Cardinal is not yet qualified for the Melbourne Cup and has to run top three on Wednesday to meet the qualifying conditions,” Lees said.
“Realistically though he needs to win the Geelong Cup and earn a decent penalty to make the Melbourne Cup field.”
Red Cardinal was given top weight of 61kg for the Tattersalls Cup, 1kg more than Tally who ran second to Happy Clapper in Saturday’s Craven Plate.
The Matthew Smith-trained Grey Lion (59kg) is also set to run at Geelong while Queensland Oaks winner Winning Ways (57kg) is also entered for Eagle Farm.
The rest of the field is on 55kg or less.