THERE has been a late flurry of bets on Rising Romance for the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown this Saturday after a solid second placing in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.
The Hayes/Dabernig-trained mare ran second behind Gailo Chop and that return to form has prompted punters to back it solidly throughout the week.
It opened at $3.50 with Sportsbet.com.au and has since dropped into equal favourite with last start winner Dandino.
“Rising Romance has her hoof on the till. She was far from disgraced in the Caulfield Cup and her Mackinnon Stakes second was solid. She looks suited in the small field, so it’s not surprising that she has met with early support,” Sportsbet’s Ben Bulmer said.
Co-trainer David Hayes stated Rising Romance is on trial for a possible Hong Kong trip later in the year.
“She has drawn the outside barrier at Sandown… but our theory is if she runs well, we will take up the invite to go to Hong Kong,” Hayes said. “But if she doesn’t run a really good race, we will miss Hong Kong and instead set her for the autumn.”
Only a small field of eight will contest the 2400-metre race at Sandown with Melbourne Cup entrants Who Shot Thebarman and Sertorius choosing to continue their campaigns.
Zipping Classic market:
1. Dandino – $3.20
2. Who Shot Thebarman – $4.80
3. Sertorius – $21
4. Tall Ship – $7
5. Don Doremo – $31
6. Rising Romance – $3.20
7. Kirramosa – $10
8. Do You Remember – $51
Patch Adams on track for Sandown Guineas
The Terry O’Sullivan-trained Patch Adams might not be one of the well-fancied runners in this Saturday’s Group 2 Sandown Guineas, but its trainer believes it has a winning chance.
“That was a great run in the Carbine Club Stakes,” O’Sullivan said. “He settled further back than we wanted to, but he made up good ground on a track where hardly any runners could do so.”
Patch Adams is currently $12 across the board of bookmakers, but it represents value and O’Sullivan has his right in good working order.
“I backed off and gave him a week off just to help him to relax and it seems to have worked,” he said.
Current Sandown Guineas favourite is Don’t Doubt Mamma which was a very impressive winner on Melbourne Cup day, but the majority of money has come for the Murray Baker-trained Dal Cielo.
The three-year-old opened at an incredible price of $19, but it has been quickly smashed into $9 on the back of heavy support throughout the week. The colt is expected to firm again for the $250,000 contest.
Current Sandown Guineas market:
1. Dal Cielo – $9 at CrownBet.com.au
2. Mahuta – $6
3. Marky Mark – $21
4. Demonstrate – $8.50
5. Gredington – $31
6. Patch Adams – $12
7. He’s Our Rokki – $8
8. Sea Of Tranquility – $31
9. Flying Light – $31
10. Ngarimu – $8.50
11. Shockaholic – $21
12. Don’t Doubt Mamma – $3.80
13. The Grey Flash – $81
14. Maysam – $21
15. Zafiki – $13
2015 Sandown Cup market and odds
Running in consecutive two-mile races is uncommon in Australia, but that’s what greets the likes of The Offer, Almoonqith and Grand Marshal this Saturday.
All three 2015 Melbourne Cup entrants are making the backup and all three have some hard luck stories to tell. The Offer and Almoonqith had very little room to move in the straight at Flemington and Grand Marshal was almost taken down by the riding of Frankie Dettori.
The three runners are represented by the biggest stables in Australia and punters are expecting them to battle it out in the $150,000 Sandown Cup.
The current favourite is Almoonqith which co-trainer David Hayes described as a “no-run” in the Melbourne Cup. He stated that the six-year-old copped interference and was shuffled back in the pack.
“They ran almost seven seconds outside the record and he was last, so he was no hope,” Hayes said. “It was very disappointing. I pictured him being fifth or sixth in the run.”
Hayes is targeting Almoonqith for either the Sydney Cup next year or Dubai, but wants to see if it can run out a strong 3200-metre race.
“He had an absolute no-run in the Melbourne Cup … it wasn’t a gut-buster this year,” Hayes said.
Sandown Cup odds:
1. The Offer – $5.50
2. Almoonqith – $4.60
3. Grand Marshal – $7.50 at Bet365.com.au
4. Precedence – $51
5. De Little Engine – $5.50
6. Like A Carousel – $14
7. Maygrove – $8
8. Renew – $19
9. Tremec – $16
10. Manalapan – $26
11. Sasenkile – $21
12. Pop ‘n’ Scotch – $34
13. Planet Purple – $67
14. Cuban Fighter – $67
15. Refectory – $81