Saturday’s Early Market Movers: $26 into $6.50 as punters strike at Randwick

Starz in their eyes as $26 disappears

You need to be quick if you want to secure the first prices on a Wednesday afternoon.

Final field markets have gone up following acceptances and punters haven’t wasted much time making their moves, with one Randwick runner in particular absolutely crunched in the early betting.

The biggest move has come in the Kingston Town Stakes, where first emergency Starzintheireyes opened at $26 with TAB before being smashed into $6.50.

Of course, there’s one fairly important hurdle still to clear: he needs a scratching to gain a start. But if he does get into the field, anyone holding a $26 ticket will be feeling pretty pleased with themselves.

The other significant move in the Kingston Town has come for the Chris Waller-trained Soul Of Spain, who has James McDonald aboard. Punters snapped up the $8 and he’s now into $5.

Headley Grange keeps marching

One of Monday’s big movers hasn’t stopped moving.

We flagged Headley Grange after Joe Pride’s last-start winner was backed from $11 into $6 in all-in betting. He came up $6 again when final field markets opened on Wednesday, but that price didn’t last long.

After drawing perfectly in barrier five, punters went again and he’s now $3.80. From $11 on Monday to $3.80 on Wednesday – there seems to be plenty of confidence.

Good luck getting rich off Autumn Glow

There’s been no great shock in the Seven Stakes market, where Autumn Glow remains a prohibitive $1.20 favourite after drawing barrier one.

She might be one of the stars of Australian racing, but you’re going to need a fairly healthy investment to make Saturday lunch money at that quote.

Money for the old boy in The Shorts

The Shorts market is headed by Headwall at $3.40 and Joliestar at $3.70, but punters haven’t been afraid to shop further down the board.

The old boy Mazu has attracted some support, firming from $17 into $13, while Marhoona has also been nibbled at odds, shortening from $17 into $12.

Chilly reception for Tea Rose favourite

It’s been a different story in the Tea Rose Stakes, where early favourite Chilly Girl has been easy.

She opened $2.80 before drifting to $3.40, with some of that money finding its way to Striking Alibi, who has firmed from $4.60 into $3.80.

J-Mac and Waller attract more early money

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: James McDonald, Chris Waller and an early market move.

The combination has Declichy Boulevard in Race 3 and punters have been happy to take the opening $4.60, backing her into $3.30.

Victorian visitor Victorious Spirit has also attracted plenty of early interest in the same race, trimming up from $12 into $7.50.

Caulfield: Group 1 markets simmering

There are two Group 1s at Caulfield on Saturday, but so far punters have largely kept their powder dry.

Lady Shenandoah hasn’t won for a while, but there has been some early support for her in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes after she landed barrier one. She opened $5.50 and has firmed into $4.80.

Last year’s winner Sepals has been nibbled from $15 into $12, while likely leader Regal Award has shortened from $10 into $8.

All in all, though, it’s been a pretty quiet start to betting on one of Saturday’s features.

The Underwood Stakes has been similarly sedate since the final field was confirmed. Cosmic Crusader heads the market at $2.70, ahead of likely leader and last-start winner Lindermann, with no significant moves to report just yet.

Zahrann firms as Caulfield Cup dream builds

There’s been more action in the Naturalism Stakes, where Zahrann has attracted support from $4.20 into $3.70.

There’s a bigger prize on the horizon, too. Zahrann is currently an $11 equal favourite for the Caulfield Cup, and a win in the Naturalism would earn him a ballot exemption into the $5 million feature.

Bridal Waltz support rolls on

The market certainly hasn’t missed how well Bridal Waltz gets into the How Now Stakes.

She was backed from $6 into $3.50 in Monday’s all-in market and the support has continued following acceptances. After landing nicely in barrier five, she opened $3.10 in the final field market and has already tightened into $2.70.

That’s $6 on Monday and $2.70 by Wednesday afternoon. Another one where those who got in early are sitting pretty.

Roughies backed in Guineas Prelude

The early Guineas Prelude market has undergone a decent reshuffle.

Wolf Gap has been the strongest of the leading chances, backed from $4 into $3.10, but punters have also gone hunting at much bigger prices.

Tornado Valley has shortened from $23 into $16, while last-start all-the-way winner Alchemist has been backed from $21 into $15.

Something had to give and early favourite Blind Raise has been the one to drift, easing from $2.60 out to $3.

Icelady melts from $19 into $7.50

And the roughie hunters haven’t stopped with the colts.

There’s been a big early move in the Thousand Guineas Prelude for the Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady, who opened at $19 before being backed all the way into $7.50.

It’s another significant move on a Wednesday afternoon where, while the Group 1 markets might be simmering, punters have been far more willing to throw their weight around elsewhere on the Caulfield card.

Prices correct with TAB at time of publication and subject to change.