TAB Market Movers: Well Written smashed in Epsom betting

A massive Saturday of racing awaits at Randwick and Flemington, with Group 1 action, emerging two-year-olds and some of the country’s biggest spring names taking centre stage.

There are four Group 1s across the two major meetings, with the Flight Stakes and Metropolitan joining the Epsom at Randwick, while the TAB Turnbull Stakes headlines a massive Flemington card.

Rain is forecast in Melbourne ahead of the weekend, adding another layer of intrigue. How much arrives could have a significant impact on betting, particularly with several proven wet-trackers already attracting support.

The markets are already starting to move, with punters taking some strong positions across both cards.

Well Written smashed in Epsom betting

Kiwi mare Well Written has been smashed in TAB betting for Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Epsom, emerging as one of the biggest early moves on a huge day of racing at Randwick and Flemington.

The Epsom is a cracker this year, with a big field and quality form from top to bottom. Autumn Boy drew the inside barrier and heads the market at $3.70, but Well Written is now breathing down his neck after drawing beautifully in gate three.

The star New Zealand mare has been crunched from $5.50 into $3.80 since final-field markets opened and is challenging for favouritism.

Plenty happening at Randwick

At Randwick, the new generation gets its first real chance to make a statement in the Gimcrack Stakes for the fillies and Breeders’ Plate for the colts and geldings.

The boys’ division has been relatively quiet since barriers were drawn, with Nonu holding firm as the $2.80 favourite for the Breeders’ Plate.

There has been considerably more action in the Gimcrack, where the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Provata has been one of the early movers. The daughter of Pierata has been backed from $11 into $7.

Schumacher has also attracted interest at a price in the Dulcify Stakes, firming from $15 into $10, although Genesis Runner remains a steady $2.70 favourite.

Unleashing dominates betting on Race 5 at $2.15, but there have been a couple of significant moves further down the market. Polymnia has attracted support from $11 into $7, while the Freedman-trained Punch Lane has been totally friendless, blowing from $11 all the way out to $23 in early betting.

The weather in Melbourne could also have a major bearing on the makeup of The Metropolitan. With rain forecast for Flemington, Athelwulf appears increasingly likely to head north rather than tackle The Bart Cummings.

Punters certainly expect him to be at Randwick. Athelwulf was already a commanding favourite for The Metropolitan and has shortened again from $2.30 into $2.15 since final-field markets opened.

At a much bigger price, Chris Waller-trained Pinhole has been one of the notable moves, crunched from $26 into $12.

There has been no such battle for favouritism in the Premiere Stakes, where the market has been completely one-way traffic. Tempted opened a dominant $1.80 favourite but even that wasn’t short enough for punters, with sustained support seeing her crunched into $1.60.

She is now set to jump the shortest-priced favourite on the Randwick card.

Big moves emerge at Flemington

There has been little action in the two-year-old opener at Flemington so far, although that may change as Saturday approaches and punters get a better read on the newcomers.

There has been a significant move in Race 2, however, with Charming Nic backed from $18 into $8 for the straight-course contest.

Former Kiwi mare Hankee Alpha was also quickly found when markets opened, firming from $9 into $7 off the back of two impressive trials.

The UCI Stakes has produced some of the biggest market shifts on the Flemington card. Icy You has been a huge drifter, blowing from $6.50 all the way out to $15, while punters have zeroed in on several of her rivals.

True Rebel has been one of the strongest moves, backed from $8 into $4.60, while Aragog has firmed from $13 into $8.50. There has also been money at bigger odds for Skua, who has shortened from $51 into $23, and Miss Waititi, who has firmed from $31 into $16.

Abounding has been well supported at a price in the Rose Of Kingston Stakes, firming from $26 into $12, while Gold Coast Belle has also been popular at the pointy end of the market, shortening from $4.40 into $3.80.

The Danehill Stakes shapes as one of the highest-quality races on the card, with Natural Fling the current favourite. Betting has been relatively quiet so far, but that is likely to change as race day approaches.

Athelwulf is currently the $2.50 favourite for The Bart Cummings, although whether he takes his place could depend on the forecast rain. Wotton Verni has attracted some early support, firming from $12 into $9.50.

Money comes for the Turnbull stars

Punters have zeroed in on the big guns in a cracking edition of the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.

Sir Delius has been strongly backed to make it back-to-back Turnbull Stakes victories and now heads the market at $3.20.

But he is certainly not the only runner attracting money. Aeliana has firmed from $4.40 into $3.80, while Cosmic Crusader has been backed from $6.50 into $4.80.

At longer odds, She’s A Hustler has been the best-tried roughie to this point, firming from $19 into $15.

Wet-trackers attract support

The BOM are forecast a deluge from Thursday to Saturday, which has seen punters latch onto a couple of gun wet trackers.

Smooth Chino was flagged on Monday after being crunched from $15 into $7 in all-in betting for the Gilgai Stakes and the support has continued. He is now into $6.50 despite drawing barrier 14 for the straight-course feature.

Skybird has been another significant firmer, backed from $7 into $4.60. The forecast rain may be playing a role in that move, with conditions potentially falling in her favour.

The wet-weather theme continues into the last, where The Commandments has been one of the biggest early moves on the Flemington card. Another galloper who relishes rain-affected ground, he has been smashed from $11 into $5.50.