TAB keen to take on Jimmysstar as Eagle Farm betting heats up

TAB’s biggest concern ahead of Saturday’s feature meeting at Eagle Farm isn’t a Group 1 favourite. It’s two-year-old Martist.

The colt has emerged as the bookmaker’s worst result of the weekend after sustained support saw him firm from $10 into $7 for the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“At this early stage it is Eagle Farm Race 4 No.4 Martist,” TAB Senior Trader (Thoroughbreds) Tim Owens said.

“Was an unlucky second behind Vantorix last start and should improve here given he was only first-up there and now gets out to the 1400 metres.”

While Martist sits atop TAB’s liability list, traders are also facing a growing position on Kingsford Smith Cup favourite Jimmysstar.

Punters keep backing Jimmysstar, but TAB is refusing to flinch. Traders have continued to ease the favourite from $4.00 to $4.80 despite him being the most popular runner in the Group 1 feature.

According to Owens, the bookmaker’s concerns stem from both Jimmysstar’s last start performance and the likely race shape.

“We thought he was just fair in the Doomben 10,000, and given he’ll likely have to get back from an outside barrier there doesn’t look likely enough tempo in the field to bring him into the race,” Owens said.

“He’s starting to get to a more reasonable price now at $4.80. The liability is starting to build up on him so I’m not sure he’ll get out any further.”

While Jimmysstar heads the betting activity in the Kingsford Smith Cup, there has also been support for a pair of value runners in Splash Back and Headley Grange, both at $12.

The biggest move on the Eagle Farm card has come for Brave Monarch in Race 6, with the Queensland galloper crunched from $6.00 into $3.90. The local hope has been one of the most heavily-backed runners of the entire meeting and shapes as a significant result for punters if the money proves correct.

The Queensland Derby market has also been active throughout the week. Kiwi filly Solid Gold has firmed from $6.50 into $5.00 and is threatening to challenge for favouritism, while Accidental Bid has also attracted strong support at $7.50.

Of Chris Waller’s two key runners, Providence has clearly been the preferred pick of punters, with little money arriving for stablemate Monopolistic.

The rain-affected conditions expected across much of Australia this weekend have also played a significant role in how TAB framed its markets.

“We anticipated most of the metro tracks would be rain affected when pricing the meetings earlier in the week, thus favouring markets toward runners with proven wet-track form,” Owens said.

“Punters are still keen to back a number of wet trackers across the Eastern Seaboard, Jimmysstar being one of them.”

Don’t miss Blair Gibson’s full preview of Eagle Farm Saturday. Click here

Half Yours still heads Melbourne Cup betting

Looking further ahead, Half Yours remains the $8.00 favourite for the Melbourne Cup despite his defeat in last week’s Doomben Cup.

In fact, the loss may increase the likelihood of the reigning Melbourne Cup winner returning to Flemington in November rather than pursuing alternative spring targets.

Half Yours continues to head TAB’s list of most-backed Melbourne Cup runners ahead of Sir Delius, Litzdeel, Paradise Storm and Aeliana.

Birdman has also generated strong interest in futures markets, firming from $51 into $26 for the Melbourne Cup. However, his more likely spring target appears to be the Cox Plate, where he’s already shortened from $26 into $15.

TAB’s Top 10 Most-Backed Melbourne Cup Runners