Final fields are locked in for two huge meetings this weekend and punters have wasted little time making their moves with TAB.
Rosehill hosts the Group 1 Golden Rose on Saturday before attention turns to Caulfield on Sunday for Manikato Stakes Day. While several of the feature-race markets have been baking for weeks, there has been plenty happening post-acceptances on Wednesday, including a significant plunge on Michael Freedman-trained Decorum.
St Gotthard firms in Golden Rose
The Golden Rose market has been available for some time, but punters have found one they want following final acceptances.
St Gotthard has shortened from $5.50 into $4, while there has also been a nibble at huge odds for Tenenbaum, who has tumbled from $81 into $34.
Guest House remains the horse punters have to beat and is holding firm at the head of betting at $2.50 as he looks to complete the Golden Slipper-Golden Rose double.
There has also been good activity early on the Rosehill card. Joel Wilkes-trained Vitava has more than halved in price in the TAB Highway (Race 2), firming from $26 into $10 following a first-up win at Muswellbrook. Scott Singleton-trained Street Force has also attracted support at odds, shortening from $26 into $14, while Bluish Hue is favourite for Matt Dunn after firming from $3.60 into $3.10.
Bella Montagne takes over at the top
A small field will contest the Colin Stephen Quality and there has already been a change at the head of betting.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bella Montagne has been backed from $2.80 into $2.30, enough to replace So You Are as favourite.
Race 4 has also produced a couple of notable moves, with Starzintheireyes attracting good support from $2.80 into $2.40, while Mister Rizz has had his share of admirers at slightly better odds, firming from $6 into $4.
Decorum smashed
Easily the biggest early go at Rosehill has been Michael Freedman-trained Decorum in Race 5.
TAB went up $3.50 following acceptances but punters clearly thought that was over the odds, with sustained support forcing Decorum all the way into $1.85 – a significant move.
Tales Of Time leads Caulfield moves
The Manikato Stakes market has been bashed into shape over several weeks, so there hasn’t been a huge amount of activity since final fields were declared. One interesting move at a price has been veteran sprinter Rothfire, who has shortened from $61 into $34.
The stronger action has come elsewhere on the Caulfield card.
Clint McDonald’s Tales Of Time has attracted support in Race 1, firming from $3.70 into $2.70. The Ben Melham-Clint McDonald combination has been a lethal one and punters have wasted little time siding with them again.
Star South Australian filly Pretty Baby is also all the rage in the Jim Moloney Stakes, shortening from $2.30 into $1.95.
Impressive debut winner Over The Bridge continues to attract support in the Scarborough Stakes. She opened $6 in all-in betting on Monday, was posted at $4.20 following acceptances and has since tightened again into $3.60, putting her right on the heels of Chayan at the top of betting.
Pride Of Jenni keeps shortening
Just six will line up in the Feehan Stakes and the money continues to arrive for Pride Of Jenni, who is out to win the race for the third time.
She opened $3 in all-in betting on Monday before TAB went up $2.30 following acceptances. That price hasn’t lasted either, with the popular mare now into $2 as she prepares to return to the races.
Lara Antipova has also been one of the better-backed runners on Sunday’s card following her first Australian victory last start. Punters think she can go on with it in the Stutt Stakes, forcing her from $3.90 into $2.80, while Obambulate has been specked at odds from $18 into $14.
