Consistent Perth performer Ranger has opened top of the markets for the big race in WA this weekend due to jump favourite in Saturday’s 2013 Hyperion Stakes at Belmont Park Racecourse.
Playing God is second favourite for Saturday's Hyperion Cup 2013 getting back to WFA. Photo: Taron Clarke.
Heading a top day’s racing at the track the $125,000 Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) runs as Race 7 at 3:47pm (local time) and has drawn a bumper field of 16 local runners.
Drawn nicely in gate three with William Pike to ride them in the weight-for-age clash, Grant Williams’ Testa Rossa six-year-old Ranger is looking to break a lengthy winning drought not having won a race since the Group 2 Lee Steer Stakes (1400m) back in November of 2011.
While that was a long while ago the horse has been one of the most consistent middle distance gallopers getting around in his home state.
They are a Group 1 placegetter having run second in the 2011 Kingstown Town Classic and have been in good form this time in with two top three places at Belmont Park.
The first was a second to Power Princess in the Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) before their most recent run when two lengths away third to Kerrific in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on June 1.
Ranger is tipped to improve on that run as the $3.70 favourite in the Hyperion Stakes odds as they meeting Kerrific equal under the WFA conditions after giving them a three kilo advantage last start.
They also get a far better barrier than 10 from last time and are well suited to the step up to the mile.
In a relatively tight market there are then three other single figure chances in Hyperion Stakes betting with:
- #1 Playing God ($6) – Neville Parnham-trained Blackfriars stallion boasts two Group 1 titles, comes via the same races as Ranger (and most of the field) going into this third-up after a third in the Roma Cup and fifth in the Belmont Sprint where they had 60kg to the winners’ 55.5kg – WFA will see them finish better
- #4 Kerrific ($6.50) – Belmont Sprint winner beat many of these home last start, has been up for a lot longer than the other top fancies however and the mile and 59kg (up from 55.5kg) could find them out but don’t discount completely
- #7 Kincaple ($7.50) – Mark Reed-trained Pentire seven-year-old first-up here not having raced since a 12th in the Perth Cup, winner over the mile in the 2011 Boulder Cup and the distance won’t be bad for them when resuming, three length winner first-up at this track over 1700m in July two years back when prepared by Jim Conlan so there’s a bit of form suggesting an upset
Other notable hopes at a bit juicer prices out to score an upset then include rising eight-year-old Black Tycoon ($10) who has won five of their eight starts this year, Dan Morton’s Oratorio gelding Belora ($12) in gate two and coming off a good second to Kerrific albeit carrying only 54kg, and Amelias Dancer ($12) who was a luckless 13th in the Belmont Sprint.
Check out the full range of 2013 Hyperion Stakes odds below, prices provided by our preferred online betting agency bookmaker.com.au.
Why not also check out their exlcusive Favourite v The Field odds on the metro features including the Hyperion Stakes this weekend where you can either back the favourite to win, or tip any other horse to beat them at around $1.18!
2013 Hyperion Stakes Odds
Belmont Race 7 – 5:47pm (AEST) – 15/06/2013
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PLAYING GOD (13) | 6.00 |
| 2 | GOD HAS SPOKEN (15) | 51.00 |
| 3 | RANGER (3) | 3.70 |
| 4 | KERRIFIC (7) | 6.50 |
| 5 | BRIDGESTONE (16) | 61.00 |
| 6 | OUR OL’FELLA (12) | 41.00 |
| 7 | KINCAPLE (14) | 7.50 |
| 8 | BELORA (2) | 12.00 |
| 9 | AMELIAS DANCER (5) | 12.00 |
| 10 | GLOBAL FLIRT (9) | 51.00 |
| 11 | BLACK TYCOON (8) | 10.00 |
| 12 | THE UNDERWORLD (10) | 26.00 |
| 13 | DESTROY (11) | 41.00 |
| 14 | DREAMAWAY (4) | 41.00 |
| 15 | MOONLIGHT BAY (1) | 18.00 |
| 16 | MISS TIPSY TOPSY (6) | 16.00 |
*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change
