The Robert Hickmott-trained import Amralah is the early favourite to take out the Caulfield Cup qualifying 2015 Herbert Power Stakes this weekend in Melbourne on Caulfield Guineas Day.
Bohemian Lily is second favourite to win the 2015 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday in Melbourne. Photo: Daniel Costello.
A final field of 13 stayers is engaged for this Saturday’s $400,000 Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), the mile and a half handicap clash running as Caulfield Race 5 at 3:20pm (AEST).
Of the baker’s dozen in the mix, the bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au are offering the shortest Herbert Power Stakes odds on Teofilo stallion Amralah who has just his fifth run down under.
Paying $3.30, the galloper has firmed in from $3.40 and jumps from barrier eight with Hugh Bowman aboard with 58.5kg.
He has won just one of his four starts in Australia, but is yet to get up to this distance that he is tipped to enjoy after a seventh when beaten only one and three quarter lengths by Preferment in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) last Sunday at Flemington.
Amralah may be on the short turnaround and also going up 3.5kg in weights, but on the quick back-up with a bit more luck in the running he can go forward from that gate and box-seat until they come to run him down.
Three of his rivals are also under double-figures and available through Ladbrokes at Best Tote or SP + 20%, available on all 10 Caulfield races this Saturday, including the rails-drawn Bohemian Lily ($5.50) jumping from barrier one with Kerrin McEvoy booked for the ride.
Gai Waterhouse trains this four-year-old O’Reilly mare who is yet to run at Caulfield but who caught the eye in Sydney last tie out when running second to Amelie’s Star over the distance in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) in late September.
She carried 56.5kg that day and drops back to the 53kg on Saturday, a favourable weight for a classy mare on the improve.
The other single figure fancies are the widely-drawn Excess Knowledge ($6) out in gate 13 for jockey Blake Shinn to overcome and the 59kg top weight Prince Of Penzance ($9.50) drawn one his inside in barrier 12 with Michelle Payne in the saddle.
The second runner in the line-up for Sydney’s Waterhouse, Monsun stallion Excess Knowledge is after his first win since the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) back in late March.
The six-year-old has had three runs this time in, the latest being at Caulfield on September 26 when runner-up to Black Tomahawk carrying 58kg – half a kilo more than his allocation for the Herbert Power Stakes.
Darren Weir trains fellow six-year-old Prince Of Penzance who has the big weight, the Pentire gelding coming off a fifth when under two lengths off the winner Escado in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) under the lights at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Other notable Herbert Power Stakes hopes at more generous odds but still with genuine claims include six-year-old mare Albonetti ($11) getting in on the 53kg lightweight, Weir’s Galileo nine-year-old At First Sight ($12) coming off a Harry White Classic third and the Danny O’Brien-trained War Pass four-year-old Bondeiger ($12) who ran third over 2000m at the track last time out.
Check out the full Herbert Power Stakes 2015 betting odds below then head to Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll enjoy 50% extra on your very first Fixed Odds winner on races 1 – 5 on Caulfield Guineas Day!
