The punters are in for a tough job at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday with a wide open field of sprinters to face off in the Darley Classic 2016.
Manikato Stakes runner-up Fell Swoop is early favourite in 2016 Darley Classic betting for this Saturday at Flemington. Photo: Daniel Costello.
A host of top season three-year-olds are set to bypass the $1 million Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) this Melbourne Cup Carnival including the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Capitalist.
One of two elite level spring races running on Emirates Stakes Day, November 5, the Darley Classic field is due to jump as Flemington Race 8 at 5:00pm (AEDT).
A dozen horses are accepted to face off, up from the nine that contested last year’s edition of the weight-for-age sprint down the famous Flemington straight.
The bookmakers are having a hard time sorting the early fancies in Darley Classic betting at Ladbrokes.com.au with six single-figure fancies.
Over the past decade four Darley Classic favourites have saluted for the punters, but none since the superstar Black Caviar (2011) when she successfully defended her title.
The early Darley Classic favourite this spring at a current quote of $5.50 is Fell Swoop.
Matthew Dale’s classy five-year-old is drawn a treat in barrier three, which last produced a Darley Classic winner with Rubitano (2002).
The son of Not A Single Doubt comes off a second to upset winner Rebel Dane in Moonee Valley’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on October 21.
The Manikato Stakes has produced three of the past four Darley Classic winners, and could again prove the form line to follow into the showdown on Saturday.
Jockey Hugh Bowman continues his association on Fell Swoop this weekend and chases his second Darley Classic winning ride after success aboard Terravista (2014) for Joe Pride two years ago.
Hot on Fell Swoop’s heels in the Darley Classic odds at $6 for the win is last start Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) winner Our Boy Malachi.
Team Hawkes prepare the veteran eight-year-old who is out to be the oldest Darley Classic winner in over 30 years.
Co-trainer John Hawkes prepared the 1998 winner Flavour, while no Darley Classic champ has won off a last start Caulfield run since Ancient Song (2003).
Saturday is Our Boy Malachi’s first look at the Flemington straight, but third-up he looks set to peak and has a gun record over the distance (8-5-1-1).
Occupying the third line of betting at $6.50 and jumping one on Our Boy Malachi’s inside from gate four is The Quarterback.
Robbie Griffiths’ Street Boss six-year-old is a Group 1 winner at the track and distance having won the autumn’s Newmarket Handicap as $21 outsider.
He posted his first win since first-up on October 2 back at Flemington in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) before his fourth in the Manikato at Moonee Valley when only one and a quarter lengths beaten.
Jumping from barrier seven and paying $7 to enjoy a sixth Group 1 win is the Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee.
Price opted not to press onto the Darley Classic with his gun three-year-olds Extreme Choice and Flying Artie, the latter winning last weekend’s Coolmore Stud Stakes.
He relies on his Redoute’s Choice seven-year-old Lankan Rupee then, the gelding already amassing over $4 million in prize money and coming off a third in the Caulfield Sprint.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies at $8.50 each are market mover Malaguerra (backed in from $11) who ran second in the Schillaci Stakes last start and the ultra-consistent Spieth ($8.50) who has won his four last starts.
Check out the full Darley Classic 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and current Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au in the table below – home of Odds Boost!
