Melbourne raider Odeon has retained his clear favouritism in South Australian Derby 2017 betting for this Saturday after drawing ideally for the Adelaide staying test.
Odeon is clear favourite in 2017 South Australian Derby betting at Morphettville this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A capacity field of three-year-olds face off in this season’s $600,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m), which steals the show at Morphettville Racecourse on the weekend.
After an impressive last start win over 2000m at Caulfield a fortnight back, the Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained Zacinto gelding Odeon shot to the top of South Australian Derby betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
On Tuesday morning the up-and-comer drew a treat in barrier five, into four with the emergencies coming out, shortening his South Australian Derby odds into $3.40 and firming.
Favourites have an outstanding recent record in the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival feature with seven saluting for the punters since 2006, most recently the gun filly Delicacy in 2015.
Four of the past five South Australian Derby winners also saluted from single-digit barriers including the Darren Weir-trained Howard Be Thy Name (6 of 16) last year.
Saturday will be Odeon’s second trip to Morphettville following his narrow second to Grand Chancellor at the track two back in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).
This weekend the galloper has Damian Lane coming aboard for the first time since the two combined to win over 1400m at Bendigo in mid-March, Odeon carting a hefty 60kg to victory in the Class 1.
Four other runners in the South Australian Derby field join Odeon under $10 for the win including the $6 second elect Netherfield who drew out wider in barrier 13 (possibly into 10).
Another visitor from Melbourne, Mick Price prepares the progressive Darci Brahma gelding who also has his second Morphettville run in the Group 1.
Last time out Netherfield finished fourth beaten just over a length by Waging War in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2030m), a race that has produced two of the past three SA Derby champions.
Caulfield-based Price is yet to prepare a South Australian Derby winner, but last Saturday he enjoyed his fourth Robert Sangster Stakes success at the track with his smart mare Secret Agenda taking out the Group 1 sprint for fillies and mares.
Occupying the third line of betting at $7.50 is the widely-drawn Ruthven prepared by fellow Caulfield horseman Ciaron Maher.
Ruthven and hoop Mark Zahra have work to do from out in barrier 18 (into 15) with the consistent Domesday colt coming off a second to Toffee Nose in the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) at Caulfield on April 22.
That followed his brave fourth when just two lengths off the Kiwi-trained winner Jon Snow in Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) and the step back up in distance this weekend should suit.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies are stablemates Volatile Mix ($8) and Rockstar Rebel ($9.50) out to hand trainer Weir with back-to-back SA Derby victories.
Volatile Mix has last year’s winning hoop John Allen in the saddle on Saturday, the Pentire gelding out to improve on his close fourth in the Chairman’s Stakes last time out.
Rockstar Rebel meanwhile is a son of the 2009 SA Derby winner Rebel Raider and chases his first win since a narrow effort over 1300m on the synthetic track at Geelong in October last year.
Of the longer priced fancies those with genuine winning claims include the Anaheim ($10), in-form local hope Waging War ($11) coming off the Chairman’s Stakes win and runner-up in the same traditional lead-up Grand Chancellor ($12) for Phillip Stokes.
Check out the full South Australian Derby 2017 odds below, pricing open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
