Chris Waller’s in-form miler Religify is the firm favourite in an open Lord Mayor’s Cup 2017 betting affair to continue his winning form this season at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday.
Religify from the stables of Chris Waller is the horse to beat in Saturday’s Lord Mayor’s Cup 2017 field at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Photo: Steve Hart.
A below capacity field of 10 take to the track in Race 2 at 12:37pm (AEST) on Kingsford-Smith Cup Day in Brisbane on the weekend for the $125,000 Group 3 Programmed Property Services Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m).
Half of the field are under double-figures in the latest Lord Mayor’s Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, but the standout according to the markets at $2.60 is Religify drawn a treat in gate three with Hugh Bowman to ride.
A six-year-old son of Choisir, Religify has a strong record of two wins and a second from four previous runs over 1600m and should enjoy getting back up to the distance second-up.
Last time out he won the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast and he’ll be fitter for the run in another weight-for-age race, only needing to handle the wet track conditions to salute for the punters.
The early market mover and second elect at $5 is the Godolphin-raced Holy Roman Emperor five-year-old Duca Valentinois who comes off a win in the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) from May 12.
Duca Valentinois gets the same distance again for his Eagle Farm debut on Saturday, but must handle a notable rise from his 53kg winning weight at Scone to 59kg this weekend.
He looks well suited to the roomy Eagle Farm course however, has James Doyle in the saddle and has placed on Heavy going before.
Following closely are then Amovatio ($5.50) and Pajaro ($6) drawn in barriers two and nine respectively.
The second of three Waller-trained runners in the Lord Mayor’s Cup field this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, Amovatio is second-up following a sixth in the Scone Cup.
He had it tough from barrier 15 of 15 that run however and is drawn better for Saturday at Eagle Farm where he’s had two runs for a second and a third.
The six-year-old may not have won a race since last year’s Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m), but he was competitive in Brisbane later that prep and gets the chance to return to similar form this weekend.
Pajaro is prepared by Peter & Paul Snowden and is also a dual Eagle Farm placegetter from two starts at the course.
His lead-up run produced a good Scone Cup third when unsuccessfully defending his title in the mile feature and the consistent son of Align is out to go one better than his second to Mighty Lucky in last year’s Lord Mayor’s Cup when the race took place at Doomben.
The other notable hope according to the markets at $7.50 is the local Chris Anderson-trained Mystic Opal ($7.50) looking to hold out the interstate raiders.
A four-year-old daughter of Excites, the mare races for the first time since a 1300m Eagle Farm win on April 29 and she’s a genuine track specialist (4-3-1-0) who deserves a shot in tougher company here.
Check out the full Lord Mayor’s Cup 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds below provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Favourite vs Field.
