The bookmakers are finding it near impossible to split the top three fillies in Saturday’s 2017 Furious Stakes field, with a trio of new season three-year-olds dominating the markets.
Formality and Alizee have both been confirmed in the 2017 Furious Stakes field. Photo: Steve Hart
Running as Randwick Race 6 at 3:10pm (AEST) on a card headlined by Winx running the Chelmsford Stakes, this year’s Group 2 $200,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) attracted a small field of just eight hopefuls.
Current narrow favourite in the post-acceptance Furious Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3 for the win is the Bjorn Baker-trained Champagne Cuddles.
The consistent Not A Single Doubt filly may have the outside alley to overcome, but the bookies are taking no chances with Tye Angland’s mount following her eye-catching run first-up.
After winning at Rosehill on debut last October and saluting in the mud at Randwick this June, Champagne Cuddles stepped right up in grade a fortnight ago for her third to Formality in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m).
It was a blanket finish in the race with just a quarter-length separating the trifecta, and those three fillies again dominate markets for the rematch in the Furious Stakes.
This time however it is Champagne Cuddles tipped to turn the tables on the Lindsay Park-trained Silver Shadow winner Formality and runner-up Alizee from the Godolphin stables who pay $3.80 and $3.10 respectively in Furious Stakes betting.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride on Formality who is out to secure the Silver Shadow – Furious Stakes double.
Group 1 placed when third to stablemate Catchy in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in Melbourne over the autumn, the daughter of Fastnet Rock got the run of the race first-up and will need to be improving to hold out her rivals again on Saturday.
The James Cummings-trained Alizee meanwhile is drawn the rails in the Furious Stakes field, the well-bred daughter of Sepoy to be ridden by Hugh Bowman in the place of Glyn Schofield.
Schofield rode the up-and-comer for a first-up win at Warwick Farm on August 2 as well as her second in the Silver Shadow, but is aboard rival Whispered Secret this weekend.
Kris Lees prepares the returning High Chaparral filly Whispered Secret who races for the first time since her third behind The Mission at the track on April 15 in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Prior to that she enjoyed a black-type win over the Randwick mile, but with the 1200m of the Furious Stakes short of her best she is listed as a $12 shot in the markets.
Check out the full Furious Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed win odds on the Group 2 below with pricing available now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
