It is tipped to be a repeat of the Underwood Stakes quinella at Caulfield on the weekend with Bonneval and Hartnell dominating 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes betting this Guineas Day.
Hartnell is out to turn the tables on his last start conqueror in Saturday’s 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes getting up over 2000m. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
One of four elite levels on the card, this year’s Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) features eleven runners drawn the outside barrier is race favourite Bonneval ($3).
This Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained mare is absolutely flying and has been called a moral by Hall of Fame hoop Jim Cassidy for the Caulfield Cup 2017 next start.
The four-year-old daughter of Makfi will have only seven days between runs from this weekend, where she chases a seventh consecutive win, and the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
She also chases the Spring Cups double, tipped to back-up from the Caulfield Cup and step-up to two miles at Flemington on Tuesday November 4 for the Group 1 $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).
As a three-year-old Bonneval enjoyed back-to-back mile and a half wins completing the cross-Tasman NZ Oaks – ATC Oaks double.
She has been outstanding again in Melbourne this spring, firstly taking out the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) over the Moonee Valley mile before re-entering the Group 1 winners’ stall.
In her maiden Caulfield run, Bonneval was too good for her rivals in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and now looks to emulate fellow Kiwi Ocean Park (2012) doing the Underwood – Caulfield Stakes double.
The favourite hasn’t lost a single one of her starts over 2000m, so the extra distance on Saturday will suit.
Also set to relish the step-up from 1800m to 2000m this weekend is the close second favourite in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes odds Hartnell ($3.30).
Godolphin’s Authorized seven-year-old doesn’t know how to run a bad race and constantly matches it with the best.
He is, however, out to atone for back-to-back seconds as the beaten favourite in his latest two Group 1 runs including in the Underwood.
Hartnell is the obvious danger drawn better in barrier seven, but he is one run ahead of the mare who had his measure last time out.
It really is a two horse affair in Ladbrokes Stakes betting this spring, with the next best in the markets being Gailo Chop ($10) and Jon Snow ($10) at double figures.
Ace Victorian horseman Darren Weir prepares imported French galloper Gailo Chop who was only a nose off Hartnell when third in the Underwood Stakes trifecta a fortnight ago.
The seven-year-old should be more effective over Saturday’s distance also with five wins from eight goes at the distance, but will need to be improving to run down Bonneval.
Jon Snow is a stablemate of the favourite Bonneval, the fellow Baker & Forsman-trained four-year-old also a Group 1 winner down under having saluted in the autumn’s Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in the wet.
Another Caulfield Cup hope for the stable that won with Mongolian Khan (2015), Jon Snow was back in winning form third-up on September 29 in Moonee Valley’s Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m).
Check out the latest Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes 2017 odds below, betting now open at Ladbrokes.com.au.
