It is a typically open affair in 2017 Coolmore Stud Stakes betting this VRC Derby Day on Saturday with only a handful of three-year-olds under $10 to win the sprint classic.
Undefeated Godolphin youngster Viridine debuts at Melbourne as favourite in Saturday’s 2017 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
A capacity line-up of youngsters face off in the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) when the set weights clash jumps as Flemington Race 5 at 2:25pm (AEDT).
Despite 20 final acceptors for the race, just five are at single-figures in the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au and none are under $7.
That $7 favouritism currently belongs to the ideally-positioned Viridine who gets the rails run from barrier one looking to retain his undefeated record.
Raced by Godolphin and trained by James Cummings, the unbeaten son of Poet’s Voice jumps from the same barrier Flying Artie (2016) saluted from last Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A winner of all four of his career starts to date in Sydney, Viridine comes off a Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) success by two lengths at Randwick on October 7.
He needs to handle the Melbourne way of racing and the testing Flemington straight for his first step-up into Group 1 company, but the Roman Consul Stakes form has held in the Coolmore Stud Stakes producing three of the past four winners.
The Chris Waller-trained trio of Zoustar (1st in 2013), Brazen Beau (1st in 2014) and Japonisme (3rd in 2015) were all graduates out of the Randwick lead-up, form Viridine is tipped to emulate this spring.
If the straight six at Flemington doesn’t prove to the current favourite’s liking, the next best in Coolmore Stud Stakes betting are equal $8.50 second favourites Eptimum and Catchy drawn at opposite ends of the field in barriers four and 17 respectively.
Jockey Ryan Maloney rides the Toby Edmonds-trained Snitzel gelding from the Gold Coast who has won three of his four starts so far.
All three wins have been in Victoria this preparation, including the eye-catching three length romp home at The Valley last Saturday in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m).
This is a notable rise in grade for Eptimum, and no Coolmore Stud Stakes winner since Manikato Stakes third placegetter Theatre (1998) has won off a Moonee Valley lead-up, but the horse remains well-supported.
Catchy is one of three Lindsay Park-trained fillies taking on the boys in the million sprint on Saturday.
She has been freshened-up after running third in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
The Blue Diamond winner was brave in defeat, but the team admit she didn’t really run out the mile and that the step back to 1200m should suit on Saturday.
There is work to do for the daughter of Fastnet Rock and her hoop Hugh Bowman from the nasty barrier however, but Catchy is proven at the track / distance having won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) back in mid-September.
Rounding out the best in Coolmore Stud Stakes betting according to the bookmakers are Trapeze Artist ($9) and Invincible Star ($9).
A horror gate 18 draw belongs to the Gerald Ryan-trained Snitzel colt Trapeze Artist who is out to prove his four and a quarter length win in Rosehill’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 23 was no fluke.
The Golden Rose winner jumped as a $61 roughie from barrier 14 of 14 and annihilated the field and has been kept fresh for his shot at the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Invincible Star is prepared by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and is another of the fillies looking to salute over the colts and geldings for the first time since Nechita (2012).
Her lead-up run also produced a four length win but in easier company over Counterplay in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)0 at Caulfield on October 14.
Check out the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes 2017 betting odds below, markets open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
