Grahame Begg’s smart So You Think mare Miss Siska is clear favourite to win the TS Carlyon Cup 2020 first-up at Caulfield on C.F. Orr Stakes Day.

Miss Siska first-up over the mile is favourite for Saturday’s 2020 TS Carlyon Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A key early lead-up to tougher autumn features like the Australian Cup at Flemington, this season’s Group 3 $160,000 TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) field features 10 runners.

Drawn the outside barrier but carrying 55kg at set weights plus penalties, six-year-old Miss Siska leads Carlyon Cup betting at $2.90 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Damian Lane partners the mare as she chases her first win over the mile from seven starts.

A noted fresh performer (5:2-2-0), Miss Siska is looking to break a winning drought going back to a Gold Bracelet (1400m) win first-up at Bendigo back in March last year.

She’s been competitive in plenty since however including her fourth to Kenedna when only a quarter-length beaten in Randwick’s Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) last autumn.

During the spring her final two runs produced seconds in Group 2 company in Melbourne, the latest of which was in the Sandown Classic (2400m) behind Southern France in mid-December.

“We are very happy with where she is at,” Begg told Racing Victoria.

“She needs to get into races she can control. She toughs it out really well, so we expect Saturday might be the right sort of formula for her.

“She has been ticking over very well. She had a trial last week at Geelong over 1200m and it has her fitted up for the Carlyon Cup on Saturday.

“We felt running her at a mile first-up, at least the tempo of the race won’t be as strong and she will get in a nice comfort zone. She normally runs well fresh.”

Two other TS Carlyon Cup horses are also under double-figures for the win on Saturday with Odeon ($3.40) and Guizot ($4.80) also being kept safe in betting.

The Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained Zacinto gelding Odeon won the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day before a narrow last start fourth over the mile at Flemington on January.

Back to his preferred track he looks a danger with Craig Williams likely to take advantage of his mount’s speed in the race.

Guizot is prepared by Aaron Purcell and also has nice form at Caulfield (8:3-2-1), but could struggle stepping up in grade here.

Other notable TS Carlyon Cup runners include the Lindsay Park-trained dual Australian Cup winner Harlem ($12) carrying 60kg fresh, fellow eight-year-old Duca Valentinois ($11) in gate two and 2018 ATC Derby champ Levendi ($15).

Pierro stallion Levendi has had just the one run since things went amiss in a trial last February finishing dead last in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown in November.

Trainer Peter Gelagotis however remains hopeful that punters haven’t seen the last of the $1.65 million earner whose comeback will be closely watched on Saturday.

Click here for the latest 2020 TS Carlyon Cup betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 TS Carlyon Cup Field & Barriers