Bjorn Baker’s last start Dark Jewel Classic winner Irithea is tipped to continue her good form sitting top of the Dane Ripper Stakes 2020 odds following the non-acceptance of pre-field favourite Madam Rouge.

Irithea leads the 2020 Dane Ripper Stakes odds for Saturday at Eagle Farm. Photo: Steve Hart.

Brave runner-up to Tyzone in last Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), the Chris Waller-trained Madam Rouge was among the early entries to back-up on the short turnaround into the Group 2 $175,000 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at weight-for-age this weekend.

Waller, who has won the Dane Ripper four times with the race’s only two dual champions Red Tracer (2012-13) and Invincibella (2018-19), chose not to accept for his Stradbroke runner-up however.

The master horseman still has three chances at a third consecutive victory with the Waller stable to be represented in the Group 2 by Fiesta ($13), Sure Knee ($15) and Romani Girl ($19).

New favourite shooting to the top of the Dane Ripper Stakes odds on the 16-horse final field, Irithea is at $3.70 to salute having last been seen taking out the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Rosehill on May 16.

She has been kept fit with a subsequent Warwick Farm trial and has Ryan Maloney jumping aboard this weekend with the six-year-old Snitzel mare drawn barrier one, a nice change after overcoming the extreme outside alley (16) in the Dark Jewel.

“She’s in great order and I couldn’t be happier with her,” Baker told Sky Racing on Wednesday.

“She always puts her best foot forward and I am confident she’ll run well.”

Along with Waller, the other trainer saddling up a three-pronged assault on this year’s Dane Ripper Stakes field is local horseman Tony Gollan.

Gollan vies for his first win in the event with last start Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes winner at Doomben Shalwa ($12), runner-up in the same lead-up Krone ($13) and his Stradbroke Handicap graduate Outback Barbie ($8.50).

Outback Barbie drew a treat in barrier three with Mark Du Plessis retaining the ride on the four-year-old Spirit Of Boom mare who he rode to a close sixth only 1.5 lengths beaten in the feature last weekend.

The Stradbroke was Outback Barbie’s sixth start at Eagle Farm and she is yet to finish in the money at the track she returns to going up notably in weight (51kg to 57kg) for yet another crack at the course this weekend.

“Her run in the Stradbroke was very good as she ended up in the wrong part of the track,” Gollan told AAP.

“She was only beaten one and a half lengths and she was strong at the finish.

“I have been pleased with her since the Stradbroke and provided she continues to please me she can run on Saturday.

“At the set conditions she meets a lot of these horses very nicely at the weights. After all, she has won $1.4 million.

“This is her chance to put the Eagle Farm hoodoo aside.”

The only other single-figure fancy in the Dane Ripper Stakes odds this winter paying $7.50 is the David Vandyke-trained Baccarat Baby in gate 10.

The four-year-old daughter of Casino Prince failed to get a call-up in the Stradbroke as the first emergency but will chase the consolation prize on Saturday having last been seen crossing a neck back third in the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on May 15.

Click here for the updated Dane Ripper Stakes 2020 odds on the final field courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Dane Ripper Stakes Field & Barriers