Trainer Ciaron Maher is tipped to take out Saturday’s 2024 Sydney Cup trophy with his in-form stayer Circle Of Fire favourite on the quick back-up into the two mile classic.
Circle Of Fire heads betting on the 2024 Sydney Cup field this weekend at Randwick on the short seven day turnaround. Photo: Steve Hart.
The time-honoured Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) is one of four elite level features on The Championships Day 2 at Randwick this weekend.
The staying showdown of the autumn features a bumper final field of 17 with the latest Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au led by Almanzor four-year-old Circle Of Fire at $4.80.
He has a wide gate 15 draw to overcome but plenty of time to do so presenting fit on the seven-day turnaround after a comprehensive Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) win in the wet last weekend.
That was the import’s first Australian triumph and he now chases the Chairman’s – Sydney Cup double last completed by The Offer (2014).
He had 53kg last Saturday and is down to 51.5kg in the Sydney Cup weights up in grade looking to salute for the punters.
Three other stayers are currently at single-figure Sydney Cup odds including the $5.50 second elect also representing Maher, Ashrun, in gate 12 with master hoop Craig Williams riding.
Fourth-up and fit this weekend off a string of good autumn runs, the Authorized eight-year-old took out the Pakenham Cup two back with 58kg before a big Rosehill run for third to Kalapour in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on March 30.
He was only 1.59 lengths beaten that day over the mile and a half with 59kg at weight-for-age and looks every chance to extend to the two miles now down to 55.5kg.
Kris Lees’ Tancred Stakes winner Kalapour also backs up in the Sydney Cup field and is allocated 54kg, but is likely to carry just 52.5kg with airborne apprentice Dylan Gibbons in the saddle.
The seven-year-old has had two Randwick runs for two thirds over his career, is a Melbourne Cup performer, and last start Group 1 champ at a blowout price.
He looks decent value again at $8.50 to do the Tancred Stakes – Sydney Cup double.
The last of the hopes under $10 for the win at $9.50 is the John O’Shea-trained Athabascan who ran fourth in the Tancred in a blanket finish 1.66 lengths beaten.
Other notable Sydney Cup contenders chasing an upset including Chris Waller’s rails-drawn Group 3 NE Manion Cup runner-up Manzoice ($18), the Phillip Stokes-trained proven two miler Amade ($14) coming off a good Adelaide Cup fourth, and the in-form Serpentine ($11) coming off back-to-back wins for the Waterhouse/Bott stable.
The Sydney Cup 2024 is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 3:15pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race card with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.
2024 Sydney Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 014101×356 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 17 | 56.5kg | 108 | ||
| 2 | 528451×001 | MAHRAJAAN (USA) | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | Tom Marquand | 16 | 56kg | 2.0kg | 107 | |
| 3 | 0x7624x413 | ASHRUN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 12 | 55.5kg | 1.5kg | 107 | |
| 4 | x11x2x7706 | LOFT (GER) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Blake Shinn | 7 | 55.5kg | 101 | ||
| 5 | 0194×07365 | STOCKMAN (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Reece Jones | 8 | 55kg | 101 | ||
| 6 | 000651×868 | SELINO (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 9 | 54.5kg | 102 | ||
| 7 | L73310x021 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 6 | 54kg | 52.5kg | 110 | |
| 8 | 9x24305x11 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4 | 53.5kg | 1.5kg | 107 | |
| 9 | 0x95154234 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Michael Dee | 5 | 53kg | 101 | ||
| 10 | 911872×644 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea | Tyler Schiller | 11 | 52kg | 103 | ||
| 11 | 0x800x8852 | MANZOICE | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd (a) | 1 | 51.5kg | 50kg | 98 | |
| 12 | 1x2343x441 | CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Andrea Atzeni | 15 | 51.5kg | 96 | ||
| 13 | x242111626 | GLENTANEOUS (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ms Jamie Kah | 2 | 51.5kg | 96 | ||
| 14 | 1x02609x74 | MAJOR BEEL (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Louis Beuzelin | 3 | 51.5kg | 96 | ||
| 15 | 3236145×23 | MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ms Rachel King | 14 | 51.5kg | 94 | ||
| 16 | 0004235287 | TORRENS | Marc Chevalier | Ms Jenny Duggan | 13 | 51.5kg | 94 | ||
| 17 | 0x7059x004 | SO DAZZLING (NZ) | John Sargent | Jay Ford | 10 | 51.5kg | 87 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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