An ace field of three-year-old sprinters race down the famous Flemington straight on Makybe Diva Stakes Day on Saturday in the Danehill Stakes 2017 – betting tips and the latest odds for the Group 2 found below.
Catchy sits top of the 2017 Danehill Stakes odds at Flemington this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
There are 11 hopefuls in the mix for this year’s Group 2 $200,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m), which is set to run as Flemington Race 5 at 2:55pm (AEST).
Of the young spring gallopers, four are under double-figures in the Danehill Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The firming favourite who the punters are getting behind is the autumn’s Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winning filly Catchy ($4 into $3.60).
Lindsay Park’s daughter of Fastnet Rock is second-up and out to go one better than the close second as the beaten $2.05 favourite at Caulfield a month back in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m).
She has had a little freshen-up since preparing for her first Flemington run and has the powerful finish to run over the top of them late, despite a jockey change after early spring plans changed.
Regan Bayliss is a good fill-in for Craig Williams, who rides undefeated rival Jukebox, and head trainer David Hayes is confident Catchy won’t let the punters down.
“She’s nearly arrived in her coat, and she gets better into a prep,” he told Racing Victoria.
“I expect her on her second, third, fourth run to keep getting better.
“It’ll take a good one to beat her tomorrow.
“She did trial down there [at Flemington] earlier in the year – she goes pretty well anywhere, so I think she’ll be OK.
“She beat the boys in the Blue Diamond, and that gives me confidence. She did it at two, so hopefully she can do it at three.”
So does Catchy beat the boys in the Danehill Stakes on Saturday or is there an upset pending from the likes of the Ciaron Maher-trained Jukebox ($4.80) coming off a Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) win, smart local filly Booker ($5.50) drawn a treat in gate four or even the returning Summer Passage ($13) from across the Tasman?
1st
#11 Booker ($5.50)
Tipping the fillies to beat home the boys in this year’s Danehill Stakes results and like the price offered on this improving daughter of Written Tycoon who is locally prepared by Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra. She won on debut here back in May, before a Group 2 second in Adelaide as the beaten odds-on favourite. Second again first-up a fortnight back behind Caulfield Guineas favourite Merchant Navy in the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m). Only a neck away that day, will be fitter for the run and has the winning form at Flemington. Can match that form again and should get the run of the race from barrier four.
2nd
#1 Summer Passage ($13)
Double-figure price on this Kiwi-trained Snitzel colt is attractive. How he handles the Flemington course will be key to his chances, but he is a Group 1 winner back home from March and more than impressed debuting down under back on April 1 when under a length second at a similar price ($15) behind Invader in Randwick’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Obviously needs to answer a few questions here and it’s been a while between runs, but like this horse a lot.
3rd
#6 Catchy ($3.60)
She’s a Group 1 winner over the colts and geldings as a juvenile and looked the goods again despite the loss first-up. The team are hoping she shows up on Saturday to earn a shot at the $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas over the mile. Change of campaign plans is a bit of a concern, but if she’s good enough she’ll do it.
Get in on the Flemington racing action on Saturday locking in our insider Danehill Stakes 2017 betting tips at the best odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au now.
