Favorite Moon Set to Rise in Sydney Cup 2021: Field & Odds

English raider Favorite Moon is tipped to salute in Saturday’s 2021 Sydney Cup following his lead-up win in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m).

UK raider Favorite Moon is early favourite to win the Sydney Cup 2021 this weekend at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) field has attracted a quality line-up of 16 stayers set to do battle over the two-miles at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’.

Drawn in barrier three and carrying 51kg, including a 1kg penalty for his successful Australian debut at Rosehill on March 27, is the William Haggas-trained Sea The Moon four-year-old Favorite Moon.

Dual Sydney Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy continues associations on the UK visitor having guided him to victory in the NE Manion Cup last start, the same race the fellow Haggas-trained Young Rascal won last year before a Sydney Cup seventh.

Favorite Moon is out to do the double for the first time since The Offer (2014) and sits as the equal favourite in Sydney Cup betting at $5.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au to do so.

The other current co-favourite at the same Sydney Cup odds online is Realm Of Flowers for Anthony & Sam Freedman.

A four-year-old daughter of So You Think, Real Of Flowers has her second run over the 3200m having finished a very close second to Carif in last November’s Listed Sandown Cup over the two miles.

She comes off back-to-back seconds in good company including finishing just a quarter-length off Favorite Moon in the NE Manion Cup, which looks the form line to follow into Saturday’s Sydney Cup field.

Occupying the third line of betting at $8 is the in-form Bjorn Baker-trained She’s Ideel drawn one outside Favorite Moon in gate four and getting in on just 50kg.

A five-year-old daughter of Dundeel, She’s Ideel has been the picture of consistency this preparation.

She was last seen running second behind the spring’s Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) with 57kg on her back a fortnight ago and will be flying coming back 7kg.

In an open market, there are a number of other single-figure fancies including Danny O’Brien’s former VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound ($8.50) and Mark Newnham’s early market mover Spirit Ridge ($14 into $9).

Four-year-old Reliable Man mare Miami Bound raced up to her better form last time out at a blowout price when third in the Tancred Stakes and should be even better over further on Saturday from gate 10 with Craig Williams in the saddle.

Spirit Ridge presents fit third-up having run out of his skin when second to Toffee Tongue two back in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) before a credible fifth with 59kg in the Tancred.

Also being kept safe in the markets is Southern France for last year’s winning trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, the Sandown Classic winner looking to improve on his lead up sevenths in the Group 1 Chipping Norton and Tancred Stakes over a mile and a mile and a half respectively.

Click here for the latest Sydney Cup 2021 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Sydney Cup Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.