Despite a wide barrier draw for Sundayâs Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival feature the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke has opened odds-on favourite in 2017 Hobart Cup betting.
Big Duke is the odds-on favourite in 2017 Hobart Cup betting for this Sunday in Tasmania. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Running as Race 8 at 4:10pm (AEDT), this seasonâs $200,000 Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) field features just the ten stayers and Weirâs in-form import Big Duke jumps from gate nine.
Brenton Avdulla is engaged to take over for apprentice Ben Allen in the saddle of the Ravenâs Pass five-year-old who comes off back-to-back Melbourne wins this summer.
Big Duke blitzed a Benchmark 78 over 1800m at Caulfield on Boxing Day before a one length win for the punters in the same class over 2040m at Moonee Valley on January 21.
He shoots for his first win over further than that stepping out over the mile and a half for the first time on Sunday, but benefits from a drop back from 56kg last start to only 54kg on the weekend.
The bookies are taking no chances and have Big Duke at $1.85 in the Hobart Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Three other runners are also under $10 in the latest markets including the horse Big Duke beat home by a length last time, the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Cool Chap at $4 to turn the tables.
The weights work in favour of the four-year-old High Chaparral four-year-old who is also on the 54kg minimum in the Hobart Cup weights after carrying a hefty 60kg impost last time out.
Cool Chap is a proven stayer having won Flemingtonâs Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) on Anzac Day in 2016 before a third in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) that May.
He has Kerrin McEvoy riding on Sunday and shapes-up as the value Hobart Cup punt to place.
The next best in betting at $7.50 each are the locally-trained duo of Geegees Goldengirl and Count Da Vinci.
Stuart Gandyâs smart Wordsmith mare Geegees Goldengirl comes off a weight-for-age win over 2200m at Hobart from January 22, which was her fifth win at the track (15-5-6-4).
She easily accounted for her rivals with a three and a quarter-length winning margin that day and drops back two kilograms to 55kg on the weekend.
Sigrid Carr retains the ride on the best fancied of the local Tassie hopes as Geegees Goldengirl looks to go one better than her second to Up Cups in last yearâs Hobart Cup quinella.
Runner-up in the Summer Cup behind Geegees Goldengirl last time out, the Scott Brunton-trained Count Da Vinci will also appreciate the handicap conditions of Sundayâs rematch.
The six-year-old won six straight before his last start second including two from three at Hobart Racecourse, but is as yet untested over the 2400m.
The reigning Hobart Cup winner Up Cups meanwhile pays $19 to go back-to-back in the race after being re-handicapped to carry the 58kg top weight with former local boy Craig Newitt in the saddle this summer.
See below for the latest Hobart Cup 2017 betting odds, markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au who will match your first deposit as a new sign-up 100% up to $500 in bonus bets with use of the code BETBONUS (T&Cs apply / excluding NSW).
