Red hot favourite to win tonight’s $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (2000m) at Moonee Valley is Peter Moody’s glamour mare Typhoon Tracy, but can this five-time Group 1 winner return to form with a first-up win or will it be an upset 2011 Australia Stakes result?

Typhoon Tracy has remained a firm favourite in the Australia Stakes odds and betting markets leading up to tonight’s opening Melbourne Autumn Carnival group race.

Punters have heavily backed the five-year-old Red Ransom mare from $2.40 yesterday into the odds-on $1.90 favourite at leading online bookmaker Luxbet.

However, is there value in backing the reigning Horse of the Year or will Typhoon Tracy disappoint and give the bookies a win instead?

Typhoon Tracy was last seen on the tracks at Flemington on Derby Day where she finished a well-beaten second over four lengths away from Sacred Choice in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m)

Indeed, her latest spring campaign was her worst to date.

Typhoon Tracy extended her losing streak to five runs finishing unplaced in the Memsie Stakes and Turnbull Stakes, and only managing second in the Dato Tan Cin Name Stakes behind weight-for-age star Whobegotyou.

Tonight Typhoon Tracy steps down to 1200m, a distance she remains unbeaten in from three starts.

Despite her dominant record, however, the galloper has not run over 1200m since February of 2009 and may struggle to stay on pace in a hardy sprint to the line.

So who could steal the Australia Stakes crown from the queen tonight?

Second favourite in the Australia Stakes markets is the Whitefriars paying $5 through Luxbet.

Rick Worthington’s Sydney galloper is far more suited to the short trip here having run, won and placed in many 1100m and 1200m spring showdowns.

Whitefriars enjoyed success in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day and most recently ran an impressive first-up second behind Pinwheel in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) on January 14, beaten by less than a length after a 48 day spell.

Other horses in the Australia Stakes markets that are in-form and ready to perform in a fast paced showdown tonight include Tony Noonan’s classy mare Ortensia ($6 Luxbet) with a nice draw and commendable record over the distance and Mark Kavanagh’s four-year-old gelding Undeniably ($6.50 Luxbet).

Undeniably is the only runner coming off a last-start win having taken out the Moonee Valley Legends Handicap (1200m) here on December 31 so expect them to shorten in the odds.

Stay tuned for our our exclusive 2011 Australia Stakes Betting Tips and then head to Luxbet to back your favourites in tonight’s race at the hottest odds in Australia!

Photos courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography