There has been little love for 2011 Cox Plate-bound Rekindled Interest in the markets for tomorrow’s $200,000 Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, odds on the galloper drifting out as the likes of Heart Of Dreams and Shamrocker dominate betting on the crucial Melbourne Spring Carnival showdown.
Heart Of Dreams is the favourite to win the 2011 Memsie Stakes
Each year the Memsie Stakes serves as a campaign kick-off point for many of that season’s most promising spring stayers, the race producing seven of the past 11 Cox Plate winners.
This year Cranbourne horseman Jim Conlan is hoping an upset Memsie Stakes win by his Redoute’s Choice four-year-old Rekindled Interest can put them on the right foot heading towards the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22.
Winner of the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) at the Valley last spring carnival, Rekindled Interest resumed racing at the start of the month when finish an eye-catching second to Temple Of Boom in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star (1200m) at Flemington.
After opening at a Memsie Stakes quote of $4.60 at Luxbet, money on other runners in the 13-horse field have seen Rekindled Interest shift out to a $5 shot to win second-up in their first weight-for-age test.
They are also at nice Cox Plate odds through Luxbet paying $18 to win the weight-for-age feature and defeat the likes of current $7 favourite Whobegotyou.
“He wants to do something on the weekend so you know exactly where you are going from there,” Conlan said of Rekindled Interest and what he hopes to see from him in the Memsie.
“He is pretty untapped and I expect him to perform well on Saturday but whether that is good enough to win is another thing.”
While Rekindled Interest drifts, Memsie Stakes betting favourite Heart Of Dreams has been a solid market firmer in from $3.80 to $3.30 at Luxbet.
Their trainer Mick Price has been continuing to heap praise on the dual Group 1 winner, talking up their chances of a first-up win as they move towards runs in the major spring features including the Cox Plate.
“He’ll run well, he’s drawn well (barrier five),” Price said.
“It looks a typical weight-for-age race….crawl and spring home.”
The other 2011 Memsie Stakes market firmer is Danny O’Brien’s dual classics winner Shamrocker who after going out to $8, has come back into a nice price of $6.50 at Luxbet.
While there are a number of other gallopers in Memsie Stakes contention tomorrow, one of the best value bets could be to include double-figure roughie Precedence in your Trifecta and First Four selections at Luxbet.
The Bart Cummings-trained Zabeel six-year-old is resuming after a short three-race autumn campaign that culminated with a credible fifth place finish behind the now-retired Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
Precedence has won six races over his career including last spring’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup, after which they ran eighth to Americain in the $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November.
Cummings plans to take Precedence to the Melbourne Cup again this year, early Luxbet odds on them to win the richest handicap race in the world being $26.
On Saturday Precedence jumps from an ideal barrier two draw with ace hoop Steven Arnold aboard.
Former regular rider of Cummings’ dual Cox Plate champion So You Think, Arnold will be vying for his third Memsie Stakes success tomorrow having previously scored aboard Magical Miss (2002) and the as-for-mentioned So You Think last year.
Arnold has plenty of experience on the back of Precedence and rates them as a solid chance in the Memsie despite their long $31 odds at Luxbet.
“He can pull out a run fresh and he’s trialled nicely,” Arnold said.
“Obviously this is a starting point for him, but from a good gate, I can see him running weel.
“He’s always been a slightly immature horse and he’s put on a little bit of weight this time in and looks to be stronger than ever, so I think he’s in for a good prep.”
For the full Caulfield Race 6 odds and betting options for tomorrow, make sure you head to Luxbet and get a better price on your selections.
Even better, bet for free this weekend thanks to Luxbet and their $400 bonus bet offer available to new depositing punters that join and enter the promotional code BONUSBET!
2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes Odds
Caulfield Race 6 – 27/08/2011 – 3:03pm (local)
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart Of Dreams (5) | 3.30 |
| 2 | Midas Touch (9) | 101.00 |
| 3 | Precedence (2) | 31.00 |
| 4 | Linton (10) | 17.00 |
| 5 | Herculian Prince (12) | 21.00 |
| 6 | Red Colossus (1) | 15.00 |
| 7 | Anudjawun (8) | 101.00 |
| 8 | Prince Obama (7) | 15.00 |
| 9 | Anacheeva (13) | 16.00 |
| 10 | Rekindled Interest (3) | 5.00 |
| 11 | Shamrocker (4) | 6.50 |
| 12 | Absolutely (6) | 14.00 |
| 13 | Kings Rose (11) | 15.00 |
*Odds are Fixed Win from Luxbet and subject to change
