Darryl Hansen’s 57.5kg topweight Essington has opened favourite to win the George Moore Stakes 2011 at Doomben on Saturday, the bookies installing them at the top of the markets for the feature clash likely to be run on a Heavy track.
Excellantes (Pink&Black Checkers) is second favourite to win the 2011 George Moore Stakes on Saturday
Redoute’s Choice five-year-old Essington, drawn in barrier eight for the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m), is paying $4.20 at Luxbet to post their 11th career win from 20 starts.
Winner of the Ascot Handicap back in July, Essington resumed in great form a fortnight ago running second behind fellow George Moore rivals Listen Son and Excellantes in the Listed Keith Noud Quality Handicap (1200m).
“He is going well, he showed me first-up how good he is going,” Hansen said.
While confident in the horse’s fitness, the only concern for Hansen is the distance which is just short of their pet 1400 metres.
“I wouldn’t be too disappointed if he got beaten at 1200 metres again,” Hansen said.
“I would love to see him win but the further you get him this time in, the better he will go.”
The 57.5kg is also a query in the wet for the Sunshine Coast-based horseman who is currently fighting a training suspension for a positive swab, Hansen allowed to race Essington on Saturday thanks to a stay of proceedings granted earlier this week.
“I’m not worried about the wet but it is a bit harder in those conditions when you are the topweight,” he said.
With the Tony Gollan-trained Listen Son ($7 Luxbet) likely to be withdrawn from the field if the conditions in Brisbane don’t improve in the next couple of days, Rob Heathcote’s progressive four-year-old Excellantes is Essington’s main danger on Saturday and occupies the second line of George Moore Stakes odds at a quote of $5.50.
Drawn ideally in barrier six the perennial placegetter has the impressive distance and track records to justify their price in the markets, however Excellantes won’t be suited to a Heavy track.
They have twice seen Slow going, winning one back in April this year over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm from barrier 14 of 15.
Their other start on a Slow (6) track was, however, Excellante’s only time finishing outside of the top three in their 13-start career to date when they finished 12th, beaten four lengths by winner Military Rose in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) back in May.
There are three other runners under double figures in the markets with Ready To Rip ($7 Luxbet), Belltone ($7.50 Luxbet) and Latin News ($9.50 Luxbet).
The Andrew Williamson-trained Ready To Rip is just that despite their awkward barrier 13 draw for Saturday.
Last seen finishing three lengths away sixth in the Keith Noud, the More Than Ready four-year-old is a known wet tracker that has won two from three on Slow ground and one form two, placing third in the other, on Heavy tracks.
Belltone is another runner with a decent Slow track record, however Kelso Wood’s Brahms six-year-old has never seen Heavy.
A winner of three straight races during August – September, Belltone ran a solid first-up fifth in the Keith Noud beaten just two lengths.
The former Bart Cummings-trained Latin News, now prepared by David Payne in Sydney, comes off two close seconds in Sydney, the most recent being a bob-of-the-head loss to Group 1 winner Atomic Force at Canterbury on November 26 which was on a Heavy (9) track making them a nice pick at Luxbet.
Other notable George Moore Stakes hopefuls and their current prices include Barry Baldwin’s Havatryst ($10 out to $12 Luxbet) looking to remain unbeaten for the season, last-start Group 3 runner-up at Rosehill Startsmeup ($10 out to $12 Luxbet) debuting for new trainer Gillian Heinrich and Gollan’s possibly New Zealand-bound Spirit Of Boom ($11 Luxbet).
See below for the latest 2011 George Moore Stakes odds that punters can find at our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet.
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George Moore Stakes 2011 Odds
Doomben Race 7 – 10/12/2011
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ESSINGTON (8) | 4.20 Luxbet |
| 2 | LISTEN SON (9) | 7.00 Luxbet |
| 3 | STARTSMEUP (16) | 12.00 Luxbet |
| 4 | SHUFFLE THE CASH (2) | 126.00 Luxbet |
| 5 | LATIN NEWS (14) | 9.50 Luxbet |
| 6 | OLLIE VOLLIE (12) | 35.00 Luxbet |
| 7 | TIERQUALO (3) | 26.00 Luxbet |
| 8 | EXCELLANTES (6) | 5.50 Luxbet |
| 9 | BELLTONE (5) | 7.50 Luxbet |
| 10 | JAZZ HEART (7) | 126.00 Luxbet |
| 11 | READY TO RIP (13) | 7.00 Luxbet |
| 12 | SPIRIT OF BOOM (11) | 11.00 Luxbet |
| 13 | ADEBISI (4) | 18.00 Luxbet |
| 14 | HAVATRYST (1) | 12.00 Luxbet |
| 15 | CELTIC DANCER (17) | 31.00 Luxbet |
| 16 | SHEEDY (15) | 151.00 Luxbet |
| 17e | STEEL ZIP (10) | 21.00 Luxbet |
*Fixed Win Odds provided by Luxbet and subject to change
