Peter Snowden’s undefeated colt Pied A Terre may have drawn a horror barrier for their Saturday assignment in the Chester Manifold Stakes 2012, but the boom youngster has still opened at the top of the betting for the Flemington feature.
An impressive winner of all three of their Melbourne career starts to date, Ad Valorem gelding Pied A Terre was last seen resuming from a five month break to easily beat home Smokin’ Joey and win the Sportingbet Premium Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on December 31.
For that run they carried a hefty 57kg and they drop to 54.5kg for the $150,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
They may have the right weight but Pied A Terre faces a number of hurdles if they are to maintain their unbeaten status.
Rising to stakes and open-age company for the first time Pied A Terre has also drawn the ‘visitor’s gate’ and will jump from barrier 13 of 13.
“I wish we’d drawn a bit better but we can’t do anything about that now,” Snowden said.
“There are a few reasons we’re running him in this race (and not against his own age), he’s not big, he’s down in the weights and we want to test him.”
The bookies seem confident that despite the disastrous draw Pied A Terre will emerge as a contender and not a pretender on Saturday, Luxbet installing him as the $3.30 favourite in their 2012 Chester Manifold Stakes odds.
Three other runners in the Chester Manifold field are currently under $10 in the markets with:
- #10 There’s Only One ($7 Luxbet) – Peter Moody’s ace Testa Rossa mare who shoots for consecutive win No. 6, won over 1200 metres at Caulfield first-up on Boxing Day but has barrier 12 to overcome
- #6 Second Effort ($7.50 Luxbet) – Clinton McDonald-trained Mossman five-year-old was only beaten a quarter length when fourth to Chasm in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday, short backup and have never been to the 1400 metres but are a class horse with plenty of big city wins to their name last year
- #3 Shadowfax ($9.50 Luxbet) – Mark Kavanagh’s six-year-old was outclassed at Warwick Farm in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) back in December beaten over 10 lengths when 12th to Monton, but they drop right back in class and getting back to 1400m should suit better
In a tight market a number of other gallopers follow closely including Moody’s 1400-metre specialist Mr Make Believe at $10, and $11 chances Let’s Be Happy coming off a win at the track and distance on January 2,well-bred Street Cry galloper By The Way who comes off two excellent runs at Flemington when winner over 1420 metres and narrow second to Let’s Be Happy over 1400 metres, and the Danny O’Brian-trained Hussonet stallion At The Heads.
Check out the latest Chester Manifold Stakes betting prices below.
To lock in your favourites and view updated odds, head to Luxbet and open an account with Australia’s leading online bookmaker Luxbet quoting the code BONUSBET to have your first deposit matched 100% up to $400 as a bonus bet!
2012 Chester Manifold Stakes Odds
Flemington Race 6 – 14/01/2012
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DANZYLUM (5) | 19.00 Luxbet |
| 2 | MR MAKE BELIEVE (10) | 10.00 Luxbet |
| 3 | SHADOWFAX (8) | 9.50 Luxbet |
| 4 | SHOUT OUT LOUD (6) | 35.00 Luxbet |
| 5 | BIG SLICK (11) | 16.00 Luxbet |
| 6 | SECOND EFFORT (2) | 7.50 Luxbet |
| 7 | LET’S BE HAPPY (1) | 11.00 Luxbet |
| 8 | BY THE WAY (7) | 11.00 Luxbet |
| 9 | ECHOES OF HEAVEN (3) | 18.00 Luxbet |
| 10 | THERE’S ONLY ONE (12) | 7.00 Luxbet |
| 11 | AT THE HEADS (9) | 11.00 Luxbet |
| 12 | PIED A TERRE (13) | 3.30 Luxbet |
| 13 | SEDUCED (4) | 21.00 Luxbet |
*Fixed Win Odds provided by Luxbet and subject to change
