A field of nine three-year-olds has been confirmed for Friday’s Group 2 Jeep Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley Racecourse, with five single figure betting hopes offering punters great betting value and a number of opportunities to place a winning bet.
J.J. Atkins winner Almalad is the market favourite to win the Stutt Stakes on Friday. Photo by Steve Hart.
The 2014 Stutt Stakes is set to be the best guide to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) for punters this season. Two of the nine runners have at one time or another been considered favourites for the $1 million race.
Almalad opened the market as 2014 Stutt Stakes as favourite following a run in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m), offering odds of $2.90 ahead of Chivalry ($3.50) Ladbrokes.com.au.
Several other locally-trained Guineas hopes will also contest the Stutt, including Living Legends Stakes third placer Zebulon ($4.40) and Group 1 placing Zululand ($15).
Gai Waterhouse’s gelding Almalad has won three of his five career starts, including the Group 2 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm back in June. However, he’s failed to live up to the same potential in his last two outings, which included a second-last finish in the Group 3 Run To The Rose (1200m). He also missed out on a place in this month’s Golden Rose by just a head.
He should run well on Friday as he steps back up to his winning mile and currently sits top of the Stutt Stakes odds but a start from awkward 6 means jockey Tommy Berry has his work cut out for him.However it’s a tight betting battle for the Group 2 with a number of other single figure hopes:
- #3 Chivalry ($3.50)– This will be the Mark Kavanagh-trained colt’s first Group 2 appearance after taking out the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) and placing runner-up in the Living Legends a fortnight ago. The early Caulfield Guineas favourite will start from the ideal 1st barrier under Glen Boss and is the perfect wager.
- #6 Zebulon ($4.40)– Living Legends black-booker Zebulon is another short bet for the Stutt thanks to drawing barrier 2. The New Zealand colt has placed in all four of his starts including a handicap win at Flemington back in June. Solid bet to place, if not win, the Stutt.
- #4 Kumaon ($9)– The John O’Shea-trained Kumaon will use the Stutt as a trial for next month’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). The Godolphin-owned colt has already placed in a Group 1 after coming third in April’s Champagne Stakes over a mile but has drawn wide in barrier 8 for Friday. There may be better value elsewhere.
Outside of the top five are a couple of runners at lucrative odds with a chance at causing an upset in the 2014 Stutt Stakes.
Zululand is paying $15 after coming off two seventh-place finishes. However the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained colt did place runner-up in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes, beating Kumaon across the line.
Partnered with champion jockey Damien Oliver, the pair will start from barrier 3 and could be a solid betting option.
See below for the latest Stocks Stakes 2014 odds, then open your online account at Ladbrokes.com.au and pick your winner!
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