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.

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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