Before the four Group 1 features get underway at Royal Randwick on Saturday the three-year-old sprinters fight for their share of half-a-million in prize money on offer in the 2015 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.

Even from a wide draw Kuro looks hard to beat in the 2015 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint on Day 2 of The Championships this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Originally a dozen were in the mix for the lucrative set weights clash, running as Race 5 at 1:55pm (AEST) on Day 2 of The Championships in Sydney, but the early scratching of #1 Scissor Kick leaves 11 hopefuls.

Of the remaining runners in this year’s $500,000 Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) the favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au is Kuro at a firming $2.90 (in from $3.30).

Drawn wide in barrier 11 with Blake Shinn to ride, Joe Pride’s Denman colt has the horror barrier to overcome but the class and lead-up form to suggest he will.

A winner of five of his 10 career starts to date, the up-and-comer was last seen running second to Sweet Idea in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 21 from barrier nine (of 14) and will appreciate a drop back in class against his own age here.

So will the favourite salute for the punters or is there an upset Arrowfield Sprint result on the cards from the likes of former Blue Diamond winning filly Earthquake ($4.60), the Gerald Ryan-trained Group 2 winner Rubick ($5.50) or even last year’s Golden Slipper champ Mossfun ($7.50) coming off a second over this distance at Rosehill?

1^st

#4 Kuro ($2.90)

He’s out wide but this flying colt is the deserving favourite and can lead-all-the-way with the right ride from Shinn. Super-consistent record of five wins from 10 runs including four on the trot last time in, two of which were in black-type company at Randwick to give him a nice record at the track (4-2-0-1). Was runner-up in an open-age Group 1 when second in The Galaxy last time out, will appreciate the step up in distance and drop back in class here. Won a barrier trial here on March 31 and handles a Heavy (4-2-0-0) track so rain a non-issue.

2^nd

#11 Earthquake ($4.60)

Peter & Paul Snowden’s $1.7 million winning daughter of Exceed And Excel knows how to beat home the boys in top company, but she hasn’t won since October last year so is overdue for a confidence boost. She also hasn’t raced in Sydney in recent times so could just need the change of scenery to unlock better form. She’s got a decent Randwick record from earlier (3-1-0-2) and the distance holds no fears (7-3-1-1). Like Kuro she comes off a solid run in Group 1, open-age company but in Melbourne when under three lengths off Lucky Hussler in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at the Valley. She’s in barrier seven here with the in-form James McDonald riding and will come close.

3^rd

#12 Bring Me The Maid ($7.50)

For a bit of value Bring Me The Maid is an attractive offering from Melbourne’s Peter Moody, the Sebring filly drawn a treat in barrier four with Chad Schofield replacing Luke Nolen in the saddle here for her first run in Sydney since last September. She’s had one Randwick run when she won the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) over this track and distance on a Heavy (9) back in August. The 1200m is ideal (5-2-0-2), can handle a wet track if the rain comes and is undefeated first-up (2-2-0-0). She returns to racing here so is fresh, which she loves, and can improve on her 11^th in the Group 1 Coolmore from November.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 2015 betting selections, make sure you get the right price by placing your bets online at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the $250 free bet sign-up offer this season!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change