This Saturday in Brisbane a key Winter Racing Carnival lead-up takes place at Doomben Racecourse with the running of the 2016 Victory Stakes, betting tips and the latest odds for which are found below.

Odds-on favourite Fell Swoop is also the Races.com.au tip to win the 2016 Victory Stakes at Doomben on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Set to run as Doomben Race 6 at 3:07pm (AEST), the field for this season’s $200,000 Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) is down to just the eight starters after the early scratching of the Tony Sears-trained Choice Bro (4).

Firming odds-on favourite in the updated Victory Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au at a short $1.60 for the win is the Matthew Dale-trained Group 1 placed Fell Swoop in gate two with Jay Ford booked for the ride on the top fancy.

Fell Swoop has had three Group 1 runs this time in for two seconds, the latest of which was behind Sunday’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize favourite in Hong Kong, Chautauqua, in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 2.

The four-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt races in Queensland for the first time but is right down in class and is a specialist at the distance.

Three other single-figure fancies are after the upset with the John O’Shea-trained Hall Mark Stakes runner-up in Sydney last start Knoydart ($6), Black-Type winning Excellent Art five-year-old Artlee ($6) and the rails-drawn Didntcostalot.

So will Fell Swoop salute for the punters or is there value further down the markets by laying this season’s Victory Stakes favourite?

1^st

#1 Fell Swoop ($1.60)

Very short and firming but really hard to go past this in-form Group 1 performer who is back in class at his pet distance here in a small field. Last start runner-up to a genuine champion in the TJ Smith Stakes, this four-year-old is full of potential and continues to improve. This is an easier class of rivals and from four 1200m starts he boasts three wins and the Group 1 second. That plus barrier two? Don’t lay this favourite.

2^nd

#4 Didntcostalot ($7.50)

Drawn one inside Fell Swoop, Tegan Harrison rides this local Danerich seven-year-old who is first-up and has a credible record fresh (8-2-2-0). Trainer Tony Gollan won the race two years back with Temple Of Boom and this veteran sprinter looks his best hope this season. Won the Group 3 George Moore at the track / distance in November before an unplaced Magic Millions Sprint run at the Gold Coast. Will enjoy coming back to Brisbane and Doomben where he has four wins, a second and a third from six previous starts.

3^rd

#6 Fontelina ($19)

Big odds on offer for this other Gollan-trained seven-year-old who has won over $1 million in prize money to date. Didn’t do anything when 15^th last time out in the Magic Millions Cup back in January, but can be forgiven and is out to atone back home. Doomben record is good (6-2-0-1) and last start at the track he won December’s Listed Lough Neagh (1350m) after a third in the George Moore behind his stablemate.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Victory Stakes 2016 betting selections make sure you lock in the hottest Brisbane racing odds this weekend online through Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!