Pre-field 2017 George Moore Stakes betting markets are now open ahead of the Brisbane Group 3 summer sprint on Saturday and it is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Calanda leading the all-in odds.

Calanda is early favourite in pre-field 2017 George Moore Stakes betting for the Group 3 sprint at Doomben on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

A total of 17 horses are nominated for this season’s Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) including two four-year-olds out to upset the older gallopers.

Steve Tregea’s returning Niccanova is in the mix after being saved from a mile run first-up in last weekend’s Recognition Stakes, while fellow four-year-old Calanda is the one the bookies are tipping early.

Sitting top of the pre-field George Moore Stakes odds paying $3.75 at Ladbrokes.com.au, Team Snowden’s Snitzel gelding chases his first win since the Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton back in July.

He has had two unplaced runs this spring in Melbourne, the latest a credible fourth at Flemington in the Listed MSS Security Sprint (1200m) behind Ocean Embers on Melbourne Cup Day.

Third-up and back this way of racing, Calanda shapes up as a genuine hope should he be accepted into the George Moore Stakes field.

Following closely in futures George Moore Stakes betting before final acceptances on Wednesday are the likes of Egyptian Symbol ($4.60), Monsieur Gustave ($5) and the aforementioned Niccanova ($9).

Bjorn Baker prepares Stratum mare Egyptian Symbol who also holds a nomination for Saturday’s Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) in Sydney.

She will be first-up on the weekend not having raced since her eighth to Tycoon Tara in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara during the winter in Brisbane.

Egyptian Symbol hasn’t saluted since her Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes win in December last year, so will be out to break a notable winning drought fresh on George Moore Stakes Day.

Five-year-old Monsieur Gustave meanwhile is in flying form, the Darryl Hansen-trained Sunshine Coast galloper looking for his fourth win on the trot.

Back in the winter he saluted in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at his home track.

First-up Monsieur Gustave beat a similar field of horses to that he will face on the weekend taking out the rescheduled Listed Keith Noud Quality Handicap (1200m) at Ipswich on November 22.

Snoopy ($9) rounds out the early single-figure George Moore Stakes hopes, the five-year-old son of Lope De Vega prepared by former top Queensland hoop Chris Munce.

Along with Egyptian Symbol, $11 fancies Big Money and Palazzo Pubblico are the other dual George Moore Stakes – Festival Stakes dual-state nominees for Saturday.

Both come off lead-up thirds with Rodney Northam’s veteran eight-year-old Big Money was placed first-up at Randwick over 1100m in the Schweppes Choisir Handicap on November 7, while the Matthew Smith-trained Conatus mare Palazzo Pubblico finished in the money over 1000m at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day.

Check out the all-in George Moore Stakes 2017 odds below courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au before markets firm with the final field out tomorrow.