Darryl Hansen’s Keith Noud Quality winner Monsieur Gustave is the firming George Moore Stakes 2017 betting market mover for the Group 3 at Doomben on Saturday following a host of early withdrawals from the summer showdown.

Proven Soft-tracker Calanda remains favourite in 2017 George Moore Stakes betting for Doomben on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running as Race 8 at 4:48pm (AEST), this year’s Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) originally attracted 14 runners.

Four have come out due to the wet weather in Brisbane and likelihood of a Heavy-rated Doomben track.

That has seen the best in George Moore Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au firm, including Al Maher five-year-old Monsieur Gustave who has been backed in from $5.50 to $3.10 and who comes in from barrier 14 to 10.

“The alley did worry me a bit but there’s already some scratchings and more may come if the rain stays around,” Hansen told Racing Victoria.

Going up from 57kg to 58kg, the gelding has a bit of weight to carry but is undefeated on Soft going (4:4-0-0) after a three length romp home in rescheduled Listed Keith Noud Quality Handicap (1200m).

That first-up victory followed back-to-back winter wins in the Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) and Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) in Queensland.

Hansen has confirmed Monsieur Gustave came through his first-up win in excellent order and was on the improve ready to fire on the short turnaround.

“He pulled up really well and has improved a lot since the Keith Noud,” Hansen said.

“I was a bit worried going 10 days after his last run but he hasn’t missed a beat.

“He gets better with every run each preparation that’s why he has such a great second-up record.”

The shortest-priced in the George Moore Stakes odds at $2.70 meanwhile is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Calanda, another proven Soft track performer to be ridden from barrier four with Damian Browne in the saddle.

The other single-figure contender is the returning Snoopy ($14 into $9) now in Brisbane with Chris Munce.

Hong Kong import Beauty Flame ($13 into $10) is the next best fancied on debut down under carrying the 60.5kg top weight.

Last year’s George Moore Stakes winner Most Important is also back to defend his title chasing successive wins in the summer sprint for the first time since the three-peat of Mirraben (1987-89).

Chief De Beers is the other dual George Moore Stakes winner since then, but he won on non-successive years in 1994 and 1997.

After a first-up sixth to Monsieur Gustave in the Keith Noud Quality, the Tony Gollan-trained Most Important opened at $21 for Saturday’s rematch.

The I Am Invincible five-year-old however has since come into $12 with all of the scratchings and jumps from gate two with Jim Byrne aboard.

Stay tuned for our insider George Moore Stakes 2017 tips to go up shortly, checking out the full markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au in the meantime below.