The Apollo Stakes 2018 steals the show in Sydney on Saturday and below are our insider tips and updated odds on the Sydney weight-for-age showdown at Royal Randwick.

Prized Icon is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2018 Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick second-up on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Won by superstar mare Winx for the past two seasons, this year’s Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) is absent the dual defending champion who instead has a simulated race galloper after the third at the meeting.

The official Apollo Stakes field is down to just the eight runners after the early withdrawal of the Mark Newnham-trained Lanciato (6).

Lanciato was to shoot for a third win on the trot after a lead-up Rosehill win in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m).

His Warwick Farm-based horseman however opted to bypass the rematch with Carrington Stakes runner-up Prized Icon and third placegetter Endless Drama who both got the notable weight advantage this time around.

Of the remaining runners the favourite in Apollo Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au is still the Bjorn Baker-trained three-year-old Addictive Nature ($3.70).

It is a wide open race without Winx there to dominate the Apollo Stakes results and Baker’s ultra-consistent and improving Savabeel colt strips fitter second-up after returning with a good third to Trapeze Artist on February 3 in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m).

The other best fancied in updated Apollo Stakes betting are the Chris Waller-trained duo of Comin’ Through ($4.50) and the aforementioned Carrington Stakes placegetter Endless Drama ($4.80) who are out to continue the winning form for the stable.

So will the best in the markets fight it out in the finish or is there value to be had in the Apollo Stakes odds this year in the likes of market mover Stampede ($14 into $9.50) for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott or even the returning Craven Plate winner Classic Uniform ($16)?

1^st

#2 Prized Icon ($5.50)

A hard horse to know the right distance of, but there is no denying the class of this $4 million stallion. A dual Group 1 winner with the inside alley. Fitter second-up after the good Carrington Stakes second at Rosehill with 60kg as a roughie hope. Shorter here chasing his first victory since the 2016 VRC Derby. Three seconds from four 1400m runs to date, can finally get a win back at his pet Randwick track in a wide open race.

2^nd

#8 Global Glamour ($7)

If the Expressway Stakes form is the one to follow, then Global Glamour is a definite chance having run a nice fourth only two lengths beaten. The four-year-old daughter of Star Witness won two Group 1s as a filly, but also saluted over the 1400m in Melbourne last spring in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes. Should be nearing her best third-up and she always runs an honest race.

3^rd

#1 Classic Uniform ($16)

Big odds on offer for Gary Moore’s returning Al Maher five-year-old who could just prove the value first-up. Yet to win when resuming, but loves Randwick (6:3-0-1) and has plenty of form at the distance. Better over further later in his prep, but he won the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) here in the spring and has trialled twice since. First was a second to subsequent Expressway Stakes winner Trapeze Artist before the third to champion sprinter Redzel. Genuine place chance.

Get in on our exclusive Apollo Stakes 2018 tips at the right autumn racing odds this weekend through Ladbrokes.com.au.