The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival lead-ups get into full swing at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday including the sprinters facing of in the 2018 Victory Stakes, betting tips and updated odds on the weight-for-age feature detailed below.

Running as Doomben Race 8 at 3:42pm (AEST) as the penultimate event on the card, this year’s Group 2 $200,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) field features eight remaining chances.

Heading the Victory Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au is odds-on favourite Impending who won last year’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at the Doomben track.

He’s had just the two runs since, including his brave third to Redzel in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and is first-up here off a 24 week spell.

If Impending doesn’t show up first-up the next best fancied at Victory Stakes odds of $3.70 is Supido, Michael Kent’s Sebring entire who comes off a string of tough Group 1 runs in Melbourne.

His last three runs had him under three lengths beaten each time taking on the country’s best sprinters including a last start fourth at The Valley in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 23.

David Pfieffer’s consistent filly I Am Excited ($6) and Tony Gollan’s returning local champ Most Important ($9.50) round-out the single-figure hopes.

So will Impending return to winning form in Brisbane and salute for the punters on Saturday or is there an upset Victory Stakes result pending from the likes of the Liam Birchley-trained Havasay ($34)?

1^st

#3 Most Important ($9.50)

Tipping an upset and have the returning local I Am Invincible five-year-old Most Important on top at a juicy price. He has start number 15 at the track and a good Doomben record to date (14:4-3-1). Hasn’t won first-up before, but trialled very nicely with a two length winning hitout at Eagle Farm over 1000m on April 10. The 1200m resuming should suit and he won the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) last start in late January by nearly four lengths. Plenty of stakes’ experience in Brisbane and is a Group 3 winner. Genuine on-speed chance.

2^nd

#1 Impending ($1.85)

Plenty of boxes ticked by the reigning Stradbroke Handicap winner who is obviously the class horse and one to beat in the race, just getting pretty short. Godolphin’s Lonhro four-year-old is already a $1.7 million earner and valuable stallion prospect on the hunt for more Group 1 success in the sunshine state in the coming weeks. Hasn’t raced since the Darley Classic third last November and before that was only a neck second to In Her Time in Sydney. His last two conquerors have both earned their spots in The Everest field in 2018 and that bodes well for this bay. Group 1 winner at the track, yet to win over the 1200m but is a six-time placegetter from seven runs at the distance (7:0-1-5). Could get on the speed in a small field fresh from the good barrier, but jockey Damian Browne has all the options.

3^rd

#5 Monsieur Gustave ($17)

Early market mover still at a big price can add good value to the trifecta. Darryl Hansen’s Al Maher five-year-old from the Sunshine Coast has a 50% winning strike rate at Doomben (6:3-0-0) and is also a good 1200m horse (6:3-1-0). Won last December’s Group 3 George Moore Stakes narrowly at the track / distance so can perform against this company on a good day. Runs fresh, has good first-up form (5:2-1-0) and the benefit of a home trial from April 24 to bring him on earlier in the week. Genuine place chance.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our insider Victory Stakes 2018 tips get the best Brisbane racing odds online now through Ladbrokes.com.au.