2011 Australia Stakes favourite Typhoon Tracy winning the CF Orr Stakes
Peter Moody’s reigning Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy has opened as the red hot favourite to win the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) on Friday night, currently paying $2.40 through Luxbet.
Red Ranson mare Typhoon Tracy, a five-time Group 1 winner, is out to break her ‘big race drought’ not having won at Group level since her victory in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 3.
The Queen of the Turf Stakes completed a Group 1 triple for Typhoon Tracy during last year’s autumn carnival as she also took out the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes.
Most recently the star mare finished four and a half lengths away second behind Sacred Choice in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington’s Derby Day.
Resuming racing on Friday night, Typhoon Tracy is set to jump from barrier two and will be ridden by regular jockey Luke Nolen.
Ortensia and Whitefrairs occupy the next line of Australia Stakes betting at Luxbet, installed as the equal $5 second-favourites.
Tony Noonan’s Testa Rossa mare Ortensia has also drawn ideally for Friday with barrier three as she resumes racing in Australia following her gallant fifth place finish behind JJ The Jet Plate in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12.
Prior to her overseas stint, Ortensia ran a credible third to super sprinter Black Caviar in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) during the spring.
Meanwhile the Rick Worthington-trained Whitefriars has drawn wider with gate eight, due to be ridden by in-form hoop Jim Cassidy.
The Warwick Farm-based Arena gelding is coming off a close second to Pinwheel in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) on January 14 when beaten by less than a length first-up for the season and should have improved with the run.
Whitefriars is looking to return to the same impressive form they carried through their spring campaign, which included a close second to Hot Danish in the Group 2 The Shorts (1200m) at Randwick, a win in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 30 and a third in the Group 2 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Other runners in the market for the 2011 Australia Stakes include $6.50 third favourite the Mark Kavanagh-trained Fastnet Rock four-year-old Undeniably and Mick Price’s dual Group 1 winner Heart Of Dreams paying $15 after drawing poorly with barrier 10.
Nine horses are set to face off in the Australia Stakes this year following the early scratching of Scenic Shot who was a $71 chance through Luxbet.
The 2011 Australia Stakes is set to run as Race 6 at Moonee Valley on Friday night, jumping at 9:15pm (AEDST).
Bookmark us here at Races.com.au to get the exclusive Australia Stakes betting tips tomorrow so you can clean out the bookies!
And remember, the key to winning big is to get your selections at the longest-odds and for the best prices on the horse races Luxbet is the bookmaker for you!
2011 Australia Stakes Odds
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCENIC SHOT (5) | – |
| 2 | HEART OF DREAMS (9) | 15.00 |
| 3 | VIGOR (1) | 21.00 |
| 4 | WHITEFRIARS (7) | 5.00 |
| 5 | DIPLOMATIC FORCE (6) | 31.00 |
| 6 | SECRET FLYER (4) | 19.00 |
| 7 | COMMANDING HOPE (8) | 51.00 |
| 8 | UNDENIABLY (5) | 6.50 |
| 9 | TYPHOON TRACY (2) | 2.40 |
| 10 | ORTENSIA (3) | 5.00 |
*Odds are Fixed Win from Luxbet and subject to change
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography
