Rodney Northam’s star Scone galloper Maroney Avenue has opened narrow favourite in a tight three-way betting battle for top spot in the 2013 Takeover Target Stakes odds for Thursday’s feature race at Gosford.

Scheduled to run as Gosford Race 5 at 5:40pm this year’s edition of the $100,000 Central Coast Holden Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) has drawn a final field of 10 sprinters, three of which are vying for favouritism.

Currently winning the fight is Snitzel five-year-old Maroney Avenue who won their opening six career starts at country tracks around New South Wales before suffering their first loss when stepped up to black type company for the first time on New Year’s Day in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1100m).

Feeling the pressure of big city racing at Rosehill Maroney Avenue suffered a few cuts during their dead last sixth behind No Looking Back in the feature, an effort their trainer and the bookies believe they will improve on this week.

“The Carrington was a little bit disappointing on face value but he got stitched up on the first turn,” Northam said.

“That got him over-racing and checking off heels. He came back with some speedy cuts (after striking himself) and he was bit lame on that leg.

“It was the first time he had raced in a high-pressure race.

“In one way it is a bit of a relief he was beaten because while it is good to keep horses in winning form it comes with a lot of expectation.”

Following closely in the Takeover Target Stakes odds are then Rock ‘N’ Pop ($4.60) and Zaratone ($4.80) who are drawn in gates two and one respectively.

Now prepared by Gai Waterhouse in Sydney, former New Zealand galloper Rock ‘N’ Pop made their four-year-old debut in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) back in August, the son of Fastnet Rock failing to make an impression when beating home just one of their 12 rivals.

Subsequently spelled to mature Waterhouse hopes they can return to their former good form back home which saw them win the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (160m) in November of 2011 and run top three in two other Group 1 features including second to Silent Achiever in the NZ Derby.

Nick Olive’s Canberra visitor Zaratone meanwhile improved on some dismal spring – summer form when they flashed home to run a very close second in the Carrington Stakes, Kathy O’Hara retaining the ride.

In a wide open Takeover Target Stakes betting market two other runners are also under $10 with the Peter Snowden-trained Commands four-year-old Soledad ($5) who steps up to stakes company for the first time, and Kris Lees’ former Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up from 2011 Uate ($7.50).

See below for the full Takeover Target Stakes fixed win odds, prices courtesy of our preferred online sportsbook bookmaker.com.au. – home of the exclusive Quickbet function allowing you to place your bets in just three clicks!

2012 Takeover Target Stakes Odds

Gosford Race 5 – 5:40pm – 10/01/13

#	Horse (Barrier)	Odds*
1	WILLY JIMMY (10)	41.00
2	ROCK ‘N’ POP (2)	4.60
3	ZARATONE (1)	4.80
4	UATE (9)	7.50
5	IZABABE (7)	12.00
6	SOLEDAD (4)	5.00
7	TESTARHYTHM (8)	12.00
8	KAYPERS (6)	26.00
9	MARONEY AVENUE (5)	4.20
10	ORTHIE’S GEM (3)	67.00

*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change