Unsurprisingly Mark Kavanagh’s brilliant mare Atlantic Jewel has opened odds-on favourite to retain her undefeated status and score her ninth consecutive turf triumph in Saturday’s 2013 Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
Atlantic Jewel is at nearly unbackable odds to win the 2013 Stocks Stakes on Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
After defecting from the $300,000 Group 1 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) where her stablemate Super Cool will fly the flag for Kavanagh on the weekend, the triple Group 1 winning daughter of Fastnet Rock has an easier assignment against a mares-only field in the $220,000 Group 2 Top Cut Stocks Stakes (1600m).
Like the Dato, the Stocks Stakes 2013 is run under weight-for-age conditions and Atlantic Jewel will carry 57kg.
She’s drawn ideally in barrier two and will face just seven rivals having scared away the bulk of her competitors.
Regular rider Michael Rodd continues his association with her, aboard for all but two of her starts to date including her resuming victory in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks ago.
In the Memsie, her first run in nearly a year and a half, Atlantic Jewel defeated Australian Guineas winner Ferlax by an easy two and a half lengths and should have little trouble on Saturday.
As such she’s dominating the Stocks Stakes odds and pays a Black Caviar-like $1.06 to win handing Kavanagh his second Stocks Stakes trophy to add to the one he won in 2007 with Devil Moon.
None of Atlantic Jewel’s rivals are under double figures with the next closest in the markets being $17 second pick Oasis Bloom.
Jumping beside Atlantic Jewel from gate three with Steve Arnold in the saddle, the Al Maher five-year-old defends her Stocks Stakes crown here after tight win over Spirit Song 12 months ago.
Her lead-up form is eerily similar to last spring too with another first-up seventh in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) and this year a ninth, one better than her 2012 10th, in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday.
The other more notable hopes are then the Mick Price-trained Fibrillation ($21) who was second over the 1400m at Caulfield behind Bec Said No Credit two weeks ago, consistent Artie Schiller mare Ava’s Delight ($26) and the aforementioned Bec Said No Credit ($34) coming off three straight wins.
The full Stocks Stakes 2013 odds are detailed below, fixed win prices punters can lock in right now at Ladbrokes.com.au – Australia’s premier betting agency.
2013 Stocks Stakes Odds
Moonee Valley Race 4 – 2:10pm (AEST) – 14/09/2013
| # | Horse (Barrier) | Odds* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATLANTIC JEWEL (2) | 1.06 |
| 2 | FIBRILLATION (8) | 21.00 |
| 3 | OASIS BLOOM (3) | 17.00 |
| 4 | ORIENTAL RUBY (1) | 51.00 |
| 5 | BONNIE NUIT (6) | 101.00 |
| 6 | AVA’S DELIGHT (4) | 26.00 |
| 7 | BEC SAID NO CREDIT (7) | 34.00 |
| 8 | KEYARNA BLUE (5) | 51.00 |
*Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change
