It’s a close market for Friday’s VRC St Leger 2014 at Flemington Racecourse with over half the field at single figures to win the ANZAC Day showdown.
Group 1 performed Order Of The Sun is second pick to win Friday's 2014 VRC St Leger at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart.
There are two stakes races on the Melbourne race card on Friday, the headline event being the $150,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) for staying three-year-olds.
This year the VRC St Leger field attracted 11 hopefuls, six of which are under $10 in the latest Ladbrokes.com.au markets.
Currently leading the tight betting battle at $3.80 is the consistent De Little Engine drawn ideally in gate three with Damien Oliver to ride.
Danny O’Brien’s locally-trained Encosta De Lago gelding has run top two in their past three starts, including a Sandown win over 1800m two back.
Last time out on April 12 at Caulfield they caught the eye when runner-up to Bring Something in the Listed Galilee Final (2400m) making them a great chance to make the step up to 2800m here.
Second pick in the VRC St Leger betting markets at $4.20 is then Order Of The Sun drawn one outside the favorite in barrier four.
Young Cox Plate winning jockey Chad Schofield has the ride on the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt, also by Encosta De Lago, who is Group 1 performed.
A winner of three of their eight starts to date Order Of The Sun is sure to appreciate the step back in class here after running against some of the season’s best this autumn.
They have two disappointing Group 1 runs when seventh to Boban in the Chipping Norton and 13th behind Criterion in the Rosehill Guineas before their last start eighth to Gallatin in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) in the wet on April 5.
Third pick at $4.80 is then David Hayes’ Keep The Faith gelding Honey Steel’s Gold to be ridden by Craig Williams from barrier nine.
Williams is the fourth jockey to get on the juvenile’s back in as many starts here, Honey Steel’s Gold coming off a third in the Galilee Series Final.
Other single figure chances are then Galilee Final fifth placed Throw The King ($5.50) coming off a win at Caulfield from April 21 over the 2400m, the Mick Price-trained last start Sale winner More Rewarding ($8) and early market mover Majorly ($9.50).
The Gerald Ryan-trained Encosta De Lago gelding Majorly could represent nice value too as they’re after their third straight win.
They’re a shoe-in to handle the distance too having won over 2300m at Newcastle last month before their April 6 win at Gosford over 2600m defeating Cuban Star.
The full VRC St Leger Stakes 2014 field and odds are listed in the table below, prices you can click on to bet now at Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll find all the weekend’s top markets.
