Refreshed after a month between runs following some solid Sydney form, Zabeel four-year-old Leebaz is odds-on favourite to beat them home in the 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup this weekend.
Leebaz is odds-on favourite in the 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup markets for Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
One of 11 stayers facing off in this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), set to run on Saturday as Race 6 at 3:20pm, Leebaz pays $1.85 as the clear top fancy and market mover at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Drawn in gate nine with former New Zealand hoop James McDonald in the saddle, Leebaz was last seen running a brave second behind the Chris Waller-trained Weary in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) in the wet on April 5.
Weary trumped the Prelude form going on to run third behind their stable mates Sacred Falls and Royal Descent in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Then their second to Japan’s Hana’s Goal in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) last weekend proved their class.
Leebaz meanwhile hasn’t raced since their Slipper Day performance but is tipped to relish the month between runs when they take on the field at Hawkesbury over the mile.
Following Leebaz in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup betting markets are then three others under $10 with:
- #2 Malavio ($6) – Steve Englebrecht-trained Snitzel gelding who ran fourth to Weary in the Doncaster Prelude two back before graduating to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile when eighth on April 12, also was third behind Messene and Weary in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes in March so has form around some good types and will appreciate the step down in class here
- #6 Wistful ($6) – Rails run in gate one for Peter Snowden’s Tiger Mill mare, the up-and-coming four-year-old looking to improve on their earlier autumn form and keep things going after a nice second over the Warwick Farm mile behind Destiny’s Kiss last Friday
- #1 Mouro ($8) – 59kg top weight of the field, Tony McEvoy’s Grand Slam stallion represents the locals in the Hawkesbury Cup this year and is another Doncaster Mile runner having finished a disappointing 18th, they didn’t handle the Heavy track that day but are a multiple Group 3 winner in Melbourne and also took out the Sale Cup last year so on firmer ground should improve
Other notable hopes at more generous prices then include Guy Walter’s last start Kensington winner Flying Bay ($13), the Peter Moody-trained New Zealand Group 1 performer Full Of Spirit ($16) and Gai Waterhouse’s runner The Great Snowman ($16).
Complete Hawkesbury Gold Cup 2014 betting markets can be found online at Ladbrokes.com.au where customers can access their winnings in cash seconds after payout thanks to the Ladbrokes EFTPOS Card system!
