Betting on the Queensland Oaks Day races in Brisbane this Saturday is starting to heat up including the markets for the Brisbane Cup lead-up, the 2014 Eagle Farm Cup.

The opening Group status race on the Eagle Farm card for the weekend, this year’s $250,000 Group 2 Merlo Coffee Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) features just seven final acceptors.

It’s a tight Eagle Farm Cup betting market then with four of those under double figures to win.

Current favourite and market mover into $2.50, the same price Arabian Gold is at to win the Group 1 the 2014 Queensland Oaks, is Darren Weir’s veteran gelding Akzar.

They may be a rising eight-year-old but Akzar is in red hot form coming off five top four finishes.

They’ve won two of those, including a big six length win over 2350m in the Warnambool Cup two back, and come off a brave fourth to Streama in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m).

Their main dangers in the Eagle Farm Cup odds are then the in-form Wistful ($3.70) coming off a string of second place finishes including in the Lord Mayor’s Cup last Saturday, the Chris Waller-trained Moriarty ($4) who was fourth in the race last year and Mr O’Ceirin ($6) who will appreciate the rain in Brisbane.

With so many live wire chances though who should you back and sack to win the Eagle Farm Cup 2014?

1^st

#2 Akzar ($2.50)

They’re the shortie in the markets and deservedly so looking hard to beat here in this small field. Won over 2350m two back on a Heavy (10), albeit against easier class, but then held their own when dropped back to 2000m and up to Group 1 company in the Doomben Cup. Have had some time to freshen up off that and will appreciate the extra ground here as well as the sting out of the track with the wet weather working to their advantage.

2^nd

#3 Mr O’Ceirin ($6)

From the Caulfield stables of in-form trainer Ciaron Maher, Mr O’Ceirin is another known wet track performer (Heavy form: 4-2-1-0) who will be loving the rainfall in the “sunshine state” leading up to Saturday’s showdown. Have been right up there this prep when runner-up in the Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast, on a Heavy (8), and then seventh in the Doomben Cup but only beaten four lengths. Need the rain to perform but they’re getting that and can bounce back here.

3^rd

#5 Wistful ($3.70)

Close call between this Darley-owned mare and Waller’s Brisbane Cup-bound Moriarty for third, but with the weather we’ve gone with the four-year-old daughter of Tiger Hill who has won two from three on Slow tracks. She’s also run top two in her past three starts but needs to handle a step up from a mile to 2200m here on a seven day turnaround so needs to be at her best.

Whether you fancy our Eagle Farm Cup tips or have your own selections you want to lock in, now is the time to head to Ladbrokes.com.au and place your bets at the guaranteed best odds!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change