Pinstripe Lane remains the top fancy to take out the Queensland Derby 2014 on Stradbroke Handicap Day at Eagle Farm this weekend albeit at an easing price to win the classic.
Money is steady on 2014 Queensland Derby favourite Pinstripe Lane to win Saturday's showdown. Photo: Steve Hart.
After opening at $4.40 at Ladbrokes.com.au following the release of the capacity field for this Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m), the Troy Corstens-trained Pins colt is out to $4.80.
They’re still heading the markets however with the bookies tipping the Victorian-based youngster to turn the tables on Chris Waller’s former favourite Vilanova.
The duo ran the quinella in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on May 24 with three and a half lengths separating them on the line, but Pinstripe Lane missed the kick and should have finished closer.
Vilanova was clear pick in Queensland Derby odds before the barrier draw earlier in the week, but the Grand Prix Stakes winner has since eased out and is now the $5 second pick.
They have barrier 15, Nash Rawiller to ride, but come into 13 (of 18) if the two Derby emergencies come out and will be looking to go back-to-back despite going up to the mile and a half for the first time.
Also on the drift in Queensland Derby betting along with Pinstripe Lane is Elusive Runner out from $4.50 to an equal $5 with Vilanova.
Drawn on the rails with barrier one the enigmatic Sydneysider is as yet untested at Group level having only had five non-stakes race starts to date making them a real unknown.
They lost a plate last start when a close second from a wide barrier in a Benchmark 73 over 2000m at Randwick though in a race they probably should have won.
Jockey Jason Collett dropped the reigns and got his whip tangled before rattling home behind Off The Rails pushing connections to replace them in the Derby with Tommy Berry.
The big Queensland Derby market mover meanwhile is Rock Diva who has been smashed by the punters in from $11 to $9.
The Kiwi-trained filly from the Tony Pike stables has Group 1 form at home having finished third in the NZ Oaks over the 2400m before travelling across the Tasman.
She debuted here with a sixth in The Roses behind Arabian Gold and then was an improved fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) against the girls last Saturday.
On a short back-up but a couple of fillies have done this in recent years, handles the distance and barrier 14 (into 12) could be worse.
Fellow New Zealand-trained filly Telepathic, who bypassed the Oaks specifically for this, remains steady at $12 equal with Rudy who has firmed in from $13.
Trained on the Gold Coast by Helen Page, Red Dazzler gelding Rudy ran third behind Vilanova and Pinstripe Lane in the Grand Prix Stakes and would be shorter in the markets if it weren’t for drawing the outside gate for Saturday.
There’s also been a tickle for Amexed in from $19 to $17, still a generous price for the local hope prepared by the in-form Tony Gollan of ‘Boom Brothers’ fame.
The Pentire gelding beat home many of these including runner-up Telepathic in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) two back before their Grand Prix fourth they’ll be out to improve on here.
See below for the latest Queensland Derby 2014 betting odds, and make sure you stay tuned to Races.com.au for our insider tips on the three-year-olds’ feature to go up shortly.
Ready to back a winner on Straddie Day? Visit Ladbrokes.com.au then so you know the odds you lock in on your selections are the best in the country ensuring you the biggest possible payout to enjoy your Saturday on the punt!
