Joe Pride’s Group 1 winning veteran Tiger Tees has opened top of the Aurie’s Star Handicap 2014 odds for their first-up Flemington assignment in Melbourne this weekend.

Group 1 winner Tiger Tees resumes in Melbourne as the Aurie's Star 2014 favourite at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart.

Pride dually nominated the Dubawi seven-year-old for their new season return but opted to run them in the $150,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) as the Randwick track in Sydney for the Missile Stakes was shaping up as too firm for his liking.

Tiger Tees may get the right track conditions at Flemington but they’ll have to be at their best to win at a course they’ve never won on carrying the 59.5kg top weight in the quailty 13-horse field.

Current Aurie’s Star Handicap betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have the honest sprinter as the $3.80 favourite, Tiger Tees to jump from barrier eight with Damien Oliver aboard.

Oliver has never ridden the horse but does have confidence he’s on a winning chance, Tiger Tees racing for the first time since their dead last in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben back in May.

That run was the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding season that included the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) win at Rosehill and a third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Following Tiger Tees in the Aurie’s Star Handicap odds through Ladbrokes.com.au are then four other single figure chances with:

• #3 Zamorar ($5) – David Bourne-trained six-year-old was competitive in similar company last year, resumed on July 19 with a win over 1000m down the Flemington straight to break their maiden at the track and earning them a step up in class and distance second-up
• #10 Sino Eagle ($6.50) – Peter Moody’s promising mare goes up to Group 3 company after a two length win when resuming at Cauflield last start, Group 3 placed at the track in March and deserves a chance to become the first mare to win the race since it was elevated to stakes level in 2005
• #5 Shanghai Warrior ($7) – Pat Hyland-trained Elvstroem gelding won this race back in 2012 so is looking to become a dual winner, resumed from injury at Flemington in mid-June with a second to The Thief and has finished third at their two subsequent runs including in the Listed All Victorian Sprint Final here last start
• #9 Mr Chard ($7) – Hit-and-miss form from this injury-prone sprinter who looked back on track first-up when second when runner-up at Morphettville over 1100m at the end of last month, the now Tony McEvoy-trained Adelaide visitor after their first win in nearly four years when they won the 2010 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes here under the training of Dean Lawson

Also in the mix at more generous odds are then the rails-drawn God’s Own five-year-old Pillar Of Creation ($10) and the Colin Little-trained mare Text’n Hurley ($14) who kicks off her 2014 Caulfield Cup campaign here.

See below for the current Aurie’s Star Handicap 2014 betting odds, prices open to Ladbrokes.com.au customers who can access their winnings in cash seconds after payout everyday thanks to the exclusive Ladbrokes.com.au!

2014 Aurie’s Star Handicap Odds