Commanding Jewel Odds-On Betting Favourite to Win 2014 Stocks Stakes

A field of just seven mares has been confirmed for Friday’s Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, but the race is sure to be exciting and hotly-contested with three single figure betting hopes. The smaller field is also great for punters, offering great value and a higher opportunity to place a winning bet.

Commanding Jewel (outside) and Dear Demi (inside) are market leaders for the 2014 Stocks Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

After finishing top-three in her two starts this year, Commanding Jewel opened as the odds-on favourite for the 2014 Stocks Stakes, and is offering odds of $1.65 ahead of Dear Demi ($3.70) and Solicit ($7.50) at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Will Commanding Jewel justify her resounding support from the market to take out the 2014 Stocks Stakes? Or will one of her outside rivals like Rememba Howe ($26) cause an upset?

#1 Dear Demi ($3.70) – Dear Demi hasn’t enjoyed a competitive win since the Group 3 The Roses (2000m) back in May 2013, but the five-year-old came very close in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. She looked for a run early in the straight but was held up, ultimately finishing runner-up just a short neck behind Commanding Jewel. Jockey Jim Cassidy will partner Dear Demi once again, and a start from barrier 2 – the same Atlantic Jewel cruised home from in the 2013 Stocks Stakes – will give the pair an easy run. Dear Demi is great value, considering all this, for punters looking for a solid bet.
#2 Commanding Jewel ($1.65) – After a top-three finish in August’s Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) followed by a good win in the Let’s Elope Stakes, Commanding Jewel has been backed as favourite for the 2014 Stocks Stakes since the market opened. The five-year-old has only had nine career starts, but winning five of them makes her a serious threat especially under experienced jockey Damien Oliver. However the pair will have their work cut out for them at Moonee Valley after drawing the widest barrier.
#7 Solicit ($7.50) – Solicit is the third single figure mare for Friday’s race, perhaps because she, Dear Demi, and Commanding Jewel are all nominated for the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) next month. The Street Cry mare took home back-to-back wins at the beginning of the year but her recent form has been lacking. She has experience against the top two on her side, running against them both in the Let’s Elope, which could make her a solid bet to at least place, if not win.