Murray Baker’s progressive Kiwi import Maygrove is the market mover and early favourite to win his opening Australian start in the Randwick City Stakes 2015 in Sydney this weekend.
Hugh Bowman has the ride on Saturday’s 2015 Randwick City Stakes favourite Maygrove. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.
Originally there were 13 gallopers in the mix for this year’s $125,000 Listed Girvan Waugh Partners’ Randwick City Stakes (2000m), the handicap clash running as Race 4 at Royal Randwick at 2:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
The early scratching of the top-rated Bjorn Baker-trained Burbero meanwhile has left a dozen in the mix, Baker’s super-consistent Authorized gelding Maygrove in barrier one for top jockey Hugh Bowman.
Heading the weights now as the equal 58kg top weight, the four-year-old debuts down under off some great form in New Zealand having run top two in his past five starts.
Two back he ran second over 2200m in black type company for the Marton Cup before a last start victory over Perfect Start in the Group 2 Wellington Cup (2400m) on January 24.
He did only carry 52.5kg to victory there however, but won with 58.5kg on his back over 2000m in December proving he can handle both the distance and the kilos he has on Saturday.
Bowman jumped on for Maygrove’s only official Sydney trial leading up to the Randwick City Stakes, which the horse pays $3.60 through Ladbrokes.com.au to win after firming from as long as $4.20 earlier in the week, last Friday.
In that Warwick Farm hit-out over 1200m the galloper impressed running a neck away second to Magic Archer leading to his price in the markets on Saturday.
Occupying the second line of Randwick City Stakes betting at $4.40 is then Diametric, also drawn well in barrier three for rider Blake Shinn.
The Chris Waller-trained Dansili six-year-old carries 57.5kg in the race and is one of four for Sydney’s premier trainer lining up in the field.
Diametric comes off a good third when only three-quarters of a length off the winner Greatwood in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 21, but goes up one and a half kilos for this.
The next best in the markets are then the Gai Waterhouse-trained four-year-old Pajaro ($6.50) who has had two seconds from as many starts at Randwick, and last start Kilmore Cup winner over the mile on February 22 Self Sense ($7) – carrying 54kg and 55kg respectively.
Rounding out the single figure hopes in the Randwick City Stakes markets are then Waller’s distance specialist Grand Marshal ($9) and Phanton Brew ($9.50) who shoots for three straight wins.
Check out the latest Randwick City Stakes 2015 betting odds below, following the links to our No. 1 recommended bookie Ladbrokes.com.au to back your selections now!
