Expat Perth mare Real Love is the shortest-priced stayer in JRA Cup 2016 betting at Doomben Racecourse on BTC Cup Day this weekend.

Real Love is favourite to take out Brisbane’s 2016 JRA Cup at Doomben Racecourse this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A final field of 10 gallopers face off in the $125,000 Group 3 JRA Cup (2000m) on Saturday, the handicap clash due to run as Doomben Race 4 at 2:06pm (AEST).

Sitting top of the JRA Cup odds through Ladbrokes.com.au is the now Darren Weir-trained Desert King mare Real Love, the five-year-old at a current quote of $3.10 to post her first win since the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington in early March.

Under her previous trainers in Western Australia she won most famously the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) in January 2015, and was third in the same feature this summer.

Two back she crossed third when under a length off the winner Purple Smile in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) before a last start second over 2000m at Caulfield on April 23, the distance she races over again on Saturday.

In the Melbourne lead-up Real Love carried 57kg and she goes down to 56.5kg on Saturday with Brad Rawiller booked for the ride from barrier six where she should be handy throughout, unlike the Caulfield race when she was caught wide.

The narrow second favourite in JRA Cup betting this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival is market mover Sir John Hawkwood ($3.60).

David Vandyke’s veteran Sir Percy seven-year-old gets the rails run from barrier one with Blake Spriggs riding once again.

A three-time winner over the 2000m, Sir John Hawkwood won the Group 3 Sky High Stakes over the distance on March 12 at Rosehill before a close last start third at the same track / distance behind It’s Somewhat in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) a fortnight later.

The other two single-figure hopes are Astronomos ($5.50) and Destiny’s Kiss ($9.50) drawn in barriers 10 and seven respectively.

Vandyke also prepares New Approach stallion Astronomos, the five-year-old looking to retain his undefeated record over the distance after winning his two previous 2000m assignments.

He has form in Brisbane too from April 30 when running a devastatingly close second over 1630m at Doomben carrying 59.5kg, and he will relish the drop back to Saturday’s 54kg minimum.

Destiny’s Kiss is higher up the JRA Cup weights with 56.5kg in the form of Jay Ford, Joe Pride’s rising eight-year-old Group 1 performer last seen running third over 2000m at Randwick on Anzac Day following a seventh in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

See below for the latest fixed win JRA Cup 2016 odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!

2016 JRA Cup Odds