Office Bearer has joined Artlee as runners scratched from this weekend’s Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, but the depth of talent remains in the field of twelve underlines the race as a particularly lucrative one from a betting standpoint.

Eloping is the Races.com.au tip to win Saturday’s Group 2 BTC Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo: Daniel Costello

The Team Hawkes-trained Kaepernick remains an outright $3.50 favourite in 2016 QTC Cup betting markets with Ladbrokes.com.au, ahead of Spill The Beans ($5.50) and last start winner Snippets Land ($6.50).

Will Kaepernick justify his favouritism and post the biggest win of his career so far in the Group 2 QTC Cup, or will one of his talented rivals claim an upset?

1^st

Eloping ($12)

Brave mare Eloping returned to racing for an impressive win in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) on the Gold Coast on May 7^th, is drawn ideally in barrier 4 and will carry only 53kgs in the 2016 QTC Cup. A strong and consistent performer through her entire racing career so far, the Choisir mare has claimed seven race wins and a further four minors through twenty-three competitive starts. Trainer Peter Robl is still learning about the talented four-year-old, but believes she has taken plenty of benefit from her first-up, three length win and is primed for success this weekend, particularly with in-form hoop Tegan Harrison in the saddle.

2^nd

Target In Sight ($8.50)

Sprint king Joe Pride has form in the BTC Cup having saddled Ball Of Muscle to an impressive win last year, and is offered a good chance of repeating the effort of Saturday with Target In Sight. Claiming eight wins and a further nine minors through twenty-seven career starts so far, the Nadeem gelding resumed this time for second in the Group 3 Kingdom Stakes (1200m); progressing to fifth in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) before running sixth in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) on May 14^th. Drawn ideally in barrier 5, Target In Sight has been confirmed to be partnered by James McDonald in the QTC Cup.

3^rd

Steel Zip ($21)

Classy local Steel Zip will contest the QTC Cup first up but flies fresh, is drawn on the rails and has been charged with carrying only 54kgs; and is therefore another runner that is simply over the odds at Eagle Farm this weekend. The stable star of Deagon-based trainer Pat Duff, the Canadian Silver gelding placed third in the Magic Millions Plate (1300m) during a typically smart summer campaign, and has trialled particularly well in the lead-up to his return in the QTC Cup.

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