The Kingston Town Stakes 2016 opens Group racing on Golden Rose Stakes Day in Sydney this weekend, betting tips and the latest odds for the handicap staying showdown found below.

Running as Rosehill Race 5 at 2:35pm (AEST), the $125,000 Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) field is down to 11 starters after the early scratching of Bring Luck (2).

Sitting top of the updated Kingston Town Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.60 and firming is Allergic with the outside alley to overcome.

There’s plenty of metres to beat the barrier, the John O’Shea-trained Street Cry five-year-old to be ridden by James McDonald who rode him for the last start Listed Premier’s Cup (1900m) fifth.

Allergic was under two lengths off the winner at Rosehill in that run a fortnight back, before which he won the Premier’s Cup Prelude and drops from 58kg to 56.5kg for the weekend.

The other best in Kingston Town Stakes betting are Chris Waller’s Rowley Mile winner McCreery ($3.40) who the distance is the biggest test for here going up from 1600m to 2000m and the returning Brisbane Cup runner-up Sir John Hawkwood ($6) in his first run for trainer John Thompson.

So will Allergic get a clearer run than last start and atone for the Premier’s Cup loss or is there value tipping an upset Kingston Town Stakes result from the likes of Waller’s 59kg top weight Junoob ($9) or the rails-drawn stablemate Loophole ($11)?

1^st

#2 Sir John Hawkwood ($6)

Not often is a trainer so excited to get an eight-year-old in his care and racing in the spring, but Thompson has been singing this former David Vandyke-trained veteran praises. He is up in the weights (58.5kg) first-up, but was in flying form over his autumn – winter prep last season running a host of top three placings. He won the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at this track / distance first-up in March – albeit with 55kg – but that still bodes well here. Last start was the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) second and he’s trialled well since. If he handles the weights, 2000m first-up in this field should suit.

2^nd

#3 Allergic ($2.60)

Plenty of boxes ticked by the short-priced favourite who never got into a clear position when fifth in the Premier’s Cup over only 100m shorter at Rosehill a fortnight back. Drawn wider here so can stay out of trouble, drops in weight, has good form over the distance (8-3-3-0) and McDonald stays in the saddle. Loves the track and three runs in with the right passage is the one to beat.

3^rd

#5 Loophole ($11)

Waller saddles-up three and this is his longest-priced chance, but think the form can stack up for the Lonhro seven-year-old. He’s been round Rosehill plenty (14-2-2-2) and has won four times at the distance. Wyong Cup fourth last time out beaten only 2.3 lengths and is on the quick back-up from that September 2 run. If he handles the quick turnaround and with any rain around, is a definite hope in the trifecta.

Enjoy access to the weekend’s best Golden Rose Stakes Day betting odds and offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au!