The 2016 Premiere Stakes closes the Epsom Handicap Day card in Sydney on Saturday, betting tips and the latest odds for the weight-for-age sprint at Royal Randwick detailed below.

Southern Legend is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2016 Premiere Stakes to close the Randwick race card on Saturday in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Randwick Race 9 at 5:20pm (AEST), this season’s $300,000 Group 2 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m) originally drew a final field of 15.

The early scratchings of #1 Under The Louvre (1) and #15 Russian Revolution (10) leaves 13 starters and the updated Premiere Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are firmly led by Group 1 winning mare English ($2.80).

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Encosta De Lago four-year-old has been well-supported early to post her first win since the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at the track over Black Heart Bart in mid-August.

She returned a fortnight back and finished under two lengths away fifth to Takedown in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) and is out to atone second-up on Saturday for her fourth win from seven starts at Randwick.

After English the Premiere Stakes betting markets are an open affair with the dangers shaping-up as the Les Bridge-trained local Southern Legend ($6), the Team Hawkes-trained The Shorts third placegetter Kaepernick ($7), his stablemate Our Boy Malachi ($7) drawn wide for his first-up run and The Shorts winner Takedown ($7.50) in barrier two looking to go back-to-back at the track.

So will English salute for the favourite backers and make up for the disappointing loss first-up or is there value further down the markets for an upset Premiere Stakes result from the likes of Group 1 winner Rebel Dane ($15) or the Kris Lees-trained Danish Twist ($13) back at her pet track?

1^st

#12 Southern Legend ($6)

Regular rider Tim Clark continues his association with this super consistent Not A Single Doubt four-year-old who has had seven runs for four wins and a third to date. He won first-up over 1000m at Randwick with 60kg from barrier 13 of 13 before stepping up in class for the close third under a length off the winner Mackintosh in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill three weeks back. He is back to Randwick and the step back in distance should have him firing and a winning hope even with the Group 1 winners in the mix.

2^nd

#13 English ($2.80)

English was a touch disappointing when fifth as the beaten favourite first-up but is out to make amends in this with Tommy Berry retaining the ride on the Randwick specialist (6-3-0-1) who covered lots of ground late in The Shorts. If she gets the run she is the one to beat looking at her star autumn form that also had her running third only 1.4 lengths off the world’s best sprinter Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at this track / distance.

3^rd

#14 Danish Twist ($13)

Nice price offered for this returning mare who has the benefit of having James McDonald aboard first-up. She’s yet to win fresh, but her form at Randwick is excellent (4-2-1-0) and she is back here for the first time since winning the Listed June Stakes (1100m) in the winter by two lengths. That was her fourth on the trot before the winning streak came to an end with the Tatt’s Tiara eighth in Brisbane. Recent trials have been solid and she ticks plenty of boxes for a top three performance.

Back our insider Premiere Stakes 2016 betting selections at the right price online now at Ladbrokes.com.au!

2016 Premiere Stakes Form Guide