2016 Carbine Club Stakes Field & Betting Odds Released

A trio of three-year-olds are battling for early favouritism in the Carbine Club Stakes 2016 field and betting markets released for the first on VRC Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday.

Morton’s Fork is narrow early favourite to win the 2016 Carbine Club Stakes over the Fleminton mile on Derby Day. Photo: Steve Hart.

Kicking off the all-Group race card as Flemington Race 1 at 11:45am (AEDT), this year’s $200,000 Group 3 The Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) has attracted a final field of 12 young milers.

The bookmakers are having a hard time of separating the top three in Carbine Club Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au with Morton’s Fork ($4.40), Hey Doc ($4.60) and Acatour ($4.60) tipped as the trio to beat.

Narrow early favourite, the John O’Shea-trained Morton’s Fork jumps from a gun barrier four draw with Craig Williams coming aboard the Ad Valorem colt.

A winner of three of his seven starts to date, Saturday marks the Godolphin galloper’s first run at Flemington and first over the mile.

He stepped up to Black-Type company just last start at Caulfield on Cup Day and was defeated under one and a half lengths for a fifth in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m).

Having opposite luck in the Carbine Club Stakes barrier draw coming up with the outside alley (12), the Tony McEvoy-trained Hey Doc comes into the set weights plus penalties clash in flying form.

The Duporth gelding won his first three this time in including Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) over the distance two back, before a brave third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last start beaten under a length.

It is a notable drop in class then for the three-year-old who is proven at the distance.

Peter & Paul Snowden saddle-up the other best in the markets, Sebring colt Acatour coming off a third to Peacock in the Gothic Stakes with Saturday also his first look at further than 1500m.

In an open market a further two hopefuls are also under double-figures for the win with early market movers Comin’ Through ($8.50 into $6.50) and Bezel ($11 into $9.50).

Chris Waller has the lightly-raced Fastnet Rock colt Comin’ Through up in class at just his third career start after his brave second over 1400m carrying 59kg in Sydney last time out, while Bezel is the other O’Shea-trained runner in the field.

A son of Street Cry, Bezel has won three of his past four starts all in Sydney including carting a hefty 61kg to victory over the Randwick mile last time out.

He will relish dropping to 56kg on Saturday, but will need to be at his best to beat a better experienced field.

See below for the full Carbine Club Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win betting from Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Enhanced Odds (T&Cs apply).