2017 John Dillon Stakes Field & Betting Odds

One of the key races on the Australia Day line-up at Caulfield Racecourse on Thursday is the John Dillon Stakes 2017, betting for which is a wide-open affair.

Duke Of Brunswick is one of the best in 2017 John Dillon Stakes betting this Australia Day at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 5:20pm (AEDT), this season’s $120,000 Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) has attracted a final field of 10 and currently five of those are under double-figures in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Narrow early favourite in John Dillon Stakes odds paying $4.60 for the win is the in-form Grande Rosso who is flying and shoots for his third win from five starts.

Regan Bayliss rides the Lindsay Park-trained Written Tycoon five-year-old from gate nine on 56.5kg, the gelding coming up from the 54kg he carried to victory on January 14 at Flemington in the Listed Chested Manifold Stakes (1400m).

This is his pet distance (8-4-3-0) and even under the heftier kilos, Grande Rosso looks the one to beat looking at his lead-up form that includes a Christmas Stakes second under 57.5kg on Boxing Day.

Narrow second elect in the markets at $5 is Damien Oliver’s mount Duke Of Brunswick in barrier five.

Prepared by Mick Price, the Magnus gelding is second-up this Thursday and is yet to finish worse than second in his five second-up starts to date (5-1-4-0).

The five-year-old was last seen running fourth to Lucky Liberty at the track in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) on December 26 with 56kg on his back.

He has killer form at the track (7-2-3-0) and distance (10-2-5-1) and will appreciate coming back to the 54kg minimum in the John Dillon.

The other major players in the current markets are early mover Cavaloce ($7 into $6), the rails-drawn Divine Mr Artie ($6) and Humidor ($6.50).

Adelaide’s Will Clarken prepares visiting Testa Rossa mare Cavaloce, the six-year-old having her first start at Caulfield.

She won the Listed City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) two back at home last month and was last seen running a devastatingly close second when just nosed out of the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) win on New Year’s Day down the Flemington straight.

In the Standish Cavaloce carted 58kg and coming back to 55kg with Kerrin McEvoy riding on Thursday is a big plus for the proven 1400m performer (9-3-1-2).

Divine Mr Artie also looks well weighted with Craig Williams riding the Brendan McCarthy-trained four-year-old on 54kg from barrier one.

Last season the son of Artie Schiller was racing in super consistent form, and two latest runs haven’t been far off that.

He was just over a length beaten when fifth in the Standish Handicap in a blanket finish on January 1 and was last seen finishing 3.45 lengths sixth in the Chester Manifold.

Humidor meanwhile is at the other end of the weight scale carrying 59.5kg, weights headed by Darren Weir’s Perth Cup winning mare Real Love (60kg).

Weir also prepares Humidor who jumps from barrier six with Damian Lane to ride as well as Dean Yendall’s ride in the race Tonopah.

Four-year-old Teofilo gelding Humidor has had just the one run down under, the former New Zealand-trained galloper finishing four lengths away ninth in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) over the Flemington mile on Derby Day.

He is right down in class for this and first-up the 1400m should suit with Weir now in charge.

Check out the full John Dillon Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and odds below – markets provide by Ladbrokes.com.au who have Enhanced Odds available on the event (T&Cs apply).