James Cummings’ in-form Sydney visitor High Midnight leads the latest 2017 Spear Chief Handicap betting markets for his second-up Brisbane run this weekend.
High Midnight leads 2017 Spear Chief Handicap Weights & Betting for the mile showdown at Doomben on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Queensland Oaks Day line-up has moved from Eagle Farm to Doomben Racecourse on Saturday and one of the meeting’s early features is the $100,000 Listed City Property Services Spear Chief Handicap (1630m).
A dozen milers remain in the mix after the early scratching of Handfast who instead takes on a tougher field over less distance in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) later on the card.
Updated Spear Chief Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the 58kg top weight High Midnight as the $3 favourite to overcome the weight and wide barrier 11 draw.
Queensland hoop Damian Browne is booked to ride the five-year-old son of High Midnight who was last seen running second to Jungle Edge in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at the track on May 20.
The BRC Sprint form was franked with the winner Jungle Edge running second to Clearly Innocent at Eagle Farm last weekend in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).
High Midnight is now expected to keep the form going on the weekend coming down in grade for the Spear Chief.
Occupying the second line of Spear Chief Handicap betting at $5.50 is Man Of His Word (57kg) drawn a treat in gate four.
Bruce Hill’s Gold Coast-trained Lope De Vega four-year-old has had two previous runs over the mile for a first and a second and should enjoy getting back over the distance for the first time in 2017.
He took out the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m) in December at Doomben by nearly two lengths before the brave second at Eagle Farm on New Year’s Eve in the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m).
First-up this season he ran eighth as a $26 roughie in the BRC Sprint where he was unsuited to the Heavy track.
This weekend he’ll get firmer ground and will be fitter second-up on the more suitable going back up to his pet distance making him the danger with Jeff Lloyd aboard.
The other top fancies are an equal $6 are Berry Delicious and Payroll drawn in barriers nine and three respectively.
Jason Coyle saddles-up Blevic mare Berry Delicious who would prefer a rain-affected track, while Not A Single Doubt four-year-old Payroll represents Cranbourne horseman Richard Laming.
Payroll ran third to Stratum Star at the Gold Coast in the Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) back in January before her last start fifth over 1350m at Doomben in a Benchmark 85 on May 13.
The mare has had four previous mile runs for just the one third place effort and will need to be at her best to handle the metres with Damien Oliver in the saddle this weekend.
Rounding out the single figure hopes at $9.50 is Maryore, the Phillip Courtney-trained daughter of Onemorenomore looking to improve on her fifth in Doomben’s Listed Member’s Handicap (1600m) here on May 13.
See below for the full Spear Chief Handicap 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and weights plus the latest markets on Doomben Race 3 from Ladbrokes.com.au.
