The bookmakers are having a hard time separating the best in 2017 Gai Waterhouse Classic betting for the card closer on Ipswich Cup Day this weekend in the sunshine state.
I Am Zelady is one of the best in 2017 Gai Waterhouse Classic betting for the last on Ipswich Cup Day this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
The action of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival moves from Brisbane to Ipswich Racecourse on Saturday where the bumper nine-race program is set to come to a close with the $100,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).
After originally drawing an above capacity field, the race’s two emergencies are both in the 16-starter line-up after the early scratching of My Little Flicka and Abohar.
Updated Gai Waterhouse Classic betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are an open affair including equal $5.50 odds on offer for current co-favourites Kinshachi and I Am Zelady.
Kinshachi gives the weight away under 59kg top kilos, but is drawn a treat in barrier three with Damian Browne booked to ride the Godolphin-raced Commands mare.
The four-year-old is yet to win over the distance, but has four placings from six starts in the 1300m – 1400m range and chases her first win since New Year’s Eve.
Her latest run produced a close sixth in black-type company at Doomben on June 3 when under three lengths beaten by the winner Bonny O’Reilly.
Bonny O’Reilly franked the form with her Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) third last weekend and the bookies are taking no chances with Kinshachi this weekend on the Heavy track as the mare boasts two wins and a second from her three starts in the mud to date.
The Heavy-rated Ipswich track is also tipped to suit the Joe Pride-trained I Am Invincible five-year-old I Am Zelady who also ran sixth last time out in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m).
A further three acceptors in the handicap clash for fillies and mares sit under $10 in the Gai Waterhouse Classic odds including market mover Maternal ($6.50) with the outside barrier to overcome.
The second Godolphin-raced runner in the race, Maternal has Jeff Lloyd aboard on 54.5kg and jumps from barrier 16 of 16.
Barriers may not work in her favour, but the Street Cry four-year-old is four-from-five over the distance and will relish getting back over the metres after her ninth over 1200m at Doomben a fortnight ago.
She did it tough from the same outside gate that run, but she carries less weight and is back to her preferred distance on Saturday.
Rounding out the single figure fancies are the Tony Gollan-trained Dee Nine Elle ($8.50) and three-year-old Snitzel filly Slumber Party ($9.50) representing the race’s namesake trainer Waterhouse.
See below for the full Gai Waterhouse Classic 2017 betting odds open now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of the best winter racing markets and offers.
