Nine horses have been confirmed in the final field for Saturday’s featured 2017 Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick; offering punters terrific value from a betting perspective and several key opportunities to place a winning wager.

Le Romain currently leads 2017 Missile Stakes betting markets. Photo: Steve Hart

Multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain is a proven first-up performer and remains an outright $2.20 favourite in 2017 Missile Stakes betting markets with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.

Le Romain has been a strong and consistent performer for Kris Lees throughout his entire racing career so far, but announced himself to the Australian racing community through an impressive campaign in 2016, which peaked with wins in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m).

Resuming this year for a smart win in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m), the Hard Spun gelding beat Chautauqua on the line in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) before running second behind Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

While failing to fire in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), Le Romain responded with a tough run for second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and has trialled well in the lead-up to the Missile Stakes.

Tycoon Tara is yet to herald much interest in 2017 Missile Stakes betting markets, but the classy mare remains sole occupant of the second line at a $5 quote.

Tycoon Tara has been a strong performer at black type level for several seasons, but has undoubtedly found her best form since transferring to the care of Peter & Paul Snowden.

The Written Tycoon mare took a couple of runs to find her feet upon resuming in late autumn and arrived in Brisbane for consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m).

Given little chance of success in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) last time out on June 24^th, Tycoon Tara led from start to finish to secure her maiden win at the highest level of racing.

Tycoon Tara is the defending Missile Stakes winner and will be partnered by regular rider Kerrin McEvoy on Saturday, from the rails draw.

Jungle Edge has so-far received the greatest market share of bets for success and has firmed into Missile Stakes odds of $6.50 to figure as the current outright third-favourite and clear market mover.

The Dubawi gelding also found career-best form through the recent autumn and winter carnivals and was several times placed at Group 1 level.

Third in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) second-up, Jungle Edge returned to winning from in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) before running a credible third in the All Aged Stakes.

He simply failed to fire when fifth in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) during the Warrnambool Carnival, but arrived in Brisbane for a smart win in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) and a close second in the Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup.

While only managing to beat one runner home in less-than-ideal conditions in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m), Jungle Edge has reportedly relished a freshen-up and will be tough to beat on a soft track in the Missile Stakes.

Invincible Gem ($9) and The Monstar ($9.50) are the only other runners currently available at Missile Stakes odds of less-than $10, while Memes is arguably over the odds at her current $16 quote at Ladbrokes.com.au.