Dual Oaks winner Egg Tart may be gearing up for longer-distanced spring targets, but the bookmakers are taking no chances on the returning Chris Waller-trained mare who leads 2017 Theo Marks Stakes betting for this weekend in Sydney.
Dual Group 1 winner Egg Tart is favourite to take out Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes. Photo: Jenny Barnes
The four-year-old daughter of Sebring is one of eight runners engaged to face off in Rosehill Race 5 on Saturday afternoon in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), the field for which includes three Waller-trained hopefuls.
Drawn barrier four with in-form hoop Kerrin McEvoy booked for the ride, Egg Tart is the firm favourite paying $3.10 in the latest Theo Marks Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to win first-up.
She has won her last six starts on the trot including the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) and Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) during a dominant three-year-old campaign last time in.
On the 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate path where she will face a tough test against her champion stablemate Winx, Egg Tart put in a nice trial on August 25 at Warwick Farm when working home well late behind Veladero over 1000m to bring her on for this.
The biggest danger looking at the latest Theo Marks Stakes betting markets is Deploy, the Gerald Ryan-trained gelding at $4.60 and firming fast after opening at odds of $6.
The five-year-old son of Fastnet Rock is second-up following his success at Randwick in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and goes up from 55.5kg that day to 56.5kg on the weekend.
Occupying the third line of the markets and hot on Deploy’s heels is Waller’s other gun four-year-old mare in the race, Foxplay ($4.80).
The grey daughter of Foxwedge put in a bold front-running effort first-up at Randwick on August 19 and was only run down late by Winx when runner-up in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m).
Without Winx there on Saturday, Foxplay is a huge chance to win as she races at Rosehill Gardens for the first time since her fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) during the autumn.
That brave effort on a Heavy (9) track followed a lead-up Rosehill win in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and as a three-year-old she also won the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) over the mile during ‘The Championships’.
In a wide-open market, a further two Theo Marks Stakes hopefuls are under double figures for the win with the consistent Cannyescent ($5.50) and the returning Dixie Blossoms ($7).
Lindsay Park’s Canny Lad gelding Cannyescent is back in Sydney for the first time since winning a 1350m Benchmark 92 at Rosehill back in early May.
He went on to win twice more in Melbourne over a strong winter campaign over 1400m at Sandown-Lakeside and Flemington respectively.
The five-year-old kicked things off down south back at Flemington on August 12 and caught the eye with a close win over Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Cannyescent is in the mix again on Saturday, especially dropping from 54.5kg to 53kg.
Dixie Blossoms meanwhile has the outside barrier eight draw for her and Melbourne Cup winning hoop Corey Brown to overcome.
Ron Quinton’s now five-year-old daughter of Street Sense comes off successive heat wins at Randwick, while her last start on April 8 produced the nice third when only a length off Foxplay in the Queen Of The Turf.
Check out the latest Theo Marks Stakes 2017 odds below, betting available now through Ladbrokes.com.au.
