European expat Mr Garcia is all the rage in Ballarat Cup 2017 betting for the weekend, the now Darren Weir-trained stayer under $3 to continue his undefeated record down under intact.

Chris Waller’s topweight Antonio Giuseppe is being kept safe in Ballarat Cup 2017 betting for the weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Thirteen spring stayers face off in Saturday’s Listed $300,000 Ballarat Cup (2200m) including the former Andreas Wohler-trained Mr Garcia in gate nine with apprentice Ben Allen booked for the ride.

Kerrin McEvoy rode the then international raider first-up in Australia on VRC Oaks Day at Flemington where the progressive son of Paco Boy carted 58kg to a nice 1800m victory.

A drop to 54kg on the weekend and step-up to 2200m, which the horse races over for the first time, has the bookies taking no chances with Mr Garcia in Ballarat Cup betting.

The lightly-raced and consistent import opened at $3.30 but has since been smashed into $2.90 Ballarat Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, with Allen confident heading into the black-type feature.

There are a trio of other single-figure chances in the latest markets with the Chris Waller-trained Antonio Giuseppe ($5.50) the next best in betting.

Rising back to a more suitable distance after a failed seventh in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley last time out on October 28, Shocking five-year-old Antonio Giuseppe gives the weight away on Saturday with the top kilos of 58kg.

Still, the class gelding presents as a danger from gate five with Michael Walker aboard.

The other Ballarat Cup horses under $10 for the win are Grey Lion ($6) and Second Bullet ($8.50) drawn in barriers three and 11 respectively.

Matt Cumani saddles-up the now locally-trained import Grey Lion from the gun barrier, the six-year-old Galileo entire last seen running under a length away second to Vengeur Masque in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

That followed two other good spring runs when third to subsequent Ladbrokes Cox Plate placegetter Folkswood in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) and a fourth to subsequent Queen Elizabeth Stakes champ Vengeur Masque in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).

Second Bullet is drawn wider on the weekend, but there’s time for the Danny O’Brien-trained Encosta De Lago seven-year-old to overcome the alley and run another competitive race.

The veteran’s lead-up was an eye-catching third to Odeon in the Listed Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington on November 7 as a $31 roughie, which he gets the chance to improve on this weekend on the lightweight again (54kg).

Other potential dangers at a more generous quote in the Ballarat Cup this season include Oncidium Ruler who has eased right out from $8.50 to $11 and fellow market drifter Sonntag ($9.50 out to $11).

Strategic six-year-old Oncidium Ruler brings in the nice lead-up form from a 2000m Flemington win under more kilos on Emirates Stakes Day, while the Henry Dwyer-trained Sonntag was last seen carrying 57.5kg to victory in the Ararat Cup (2000m).

See below for the latest Ballarat Cup 2017 betting odds, full markets and late spring betting offers available online through Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Ballarat Cup Betting