Adelaide Cup fourth placegetter Double Bluff looks a genuine Sydney Cup 2018 hope Saturday week according to trainer Robbie Laing who runs the veteran stayer in the traditional lead-up this weekend.

Sydney Cup hope Double Bluff faces his last start conqueror in the Adelaide Cup Fanatic (pictured) in Saturday’s 2018 Chairman’s Quality at Royal Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Azamour seven-year-old Double Bluff is down to race at Royal Randwick on Day 1 and 2 of ‘The Championships’ starting on Saturday in the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m).

His Cranbourne-based trainer Laing is hoping that will get him into the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) field back at the track seven days later, a two mile classic Double Bluff currently sits equal 30^th on the order of entry for.

The Chairman’s Quality offers the winner a ballot free ride into the Sydney Cup field and will be the first run for Double Bluff since he crossed under three lengths back fourth to Lindsay Park’s class mare Fanatic in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 12.

“When he came back from Adelaide, he had a week in the paddock down at Monomeath,” Laing told Racing Victoria on Tuesday.

“Then the week after, it was paddock onto the Aquaciser each morning.

“He came back in looking the same, but fresher in the mind.

“His run in the Adelaide Cup was a great run – he jockeyed up behind the leading contenders on the home turn.

“The leader went to the inside rail, Mark [Zahra] had to go around every horse.

“With the 58.5kg – he’s just over 15 hands – he was game but the sprint wasn’t there with the weight.”

The import hasn’t raced in Sydney since November of 2016, but Laing is hoping he can race better than his current roughie’s price suggests on Saturday before the Sydney Cup where the horse’s chances improve.

“It’s been three to four weeks since he ran – he’s not in all that well at the weights,” Laing added.

“But the Sydney Cup the week after, two mile, practically down on the minimum, that’ll be his chance.”

In the Chairman’s Quality Double Bluff drops four kilos from his Adelaide Cup weight to 54.5kg and he is currently in the Sydney Cup weights with just 50kg.

The Chairman’s Quality field attracted 17 hopefuls and Double Bluff is drawn wide in gate 14.

Among his rivals are the aforementioned Adelaide Cup winning mare Fanatic one on his inside in barrier 13 and the Darren Weir-trained NE Manion Cup winner last start Master Of Arts.

All-in Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the 2016 Melbourne Cup champion Almandin as the clear $3.50 favourite after his Rosehill win in last Saturday’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m).

Double Bluff can be found right down the futures Sydney Cup betting markets at $101 before Saturday’s Chairman’s Quality.

To back Double Bluff for the upset win either on Saturday or in the 2018 Sydney Cup at the hottest autumn racing odds online visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.