Darren Weir’s in-form colt Hawkshot is tipped as the two-year-old to beat at Flemington Racecourse on Wednesday in the ANZAC Day Stakes 2018.
Premier Victorian horseman Darren Weir saddles-up Wednesday’s ANZAC Day Stakes 2018 favourite Hawkshot at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A traditional feature of the ANZAC Day races in Melbourne, this season’s Listed $120,000 ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) field is down to 13 juveniles after the early scratching of the unraced Deejaybeat (5).
Firming into $3.60 favouritism in the updated ANZAC Day Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, Hawkshot jumps from barrier nine with Jamie Mott booked to ride the well-bred son of Fiorente.
His sire won the 2013 Melbourne Cup and the progressive youngster comes off a narrow loss as the beaten favourite at Sandown-Lakeside from April 11 over 1400m.
He comes back from 58.5kg to 57kg on Wednesday and can atone for the punters here.
Hot on his heels is the ANZAC Day Stakes betting market mover Ocean Knight who has been heavily backed early in from $5 to $3.90 to make it back-to-back wins.
Drawn a treat in barrier two with Regan Bayliss riding on the 59kg top weight, the Lindsay Park-trained Ocean Park colt comes off a debut win from April 14.
He lined-up over 1200m at Caulfield and was far too strong saluting by two and three-quarter lengths suggesting the extra distance should suit on the weekend.
Ocean Park’s weight, up from 57kg, is the only concern but he’ll get things his way from the gate and Bayliss knows the horse having partnered him for the last start victory.
The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable are dually represented in the ANZAC Day Stakes field this autumn also lining-up $41 roughie Gold Spark from the inside alley.
Along with the top two close favourites the only other single-figure favourite in the ANZAC Day Stakes odds this season at $8 is Osmium to be ridden by the country’s most successful Group 1 winning hoop Damien Oliver.
Oliver retains he ride on the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Fastnet Rock colt having partnered him for a tidy Ballarat win on debut from April 3.
Osmium gets weight relief here coming back from 58kg to 56.5kg and has the blinkers going on for his trip to the big city.
Other notable ANZAC Day Stakes hopefuls include the Tony McEvoy-trained son of Sizzling Secret Blaze ($13) at an easing price despite beating Hawkshot home last time out and the best of the fillies Miss Louisiana ($10) drawn in barriers four and five respectively.
The only other non-maiden in the mix meanwhile is the second Busuttin & Young-trained runner Expedius ($15) in barrier three with apprentice Zac Spain riding the last start all-the-way Echuca winner who could lead.
Check out the full ANZAC Day Stakes 2018 field and betting markets below, prices open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
