Returning Godolphin galloper Impending headlines the Victory Stakes 2018 field and betting markets for Doomben in Brisbane on Saturday, the Group 1 winning sprinter odds-on to win first-up.

Impending is the sprinter to beat in Saturday’s Victory Stakes 2018 at Doomben in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

The first of the notable lead-ups into the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, this Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) field is down to just eight after the early scratching of the rails-drawn Manaya.

Short-priced favourite in the updated Victory Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $1.85 to salute is the James Cummings-trained Lonhro four-year-old Impending.

The entire has previous winning form at the Doomben track having taken out last year’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) as a $20 roughie.

He chases his first win since and hasn’t raced since the close third behind Redzel in Flemington’s Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).

This is a far easier assignment, he’s trialled in the lead-up and is a noted fresh performer so looks the one to beat in barrier two with Queensland hoop Damian Browne aboard.

Victory Stakes betting features three other single-figure hopefuls out to upset the favourite including Supido ($3.70) in barrier two with Jeff Lloyd riding.

Cranbourne’s Michael Kent saddles-up the consistent Sebring six-year-old who has his first look at the track here.

Supido hasn’t won since July last year but has been competitive in plenty since beaten under two lengths when fourth in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and fifth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) behind straight track specialist Redkirk Warrior at Flemington.

His latest performance was also in a Group 1 Melbourne sprint when fourth to Hellbent at The Valley in March’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m), so the drop in grade here should suit.

The other best in better are the David Pfieffer-trained Snitzel filly I Am Excited ($6) and Tony Gollan’s local hope Most Important ($9.50).

Three-year-old I Am Excited takes on the older sprinters here after running third against her own age in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 14.

She won three on the trot in Sydney prior to that and has good form over the distance (4:2-0-2), but needs to be improving against this class line-up to challenge for the win.

I Am Invincible five-year-old Most Important has plenty of Doomben race experience having start number 15 on the track this weekend, the gelding racing for the first time since his nearly four length win in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) in late January.

Most Important has won a subsequent Eagle Farm trial and is a quality horse in this kind of company, but will improve on whatever he does first-up with just the one second from six resuming runs so far.

Check out the full Victory Stakes 2018 field and betting markets below, Brisbane racing odds available now through Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 Victory Stakes Field & Odds