Ace Victorian trainer Darren Weir will saddle-up three sprinters in Saturday’s 2018 The Goodwood field including the rails-drawn Voodoo Lad as he looks to continue his successful assault on the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
Weir made history at Morphettville last weekend with his gun young stayer Leicester handing him a third consecutive win in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) repeating the feat for the first time since the legendary Bart Cummings four decades earlier.
Now all eyes return to the track on the weekend with the short-distance specialists doing battle in the Group 1 $1 million Darley Goodwood (1200m), the handicap sprint featuring a full 20 starters.
Weir has three of the confirmed The Goodwood horses chasing his third win in the race following his previous success with Platelet (2013) and Black Heart Bart (2016).
Handsome Thief (12), Stellar Collision (17) and Voodoo Lad (1) had mixed luck with their The Goodwood barriers for Weir and their prices in the latest markets reflect that.
Last start Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) winner Handsome Thief, to be ridden by Dean Yendall, and the ultra-consistent Stellar Collision coming off a lead-up second in the same race are both rated $26 chances in the latest The Goodwood odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Betting on The Goodwood in 2018 is still firmly led by last year’s winner Vega Magic ($2.60) who is first-up again after being the first resuming champion in the race in 2017 in the race’s 137-year history.
Voodoo Lad meanwhile is at $10 in the markets following his inside barrier one draw, while the favourite is out wide in gate 14.
Six-year-old I Am Invincible gelding Voodoo Lad hasn’t raced since his fifth to She Will Reign when under two lengths beaten at The Valley in September last year in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).
He is a noted fresh performer boasting four wins and two seconds from six first-up runs to date and also has strong form over The Goodwood distance (10:3-4-1) ahead of his maiden run at Morphettville.
“He’s in great form and is always good fresh,” Weir told Racing Victoria.
“We couldn’t have him in any better order going in for his first run, but obviously it’s a very tough race.”
Weir is also confident that the bone chip issues in Voodoo Lad’s knee that ruled him out of the summer racing season were now behind him and that the horse, along with his two stablemates, would be competitive on the weekend.
“He’s been right up there for a number of years and certainly deserves a Group 1 to his name,” he said of Voodoo Lad.
“He’s the best rated of my three going in, but the other two were impressive in Warrnambool and Stellar Collision should benefit from a lighter weight.”
To check out the latest The Goodwood 2018 betting odds and offers visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.