John Sargent’s Summer Cup winning mare Luvaluva is the red hot favourite to make it a double at Royal Randwick on Saturday with the in-form five-year-old dominating 2020 January Cup betting.

Summer Cup winner Luvaluva chases another 2000m win at Randwick in Saturday’s January Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.
With Queensland’s Magic Millions Day card at the Gold Coast heading the weekend’s racing action, it is a small seven-horse field gathered for the $150,000 Listed January Cup (2000m) in Sydney.
Sitting top of the weights with 59kg drawn gate six, Luvaluva rises from the 56.5kg she carried to a runaway three length win at the track on Boxing Day in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m).
She runs over the same track and distance here a fortnight on and, despite the rise in weight, is tipped as the summer stayer to beat once again.
Jockey Koby Jennings continues his association on the daughter of Mastercraftsman who looks set to produce late, round up her six rivals and salute for the punters.
Luvaluva is at a current quote of $2.25 in the January Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au and she is also the early market mover backed in from an opening price of $2.45.
It is a bunched market following the top fancy with the next best in betting being Sir Plush and Taikomochi who are installed as the $4.80 equal second elects.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Sir Plush is a seven-year-old son of Pins who was last seen racing at Randwick’s Kensington track on January 4 for a third in the $125,000 Maroubra Handicap (1500m).
He was under a half-length beaten that day carrying 58.5kg and drops to 56.5kg here on the quick back-up rising in both grade and distance.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott are represented by the rails drawn Taikomochi, the Snitzel six-year-old also looking to improve on a lead-up third.
The gelding has been racing well in similar grade all campaign including his close fourth when only two lengths off the winner Alward at Rosehill in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m).
He finished three lengths back to round out the trifecta in the Summer Cup behind Luvaluva last time out after weakening late and gets the chance to save energy from gate one and finish in the money again.
Matthew Smith saddles-up his well-bred Pierro mare Aqua D’ivina ($7.50) in barrier three on the back of here eye-catching fourth only two lengths off in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford and she comes right back from 58kg to 53kg.
“She has come through her last start in good order,” Smith said of Aqua D’iviniathis week.
Hit-and-miss import Mr Garcia ($8.50) for Kris Lees is the other single-figure fancy in the mix.
In an open market, Chris Waller’s ATC Cup winner Alward ($12) and the Richard Litt-trained National Guard ($16) carrying just 53kg round out the January Cup field.
Click here for the latest January Cup 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 23854×2561 | LUVALUVA (NZ) | John Sargent | Koby Jennings | 6 | 59kg | 104 |
2 | 7816231167 | ALWARD (IRE) | Chris Waller | Oisin Orr | 2 | 57.5kg | 97 |
3 | 21×0607263 | SIR PLUSH (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Brandon Lerena | 4 | 56.5kg | 95 |
4 | 21400×3943 | TAIKOMOCHI | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 1 | 56kg | 94 |
5 | 100x88x933 | MR GARCIA (GB) | Kris Lees | Andrew Gibbons | 5 | 54.5kg | 91 |
6 | 0x60x98194 | AQUA D’IVINA | Matthew Smith | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 3 | 53kg | 89 |
7 | x3134x1x87 | NATIONAL GUARD (USA) | Richard Litt | Robbie Dolan (a) | 7 | 53kg | 69 |