The punters are coming in a big way for Queensland star Alligator Blood to defeat the star Kiwi raider Catalyst in Saturday’s CS Hayes Stakes 2020 field at Flemington.

The money is coming for Alligator Blood to win the 2020 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

There are just seven three-year-olds left in this year’s Group 3 $160,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) field on Black Caviar Lightning Day following the early scratching of Big Parade (6).

Originally there was little separating David Vandyke’s brilliant Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Alligator Blood and the Clayton Chipperfield-trained New Zealand visitor Catalyst in CS Hayes Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Over the week however the rails drawn All Too Hard gelding Alligator Blood, a winner of all but one of his nine career starts to date, has emerged as the clear favourite.

Runner-up to Super Seth in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in the spring, Alligator Blood has subsequently won all three of his starts in Queensland including the two-length romp home at the Gold Coast on January 11 in the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).

Alligator Blood has been kept fresh over the last month and is now into $2.05, nearing odds-on territory in the latest CS Hayes Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to make it five-from-five over the 1400m distance.

In the past decade just two CS Hayes Stakes favourites have saluted for the punters with Hey Doc ($3.70 in 2017) and Hucklebuck ($2.80 in 2014), Alligator Blood out to be the next.

Catalyst meanwhile has eased out for $2.50 to $2.80 in CS Hayes betting to win his first run on Aussie soil on the back of six straight victories back home across the Tasman.

The Darci Brahma gelding took out the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) last November before his impressive first-up victory by 2.5 lengths in the Group 3 MR Tiz Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 25.

Catalyst missed the kick in his resuming run but was still far too good carting a hefty 60.5kg to the big win in a big performance ahead of his test down under on the weekend.

Drawn the outside barrier, Catalyst has jockey James McDonald in the saddle on Saturday and with 58.5kg at set weights plus penalties the horse is out to be the first CS Hayes Stakes winner in over 20 years to carry more than 57.5kg to victory.

The other Australian Guineas-bound youngster under $10 to win the CS Hayes this year is the market mover Dalasan ($7 into $5.50).

The Leon Macdonald & Andrew Glyas-trained South Australian galloper was fifth in the Caulfield Guineas before his Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) win at Flemington on Derby Day.

First-up the Dalakhani colt finished a credible third behind Super Seth, who is being saved for the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago.

Undefeated second-up, Dalasan has strong form at the Flemington track including his Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) win last September and chases his first win over the 1400m after two close seconds over the distance.

Click here for the latest CS Hayes Stakes 2020 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 CS Hayes Stakes Field & Barriers