The Ballarat Cup 2023 is the highlight of the Melbourne racing action this weekend and it is a wide-open affair for the punters.

A field of 13 is gathered for this summer’s Listed $500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) and current markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have in-form mare Foxy Cleopatra on top at $4.80.

Craig Williams chases a win aboard the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained daughter of American Pharoah from out in gate 12.

The bonny four-year-old is yet to win over further than a mile but has been competitive in some top form races this prep after a lengthy spell.

She was seventh in last year’s Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) before spending 12 months on the side lines and has come back in good order this spring.

Fresh she finished runner-up to Skew Wiff in the Group 3 HKJ Club Stakes (1400m) a neck beaten at big odds before finishing the same margin back second to Charterhouse in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) on November 25.

Up in distance now she is fit third-up and ready to fire carrying 54kg.

The danger occupying the second line of Ballarat Cup betting at $5 is Aint’nodeeldun who is after a fourth win on the trot.

Anthony & Sam Freedman’s classy six-year-old has been the picture of consistency this campaign and also jumps from double-digits out in gate 11 with Declan Bates aboard.

The horse’s latest victory was at The Valley on October 27 in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) where he carried 56.5kg.

Aint’nodeeldun, who has a great record at the Ballarat Cup distance (5:2-1-0), is down a kilo now fresh off a short let-up and looks a genuine chance to keep the winning streak going.

A further four runners are also at single-figure Ballarat Cup odds including Danny O’Brien’s early market mover Young Werther ($7 into $6.50).

Billy Egan rides the 60kg top-weight from a favourable barrier four draw.

The Kiwi-bred son of Tavistock is after his first win since September when he carted a heft 61.5kg to victory over 2040m at Moonee Valley.

Following that he races at Rosehill on October 7 and was only 2.56 length off Montefilia in the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m).

At his latest on November 11 at Flemington he was excellent as a 60/1 outsider running under two lengths third to Atishu in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) making him a huge hope notably down in grade now.

The consistent Paul Preusker-trained Country Cups horse Captain Envious ($7.50) and perennial place-getter Red Sun Sensation ($7.50) coming off three straight seconds from the Moody/Coleman stable follow closely in the markets.

The rails-drawn Just Folk ($8.50) on the quick back-up completes the horses under $10 for the win with Gavin Bedggood’s smart Magnus chestnut coming off a narrow win in Caulfield’s Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) last weekend.

The 2023 Ballarat Cup is set to run as Race 8 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available here.

2023 Ballarat Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw  

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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