The Darren Weir-trained Burning Front has opened narrow early favourite in a small Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2017 field and betting market for the sprint race on Zipping Classic Day this Saturday.

Burning Front leads early betting on the 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Ladbrokes Park, Sandown, this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Ladbrokes Park Race 4 at 2:10pm (AEDT), this season’s Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) attracted just the eight final acceptors.

Weir saddles-up the current favourite in Kevin Heffernan Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, Primus seven-year-old Burning Front at $3.80 to post his first win since the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) in Adelaide back on May 20.

The veteran middle-distance galloper drops in both class and metres for the weekend looking to improve on a last start fifth to last year’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes winner Lucky Hussler at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) on October 28.

Prior to that he was impressive when second in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, Burning Front a dual third placegetter from three previous Sandown runs.

He returns to the track for the first time however since 2015 when third to Charmed Harmony in that year’s Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).

Following Burning Front it is a wide open affair in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes odds for 2017 with four other single figure fancies including early market mover Illustrious Lad ($5 into $4.50).

Drawn gate eight with Ben Melham to ride, the Peter Gelagotis-trained I Am Invincible six-year-old is out to break a notable drought that goes back to last Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Illustrious Lad was runner-up to Lucky Hussler in this race 12 months ago and gets the chance to go one better this summer on the back of a sixth in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, the same Derby Day race he won on the way to Sandown last season.

Following closely at an equal $4.80 are then Thronum and Ocean Embers, both last start winners looking to salute again.

Lindsay Park saddle-up four-year-old Snitzel entire Thronum whose last start produced an 1100m win by five lengths at Bendigo on November 1.

That was the galloper’s first run since September of 2016 and showed he is more than ready for the extra metres of the Kevin Heffernan Stakes.

Ocean Embers gets the rails run from barrier one, Ms Nikita Beriman retaining the ride on Shea Eden’s Beneteau mare who saluted at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in the Listed Miss Security Stakes (1200m).

Lindsay Park’s other runner Keen Array ($7.50) rounds out the single-figure fancies, Kerrin McEvoy partnering the recent Gilgai Stakes winner who is out to improve on a Salinger Stakes ninth.

See below for the full Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds on the Sandown showdown open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field & Odds