Favourite for Sydney’s TJ Smith Stakes in April Chautauqua kicks off leading betting for his first-up run in Melbourne on CF Orr Stakes Day in the Rubiton Stakes 2017.

An eight-horse field is engaged for Saturday’s $200,000 Group 2 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) that features a host of Group 1 bound hopefuls led by the Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua.

The now six-year-old won the Rubiton Stakes two years ago and is a dual champion of the lucrative Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

He chases a third win in that The Championships sprint this April and leads all-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the race.

Chautauqua is also the clear $2.60 favourite in Rubiton Stakes betting for his first-up run on the weekend.

A short two-start spring disappointed from the international Group 1 winner, but jockey Dwayne Dunn believes the Chautauqua is old is ready to come out and dominate this autumn.

Three other runners are at single-figures in the Rubiton Stakes odds, the race a key lead-up to the $1.25 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight on ‘Super Saturday’ next month.

Second elect and tipped the most likely to beat home Chautauqua at $4.80 is the in-form Hellbent.

Darren Weir saddles-up the four-year-old son of I Am Invincible who was last seen running a half-length away third in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in late January.

The stallion has enjoyed six wins from his 13 career starts and is a short-distance specialist with an outstanding record over the Rubiton Stakes metres (5-3-1-0).

The next best in betting are early market mover Wild Rain ($7 into $6) and El Divino ($5.50 out to $6.50) drawn a treat in barrier three for his hoop Damien Oliver.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Wild Rain is at her pet distance on the weekend boasting four wins and four seconds from her nine 1100m runs so far.

Her latest victory was in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last September, before which she won Caulfield’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) in the winter.

A Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) third to Extreme Choice beaten only 1.35 lengths as a $21 roughie at Moonee Valley was the highlight of her spring.

The five-year-old daughter of Manhattan Rain races first-up having last been seen narrowly nudged out when second in the Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

She did it tough in that Melbourne Cup Carnival run from barrier 14 of 20 under 59kg and in a small field from barrier six on 55.5kg this weekend is a big hope to kick off her autumn with a top three run.

El Divino is the second Weir-trained runner in the Rubiton Stakes field, the Snitzel colt getting in on 54kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the race.

He is second-up and out to go one better than his narrow second to Tivaci in the Kensington Stakes, the Group 3 winner over Astern last April having his first Caulfield run.

Check out the full Rubiton Stakes 2017 betting odds and offers online now at Ladbrokes.com.au and enjoy access to Odds Boost this autumn (T&Cs apply).

2017 Rubiton Stakes Odds