The Godolphin-raced Savatiano is now top of the markets for Saturday’s Group 1 $700,000 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm after the class mare drew well in barrier eight.
Savatiano is tipped to add another Group 1 win to her record in Saturday’s 2021 Kingsford-Smith Cup. Photo: Steve Hart.
The event drew a final field of 16 ahead of the weekend as the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival action moves to Eagle Farm Racecourse for a double-shot of Group 1 racing including also the Queensland Derby for three-year-olds.
Current favourite in Kingsford-Smith Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the weight-for-age event and key Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap lead-up is the James Cummings-trained daughter of Street Cry, Savatiano ($4).
Jockey Hugh Bowman is booked for the ride on the consistent six-year-old who had a strong 2019 campaign at the Eagle Farm track winning a Group 3 before her Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara third that year.
She’s been a picture of consistency for the stable since and comes off a lead-up second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Sydney, which followed on from her Group 1 Canterbury Stakes victory.
A noted fresh horse, she has her first run in 35 days here and there were excuses in the All Aged before that when she was hampered near the 300m.
She looks a hard to beat favourite here and is joined in the field by stablemates Kemantari and Trekking, the latter an $8 fancy in the markets having won the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane and last year’s Group 1 The Goodwood in Adelaide.
The Goodwood from Morphettville this season is predicted to stack-up in the Sunshine State on Saturday with the third placegetter, beaten favourite Gytrash, the danger in the Kingsford-Smith Cup at $5.
Gordon Richards’ outstanding Lope De Vega chestnut was far from disgraced first-up since October when resuming in The Goodwood on May 15 and presents fitter second-up here.
Third in the $15 million The Everest last spring before his $1 million Winners’ Stakes victory over 1300m, he looks a huge hope at the 1300m but does need to overcome a wide barrier 15 draw.
Tony & Calvin McEvoy’s shock The Goodwood winner Savatoxl ($13) is also in the frame looking to extend his winning streak to three on the trot.
He was at big odds winning the Morphettville feature by two lengths on the back of a three-length lead-up Group 3 DC McKay win, but goes up in weight and is drawn gate 14.
The locals have a poor record in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (formerly the BTC Cup) but Brisbane horseman Tony Gollan is hoping to change that and keep the trophy at home this weekend.
He saddles-up a trio of chances with his last start Listed Bright Shadow Stakes winning mare Outback Barbie ($26), Vega One ($15) coming off a Group 1 Doomben 10,000 fourth under a length beaten and Jonker ($16) who the trainer rates his best hope.
Jumping from barrier four with veteran hoop Jim Byrne aboard, Jonker is first-up in the race having last been seen running third in Sydney’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 27.
That was won in runaway fashion by subsequent Doomben 10,000 champion Eduardo, and Gollan is tipping the form to be franked again by his Spirit Of Boom entire on Saturday.
The 2021 Kingsford-Smith Cup is scheduled to run as Eagle Farm Race 8 at 3:58pm (AEST) on Saturday.
The post Savatiano Draws Well in 2021 Kingsford-Smith Cup Field appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
