TAB have opened futures markets for 10 Group 1 races over the Sydney and Melbourne Autumn Carnivals.
Markets for the Futurity Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes, Canterbury Stakes, Coolmore Classic, George Ryder Stakes, Ranvet Stakes, The Galaxy, Tancred Stakes, Vinery Stud Stakes and the Queen of The Turf Stakes are now able to be on, with all markets listed as Pre Noms, meaning that if your selection is not nominated for that race, your stake will be refunded.
The sole Victorian race is the Futurity Stakes, which will be run over 1400m at Caulfield on February 26, where the reigning Golden Eagle champion, I’m Thunderstruck is the $4 favourite.
“I’m Thunderstruck went boom over the top.”
The @MickPriceRacing star 4yo picks up a gallant Count De Rupee to win the $7.5m #TheGoldenEagle at Rosehill with Vangelic third. And 10 per cent of his prizemoney is donated to @Camp_Quality.
pic.twitter.com/1pPSHzrqxg
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 30, 2021
Last year’s winner Probabeel shares the second line of betting with Zaaki, with the pair rated a $6 chance, ahead of Behemoth, and former internationals Lighthouse and Sinawann who are all $9 hopes.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup winner, Verry Elleegant, sits at the top of the betting for both the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and the Ranvet Stakes (2000m), as she looks to go back-to-back in both of those Group 1 events, while Zaaki, Mo’unga and Think It Over are on her tail in both markets.
The Australian Horse of the Year is also the $2.30 favourite for the Tancred Stakes (2400m), a race that she won in 2020 en route to her Caulfield Cup success. Gold Trip and Spanish Mission, two former internationals, are on the second line of betting at $8, while Group 1-winning mares Colette and Montefilia are currently $11 for the March 26 event.
Despite only racing twice, Chris Waller’s unbeaten three-year-old filly Espiona dominates a number of futures markets, with bookmakers installing her as a $5 favourite in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) and the Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m), while she is the $4.50 favourite in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
No doubt we will be seeing more of Espiona over the coming seasons.
#RDCBestOf2021 pic.twitter.com/hgYoAoB0Hi
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 8, 2021
Proven mares, Icebath, Colette and Entriviere are amongst the main dangers according to TAB, while Espiona’s stablemates Fangirl and Hungry Heart also sit towards the top of the markets.
The Canterbury Stakes (1300m) is shaping to be a terrific race on March 5, with last year’s winner of The Hunter, Lost And Running the equal $3.50 favourite with Zaaki, while the runner up in The Everest, Masked Crusader, is the $4.50 third favourite.
The #TABEverest form reigns in #TheHunter!@JohnOSheaRacing star Lost And Running too classy in the $1 million feature at @newcastleraces_ beating Wandabaa and Top Ranked. @tabcomau @HugeBowman pic.twitter.com/YkufqRiPOL
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 13, 2021
Lost And Running could use the Canterbury Stakes to springboard into the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 19, where he is the $4.50 joint favourite with last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner, Anamoe. That pair hold favouritism with the betting sites ahead of Verry Elleegant, Zaaki and Mo’unga.
On the same day as the George Ryder, the sprinters will get their chance in The Galaxy (1100m), where three-year-olds dominate the market.
The winner of the Coolmore Stud Classic, Home Affairs, is joint favourite with James Cummings’ Paulele at $6 each of two, while Golden Rose winner In The Congo is an $8 chance alongside Queensland mare, Isotope.
With a number of budding superstars all set for Group 1 races over the autumn, we could be in for one of the best seasons of racing Australia has had for some time.
