The 2022 Spring Carnival has begun to take even more shape as of Friday, with online bookmakers opening futures markets for 19 races.
Featuring at the top end of multiple markets are Anamoe, Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck, Western Empire and Duais.
Anamoe, who had his first trial on Friday morning, is the current favourite for the Winx Stakes ($3.50), George Main Stakes ($4.50) and Epsom Handicap ($8), while he sits among the top few lines of betting for races like the Underwood Stakes ($6), Turnbull Stakes ($8), Might And Power Stakes ($8), Cox Plate ($8) and Champions Mile ($8).
Zaaki also has a stronghold on a number of spring features, with the Annabel Neasham-trained gelding sitting atop the Cox Plate ($4.50), Might And Power ($3.50), Underwood ($3.50) and Turnbull ($4.50) markets.
Last year’s Golden Eagle winner, I’m Thunderstruck, is expected to have another big spring, with bookies listing him as an $8 chance in each of the Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Champions Mile.
Ex-Western Australian galloper Western Empire features prominently with online betting sites, with the Danny O’Brien-trained gelding listed in 11 markets for the spring.
Western Empire is a $6 hope in the Memsie Stakes, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Toorak Handicap, while he is less than $20 in races like the Turnbull Stakes and Cox Plate.
Star mare Duais is another who looks set to have a big spring, following a breakthrough autumn carnival where she won two Group 1 races.
The Ed Cummings-trained mare heads the betting in both the Caulfield Cup ($11) and Melbourne Cup ($15), while she is a similar price for a number of key lead-up races.
Chris Waller may not have the fire power of Verry Elleegant or Winx that we have seen in recent years, but the bookies aren’t willing to take too many chances on his up-and-coming racehorses.
The lightly raced Political Debate is the $8 favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes and Caulfield Guineas, while he is $15 for the Victoria Derby and Golden Rose.
Waller’s boom mare Espiona hasn’t been missed, with the rising four-year-old an $11 chance in the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes, Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle, while she is the $8 second elect in The Invitation, with Forbidden Love heading the betting for that race at $6.
The three-year-old fillies races look wide open, with Group 1 winners Fireburn and She’s Extreme heading the betting for the Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas respectively. Coolangatta, Koshu, Paris Dior, and J.J. Atkins winner Sheeza Belter are also at the pointy end of those two markets.
She’s Extreme also tops the betting for the VRC Oaks at $8, while Cadazio, Foujita San and Sharp N Smart share favouritism in the VRC Derby.
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