This Saturday marks the end of the Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria with a stand-alone race meeting at Ballarat Racecourse.
Spinderbella is favourite to win the Ballarat Cup after finishing in the first three her last four times out. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The feature race of the meeting is the $200,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) with a capacity field of 18 stayers set to run.
The Robert Smerdon-trained Spinderbella enters the race as favourite, offering odds of $5.50 in the Ladbrokes.com.au betting market. This follows a great spring campaign, which saw the mare finish in the first three in all four of her starts. The 2014 Ballarat Cup will undoubtedly be her toughest test to date but there is a trio of factors working in her favour.
Can the five-year-old mare justify her favouritism and win the Ballarat Cup on Saturday or will the race overcome her as she steps up in class for the first time?
Check out the Races.com.au top three betting tips for the 2014 Ballarat Cup below to get an idea of who to back.
1st
#14 Spinderbella ($5.50)
The Robert Smerdon-trained mare opened the race’s betting market as favourite and has managed to maintain her price. There is a trio of factors that justify her favouritism in the race and hint at her success: form, draw, and weight. In her six starts beyond the mile, Spinderbella has only been beaten once. She has finished in the first three in all four of her last starts including a win in the LF Sign Group Handicap (2040m) at Moonee Valley. The mare will jump from barrier three carrying the minimum weight of 54kg which should give her a good run for a long way, putting her right in it. Though her full potential remains unknown she’s in with a good chance in the Ballarat Cup.
2nd
#3 Count Of Limonade ($11)
Four-year-old Count Of Limonade is fighting fit and ready to contest the Ballarat Cup after missing the Group 2 Zipping Classic last Saturday due to an elevated temperature. The horse is pretty adaptable, winning the Moe Cup (2025m) from a bad gate, but he doesn’t have to worry on Saturday after drawing barrier six. He will have to overcome a weight of 59kg, which is up to five kilos more than many of the horse’s rivals, but will get a good start from barrier six. Will benefit from a softer track seeing as he felt the firm ground of the Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) in which he finished fifth.
3rd
#18 Happy As Hell ($14)
Terry & Karina O’Sullivan’s Happy As Hell is offering punters exceptional value in the betting market with win price of $14 or $3.80 to place. The four-year-old gelding will enjoy an inside run from barrier four with Jack Hill in the saddle as he carries the minimum weight of just 54kg. He is in good form after winning back-to-back races in October, a BM70 Handicap over 1600 metres and the Horsham Cup (1800m) before finishing just outside the placings in the Ararat Cup (2000m) last time out.
This Saturday wraps up the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival, and Ladbrokes.com.au want to throw in a little extra for you. The online bookmaker is offering Best Tote or SP + 20% in the Ballarat Cup, which means an additional 20% on your winnings!
