Just seven sprinters will head to Rosehill on Saturday and run in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) after John O’Shea scratched Meursault in favour of a Benchmark 74 race at Canterbury tomorrow.
Delectation (inside) is one of seven single figure hopefuls in the Eskimo Prince Stakes betting. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
The betting market for the Eskimo Prince Stakes remains wide open at Ladbrokes.com.au with all but one runner offering single figure odds.
Four of the seven sprinters are resuming on Saturday, including $4 favourite Delectation. One of three horses saddled by Chris Waller in the 2015 Eskimo Prince Stakes, Delectation enjoyed a successful spring season that saw the gelding finish third in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) and runner-up in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
The three-year-old will jump from barrier six with Blake Shinn to ride and carry the top weight of 58.5kg along with second favourite Scissor Kick ($4.20).
Paul Messara’s three-year-old colt will be in search of his first Group One victory this autumn after just missing out on the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) by a head. He’s getting a head start on his campaign, resuming in the Eskimo Prince Stakes.
Scissor Kick will jump from barrier three with Tye Angland to ride.
Other runners all within the $4 price include Inz’n’out ($4.50) and Harrier Jet ($4.80) – two horses that have fitness on their side since they’re not resuming.
Gerald Ryan believes Inz’n’out has a chance at winning the Eskimo Prince Stakes despite not having quite the same credentials as the likes of Delectation or Scissor Kick. The honest competitor is racing well ahead of his return to three-year-old company.
The colt has placed in all seven of his career starts and will enjoy a weight drop to 56kg from up to 60kg, which he carried to third place at Randwick last month. Inz’n’out will jump from barrier four with James McDonald as hoop.
Harrier Jet will enjoy the inside jump from barrier one as he jumps with Tommy Berry. The gelding won a Benchmark 71 over 1200 metres at Rosehill first up last November and has placed in all three of his subsequent starts.
Rounding out the single figure odds is Kermadec ($6.50) and Diamond Valores ($8).
Kermadec is the last of Waller’s triple charge and will jump from barrier five with Blake Shinn to ride. The lightly raced colt won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) last spring and has yet to finish outside the first two.
Peter & Paul Snowden’s Diamond Valores finished runner-up in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) back in December but won his maiden over 1250 metres. The gelding will need to overcome a start from the widest gate.
Bold Circle ($21) is the only runner with double digit figures. The David Payne-trained colt finished midfield in the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) last time out.
Check out the live fixed-price betting market for the 2015 Eskimo Prince Stakes below and back your winner at Ladbrokes.com.au today.
