Mick Price’s last start Moir Stakes winner Extreme Choice has opened narrow favourite in the Coolmore Stud Stakes 2016 to score back-to-back Group 1 wins this weekend.
Extreme Choice is the firming favourite in a top class 2016 Coolmore Stud Stakes field at Flemington this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) runs as Flemington Race 5 at 2:25pm (AEDT) on Victoria Derby Day on Saturday, the 10-starter field of three-year-old sprinters led in betting by Extreme Choice.
The dual Group 1 winning son of Not A Single Doubt took out the Blue Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old and beat home an older field of champions at Moonee Valley first-up in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).
He jumps back up to 1200m this weekend and is back against his own kind, but is yet to be tested down the famous Flemington straight.
Despite this Extreme Choice is being kept safe in Coolmore Stud Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.30 and firming, backed in early from $3.50.
Craig Newitt retains the ride and both he and Price chase their first win in the Derby Day classic.
Hot on Extreme Choice’s heels battling for top spot in the markets and the chance to salute for the favourite backers for the first time since Zoustar (2013) is Astern ($3.90).
The John O’Shea-trained son of Medaglia D’Oro has eased out from opening odds of $3.50 to return to the winning form that saw him salute in Rosehill’s Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10.
Astern dropped back in distance last time out and ran second to Russian Revolution in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), that Sydney lead-up proving the form-line to follow into the most recent Coolmore Stud Stakes results.
Chris Waller has saddled-up the past three Coolmore Stud Stakes winners and all three were Roman Consul Stakes graduates: Zoustar (1st in 2013), Brazen Beau (1st in 2014) and Japonisme (3rd in 2015).
The only other single-figure hope in the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes markets at $4.50 is Star Turn, another Sydney visitor but coming off a Melbourne lead-up.
After a second to Astern two back in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m), the Star Witness colt enjoyed a Caulfield win in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).
He flew home to win by 2.25 lengths as the favourite in that short-distance sprint, and is now up to 1200m shooting for his maiden victory over those metres.
Star Turn jumps from barrier four on Saturday, a barrier that hasn’t produced a winner since Spargo (1999), and Dwayne Dunn replaces Craig Williams in the saddle.
Japonisme saluted at Coolmore Stud Stakes odds of $20 in the race 12 months ago, the first double-figure winner since the Peter Moody-trained filly Headway ($12 in 2009).
Outside of the single-figure fancies the other best in betting are the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Golden Slipper winner Capitalist ($10), his undefeated stablemate Russian Revolution ($12) and the rails-drawn Flying Artie ($12) who is the other Price-trained hopeful in the field.
Blow out chances in with a genuine chance to score an upset meanwhile include Godolphin’s Red Anchor Stakes winner on Cox Plate Day Archives ($41) and Blue Sapphire Stakes third placegetter behind Flying Artie on October 12 Derryn ($31).
See below for the latest Coolmore Stud Stakes 2016 betting odds, fixed win pricing open at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Enhanced Odds (T&Cs apply).
