The feature race in Adelaide on Saturday is the 2016 City Of Marion Stakes, betting on the handicap sprint led by the Mick Huxtable-trained Lord Aspen.
Last start Melbourne winner Lord Aspen is favourite to take out the City Of Marion Stakes 2016 at home in Adelaide on Saturday. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.
Thirteen horses make up the field for this summer’s $100,000 Listed City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) including last year’s winner Lord Aspen.
The Murray Bridge-trained Good Journey gelding won the event 12 months ago carrying 54kg from barrier 15 of 15 with Matthew Neilson in the saddle.
He goes up notably in weight for his title defence this weekend giving the kilos away to his rivals with 59kg.
Lord Aspen should get a gun run though from the inside alley with Neilson back aboard for the first time since March.
The horse has also won his past two races on the trot including success over 1400m at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day proving his class during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Even with the kilos the bookies are taking no chances and the latest City Of Marion Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Lord Aspen installed as the $3.60 favourite.
Four of his rivals are also currently under $10 for the win including Cavaloce ($5) and Casino Wizard ($5.50) drawn at opposite ends of the field in barriers 13 and three respectively.
Cavaloce has the wide alley to overcome but the Will Clarken-trained Testa Rossa mare has won two-from-three at the track and distance.
She took out the Listed Durbridge Stakes (1200m) here in mid-October defeating Lord Aspen before a trip to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
There the six-year-old was brave in defeat at big odds when sixth to Artistry in the Group 3 Maybe Mahal Stakes (1400m), beaten only two and a half lengths.
She drops from 55.5kg there to Saturday’s 54kg minimum and should enjoy being back home.
Casino Wizard comes off four top three runs this campaign and the Lee Creek-trained Any Given Saturday gelding looks very well weighted here.
The six-year-old carried 61kg to a close third over 1050m at Morphettville last start defeated under a length by the winner Lope De Capio in a Benchmark 90.
This weekend the galloper, who has regular rider Jason Holder aboard again, drops to 56.5kg as he looks to continue his consistent record over these metres (12-5-0-3).
His last start conqueror Lope De Capio meanwhile is paying $9.50 to enjoy back-to-back wins.
Jamie Kah retains the ride on the Wayne Francis & Glen Kent-trained four-year-old who is yet to win over further than 1055m.
The distance is the test for the in-form gelding who is drawn out in barrier 12 and gets in on 54kg.
Also at single-figures is the market mover Mio Dio backed in from $9 to $6.50 to post a fourth win on the trot.
Barrier six will produce Clarken’s God’s Own six-year-old on Saturday, the galloper lining-up for the 48th time after a host of spring wins in Adelaide over similar distance.
See below for the full City Of Marion Stakes 2016 odds, betting open now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
