The bookmakers are having a horror time sorting the genuine contenders from the pretenders in this Saturday’s Lough Neagh Stakes 2016 field and betting markets at Doomben with five of the nine runners under double figures for the win.
Too Good To Refuse is narrow early favourite in 2016 Lough Neagh Stakes betting for Doomben this weekend. Photo: Daniel Costello.
One of the key black-type summer racing features on the Brisbane race card this weekend, the $100,000 Listed Lexy Group Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) attracted a diminutive but classy line-up of final acceptors.
Due to run as Doomben Race 7 at 4:12pm (local), the Lough Neagh Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are currently led by Too Good To Refuse ($3.40).
Drawn in barrier three with regular rider Jim Byrne retaining the mount, Desleigh Forster’s Rothesay four-year-old chases his second black-type win in three starts.
Two back the gun stallion took out the Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) ate Eagle Farm by nearly two lengths before his last start fifth as the beaten favourite in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) on December 3.
He is out to atone for that loss this weekend returning to Doomben for the first time since November 5, a track he has strong form at with two wins, two seconds and a third from eight starts.
Hot on his heels in the Lough Neagh Stakes odds is Too Good To Refuse’s last start conqueror Most Important ($3.70).
The Tony Gollan-trained I Am Invincible four-year-old was third in the Keith Noud, but turned the tables for his impressive three length George Moore Stakes win a fortnight ago.
This weekend Most Important is racing at Doomben for the first time since his similarly emphatic three length win over 1200m on October 8 carrying 59kg.
He carted 54kg from a wide barrier 11 of 11 draw in the Group 3 last time out and in the Lough Neagh Stakes looks to get a gun run from barrier four carrying 56kg in the form of his regular jockey Robbie Fradd.
The next best in betting are Kuro ($4.60) and Miss Cover Girl ($5) both also coming off good lead-up runs.
Carting 58.5kg is the Joe Pride-trained Sydney raider Kuro, the Denman five-year-old coming off a win in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).
He goes up from 55.5kg that run three kilos for Saturday where he races in Brisbane for the first time since his Group 2 QTC Cup (1200m) third in May of 2015.
Eagle Farm’s Kelly Schweida saddles-up Monashee Mountain mare Miss Cover Girl, the five-year-old looking to improve on her first-up fourth in the George Moore Stakes.
She has plenty of experience at Doomben (13-2-2-3) and goes up a half-kilo to 57.5kg on Saturday with Damian Browne continuing his association with the winter’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) winner.
Early Lough Neagh Stakes market mover backed in from $11 to $10 is Coolring in the outside alley with Jeff Lloyd riding the Bjorn Baker-trained Sebring six-year-old.
He was runner-up in the George Moore Stakes last time out in an improved effort on his Keith Noud eighth and is looking to make amends for his sole Doomben start to date when second last (12th) in May’s Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m).
See below for the full Lough Neagh Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest Fixed Win betting markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
