The ultra-consistent Hellova Street is top fancy in Victoria Handicap 2017 betting this Easter Saturday at Caulfield to enjoy a fourth win on the trot.
Hooked is one of the best in 2017 Victoria Handicap betting at Caulfield Racecourse this Easter Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
The key act on the Easter Cup Day card in Melbourne, this season’s $150,000 Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) is set to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:05pm (AEST) and features a capacity field of sixteen starters.
Leading the latest Victoria Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.80 and firming to continue his autumn winning streak is the Scott Brunton-trained Tasmanian raider Hellova Street.
The six-year-old son of Helike enjoyed back-to-back February wins in the Apple Isle before heading to Flemington on March 18 for a tidy Listed Super Saturday (1400m) win.
He now heads to Caulfield for a third time over his pet distance, searching for a fifth win from nine runs over 1400m and is drawn a treat in gate four with jockey David Pires booked for the ride.
There are three other runners under double-figures in Victoria Handicap betting this season including Hooked ($6.50) in barrier two with Luke Nolen in the saddle.
Nolen rides the Robert Smerdon-trained Casino Prince stallion for the first time on the weekend, the galloper racing for the first time since a tenth to Silent Sedition in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 24.
Heading the Victoria Handicap weights are the next two best in betting with Arod (58kg) and Articus (57.5kg) currently paying $7 and $8 respectively.
Chris Waller saddles-up his imported Teofilo stallion Arod in an easier assignment after the six-year-old’s last start 19th of 20 runners in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
He was thrashed 18 lengths in the Group 1 at Royal Randwick, but the step down in grade and distance should see a notable improvement even under the heavier kilos.
Articus is another imported galloper, the Darren Weir-trained Areion stallion having just his second run down under.
On debut in Australia the former French-trained five-year-old ran 13th to gun mare Jameka in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October last year.
He races fresh this weekend and is after his first win over less than 2000m at career start number 11.
Other notable hopes at more generous odds after the upset include Kenjorwood ($10) with the outside alley to overcome, Rocket Commander ($14) drawn the opposite end of the field in barrier one and Charmed Harmony ($26) looking to go one better than his second to Black Heart Bart in the race last year.
“Going by his work, all Charmed Harmony needs is some give in the ground,” trainer John Sadler said of his Hussonet seven-year-old this week.
“And if he gets that give, I think he’ll bounce back to his best form.”
Charmed Harmony was last seen running 10th to Bassett in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington in late March and hasn’t finished in the money since a Caulfield win in April last year.
Check out the full Victoria Handicap 2017 field, barriers and betting odds below – prices provided by Ladbrokes.com.au.
