A field of fourteen stayers face off in the rescheduled Sydney Cup 2017 this Saturday at Randwick, betting tips and updated odds on the two mile showdown found below.
Lasqueti Spirit is the Races.com.au upset 2017 Sydney Cup tip to win the re-run on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
On April 8 the original $2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) was called off mid-race and the results of the handful of runners that ran out the full distance voided due to the fall of the ill-fated Almoonqith.
The classic runs for a second time this weekend and the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke will again jump the clear favourite in Sydney Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Raven’s gelding has been on fire this preparation scoring five wins in his past six assignments including back-to-back Sydney wins leading into the Group 1 test.
He comes back from the 58kg weight he carried to an impressive two length win on April 1 at the Randwick track in the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m), a race that has provided 13 of the past 25 Sydney Cup winners, to just 52kg this weekend.
Craig Williams is on suspension and in his place will be the now Singapore-based Hall of Famer Glen Boss who rode Makybe Diva to her Sydney Cup success back in 2004.
Big Duke sits at $3.10 and firming in the latest Sydney Cup odds after drawing barrier two, out to complete the double last achieved by The Offer (2014).
Randwick is set to be rated a Heavy (8) for the race on Saturday and Big Duke is undefeated on mud tracks, making him the definite danger even with some query about his first shot at the 3200m.
If anything stops the favourite, the markets say it will come from the English stables of Godolphin’s Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby.
He saddles-up dour stayers Polarisation and Penglai Pavilion and the duo are now equal at $6 to win after finishing one-three respectively in the first running.
They are the only three under double-figures after the drift on VRC Oaks winning filly Lasqueti Spirit, the last start ATC Oaks third-placegetter out from $9 to $12 to break a century long drought for her age and sex in the race.
John O’Shea’s Mornington Cup winning four-year-old Tally, drawn the rails and tipped by his trainer to see out the two miles no worries, is also at a $12 quote to salute for Godolphin’s Australian operation.
Earlier we published an updated 2017 Sydney Cup Form Guide Preview and based on the race facts uncovered, we’ve got the tips to take to Ladbrokes.com.au.
1st
#12 Lasqueti Spirit ($12)
History says she won’t win the Sydney Cup as a three-year-old filly and the punters are shying away from her. The latest win by this Beneteau filly was in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) in Melbourne during the spring, but her last start ATC Oaks third was good. She injects the speed from up front into this race and will ensure it is a genuinely run two mile race. Whether she can go the distance and hold off the proven, dour stayers is the question. The light weight will help, she gets through the going and has scored an all-the-way upset before. She’s in the mix and attractive to take a shot at at the price.
2nd
#6 Big Duke ($3.10)
Not hard to see why the punters are remaining faithful to Weir’s Chairman’s Handicap winner. He didn’t run out the full race in round one, so shouldn’t have taken any ill-effects out of the whole affair. Boss on is a very nice replacement for the suspended Williams, he is unbeaten on Heavy tracks and it will be a Heavy (8) for the Sydney Cup, drops right back in weight and is a huge hope to salute for the favourite backers.
3rd
#14 Polarisation ($6)
Think the bookies pretty much have the order of the odds right. This raider was first past the post last time out and will be in the money again. It’s a different type of race this time around, but this light-weight Godolphin galloper is now fit and firing.
Whether you’re backing or sacking our Sydney Cup 2017 tips make sure you lock in the right prices online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
