Last year’s runner-up Egyptian Symbol is tipped to go one better this weekend with the Bjorn Baker-trained mare heading the Breeders Classic 2018 odds for Warwick Farm.
Egyptian Symbol is deserving favourite in Breeders Classic 2018 betting at Warwick Farm this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
Twelve months ago at Randwick, Stratum mare Egyptian Symbol was runner-up to In Her Time in the Group 2 $200,000 Breeders Classic (1200m).
This Saturday the mares’ only set weights plus penalties clash takes place at Warwick Farm Racecourse and it is five-year-old Egyptian Symbol leading Breeders Classic betting at $3.30 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Drawn in gate six of nine with Jason Collett retaining the ride, the class local has been freshened-up since her last start third behind Viddora at the Gold Coast in the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint (1200m).
She goes well fresh, is the equal highest-rated mare in the race and has excellent form over the distance (10:3-3-2) making her a deserving favourite.
Occupying the second line of betting for the early Coolmore Classic lead-up this autumn paying $3.70 and firming is the fellow Baker-trained Bonny O’Reilly.
Jumping from gate eight first-up with Tim Clark in the saddle, the five-year-old daughter of O’Reilly has a brilliant record when resuming with three wins from four starts.
Not only is she a first-up specialist, but she is a four-time winner from six 1200m assignments.
Bonny O’Reilly hasn’t won since kicking off her spring with an August win at Rosehill last year and is out to atone for the mediocre campaign that followed.
Third favourite in the Breeders Classic odds at $5.50 for the win is the returning Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Prompt Response.
Blake Shinn partners the highly-rated Beneteau four-year-old from a good gate two draw with Prompt Response having her first start since a fourth in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Melbourne Cup Carnival.
That was her second run in seven days after her eye-catching fourth when only a quarter-length beaten by the winner Shoals in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m).
The classy mare has twice trialled at Randwick ahead of the Breeders Classic where she chases her first victory since saluting in Doomben’s Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) last June.
Rounding out the single figure fancies in the Breeders Classic markets at an equal $8.50 are then Memes and Faraway Town.
One of two in the mix for local trainer Jason Coyle along with the returning Slightly Sweet, Memes is on the quick back-up having run an excusable sixth in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Things went amiss for the four-year-old daughter of Time Thief there, but she was excellent first-up the start prior winning the Summer Sprint (1000m) at Randwick and is out to return to that form back against her own kind this weekend.
Faraway Town meanwhile comes off a first-up Randwick win over 1200m from January 20, the Matthew Smith-trained Not A Single Doubt four-year-old futter for the run and looking for another good fast-finishing effort.
Check out the latest Breeders Classic 2018 odds below, our insider tips to back at Ladbrokes.com.au to follow shortly.
