Despite a last start failure the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Sedanzer is favourite to return to winning form leading the Scone Cup 2018 field and odds for this afternoon’s mile showdown.
Sedanzer is favourite in 2018 Scone Cup betting this afternoon dropping in weight second-up. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to run as Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEST), this season’s Listed $200,000 Darley Scone Cup (1600m) features a full field of 16 and the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Sebring mare Sedanzer on top at $4.40.
She is drawn to get the run of the race from barrier five with last weekend’s Robert Sangster Stakes winning jockey Tim Clark in the saddle, the four-year-old out to atone for a first-up loss on April 28.
After a brilliant summer racing season that include a devastatingly close second in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) on the Gold Coast, Sedanzer returned at Hawkesbury for the Group 3 Darley Crown (1300m).
There she ran ninth to Pecans, albeit beaten only three lengths, and the step-up to mile (3:2-1-0) is tipped to suit the second-up specialist who is undefeated two runs in to date (3:3-0-0).
Sedanzer also drops in weight for the Scone Cup down from 56kg fresh to 53.5kg and should be flying under the weight this afternoon.
It is a close affair in Scone Cup betting this autumn racing season with a further four runners under double-figures for the win including early market mover New Tipperary.
After opening as long as $11 the Joe Pride-trained High Chaparral five-year-old has firmed into Scone Cup odds of $5 to post his first win since November of 2016.
It may have been a long time between drinks for New Tipperary, but he is two-from-three over the mile and is another noted second-up performer who will present fitter in the Scone Cup.
Carrying top weight of 59kg is the defending Scone Cup winner Duca Valentinois.
The James Cummings-trained Holy Roman Emperor six-year-old chases successive Scone Cup wins for the first time since Brave Prince (2000-2001) and pays $5.50 to achieve the feat even with the weight.
Jumping from barrier six with Blake Shinn aboard, Duca Valentinois is up six kilos from 53kg in last year’s race and was good last start when under two lengths back fourth in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m).
Rounding out the best in Scone Cup betting are then $8 fancies Kingsguard and Cool Chap drawn alongside each other in barriers 11 and 10 respectively.
Team Hawkes saddle-up Rip Van Winkle five-year-old Kingsguard who beat a similar field of rivals home last start in the Hawkesbury Cup.
He is now after the autumn Cup double, but goes up from 53kg to 57kg and has drawn out wide in barrier 12 (into 11) so will need to use his early speed to overcome the alley and remain a winning hope again.
Cool Chap meanwhile has Kerrin McEvoy aboard, the Lindsay Park-trained five-year-old looking to atone for a last start 10th in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 21.
He comes back to a mile and from four previous 1600m runs boasts three seconds so looks a place chance again here.
Check out the latest Scone Cup 2018 betting odds on the field below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your favourites in this afternoon’s feature.
