Progressive Peter & Paul Snowden-trained interstate visitor Calanda has opened early favourite for a successful Brisbane raid leading George Moore Stakes 2017 betting at Doomben Racecourse on the weekend.
Calanda has opened early favourite in 2017 George Moore Stakes betting for Brisbane’s Group 3 sprint this Saturday at Doomben. Photo: Steve Hart.
The four-year-old son of Snitzel is one of 14 sprinters in the mix for this summer’s Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) and is drawn a treat in barrier four.
Local Queensland jockey Damian Browne is booked for the ride on 55.5kg, Calanda in Brisbane for the first time since his length away sixth to All Over Bosanova in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1200m) at the Doomben track back in June.
The then three-year-old went on to enjoy back-to-back July wins in New South Wales to see out his winter prep, including the narrow victory over The Monstar in Grafton’s Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m).
First-up this season he was three lengths back eighth at Caulfield in a black-type race on October 18, before an improved fourth down the Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup Day in the Listed MSS Security Stakes (1200m).
Calanda is tipped to present fit three runs in on the weekend and relish coming back to the Brisbane way of racing after the two tough Victorian runs in the spring.
The galloper heads the George Moore Stakes odds at $3.30 through Ladbrokes.com.au and is followed closely in the markets by Egyptian Symbol ($4.60) and Monsieur Gustave ($5.50) who are currently the only other hopes under $10 for the win.
Drawn in gate 10 and getting in on 54kg, Bjorn Baker’s Stratum mare Egyptian Symbol returns to racing for the first time since her eighth in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) from a wide barrier 15 of 16 draw at Doomben in late June.
She has trialled well twice since and is a first-up specialist boasting three wins from her four previous starts when resuming.
The now five-year-old has also proven effective on rain-affected tracks including her close second on a Heavy (8) at Eagle Farm in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m), so wet going on Saturday won’t affect her chances.
Monsieur Gustave has the outside barrier to overcome on the weekend and also goes up to 58kg in the George Moore Stakes weights.
Winner of the Eye Liner Stakes – Glasshouse Handicap double in the winter on Soft tracks, the Darryl Hansen-trained Al Maher five-year-old from the Sunshine Coast is out to make it four wins on the trot.
He kicked off his late spring – summer racing campaign in the rescheduled Listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m), which ran at Ipswich on November 22 after being washed out a fortnight back at Doomben.
Monsieur Gustave was impressive on a Soft (7) track flying home for a three length win and is undefeated on Soft going (4:4-0-0).
Of the double-figure fancies in the George Moore Stakes odds the dangers shape-up as class mare Palazzo Pubblico ($11) and possibly Hong Kong expat Beauty Flame ($14) now with Melanie O’Gorman at Tamworth who gives the weight away with 60.5kg for his Australian race debut.
Check out the full George Moore Stakes 2017 betting odds below, pricing open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
