The odds on English raider Favorite Moon to salute in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) have firmed following two early scratchings from the two-mile classic.
UK raider Favorite Moon is tipped to take out the 2021 Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Royal Randwick is host to Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ this weekend with the bumper 10-race card headlined by four elite level features including the Sydney Cup 2021.
The field for the staying showdown is down to 14 runners with the withdrawal this week of the Chris Waller-trained Shraaoh (11) and in-form Kiwi galloper Quick Thinker (14).
Winner of last year’s ATC Derby, the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained So You Think entire Quick Thinker returned to winning form last Saturday earning his Sydney Cup start via a win in the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m).
He won’t get the chance to do the double however with the stable playing it safe with the horse pulling up sore in his near fore and being kept for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival races instead.
Updated Sydney Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the William Haggas-trained UK visitor Favorite Moon at $5.50 as the equal favourite with Real Of Flowers for Anthony & Sam Freedman.
Last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Haggas won in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup with Young Rascal who went on to run seventh to Etah James in the Sydney Cup next start.
He enjoyed another win in the key Sydney Cup lead-up with talented Sea The Moon four-year-old Favorite Moon this season, the up-and-comer now looking to handle a notable rise in grade and distance on Saturday.
The horse presents fit second-up and has previous winning second-up form over 2816m in the wet back home carrying more weight and looks the improver in the field.
The danger, Real Of Flowers, looks a nice lightweight Sydney Cup hope getting in on just 50kg.
The So You Think mare comes off back-to-back second placings including her brave effort in the Manion Cup last start.
She was wide without cover that day before going down a neck and she will be flying with the weight looking suited to the 3200m.
It is an even Sydney Cup betting market this year with the consistent Bjorn Baker-trained mare She’s Ideel ($7.50) and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import Southern France ($7.50) equal second elects.
Rachel King rides She’s Ideel on the minimum (50kg) from a favourable barrier four draw.
The five-year-old daughter of Dundeel comes off four straight top three runs in good company around Sydney including crossing second best behind Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) last start.
She is up in distance, but was doing good that run when stepped-up in grade, comes back a huge seven kilos in weight and is doing everything right this prep.
Galileo six-year-old Southern France is out to improve on two lead-up seventh placings this season and jumps one wider in gate five with the talented hoop James McDonald in the saddle.
His latest run was also in the Tancred Stakes when 4.2 lengths off the winner, but has had excuses this campaign and with a better getaway can finish better.
Danny O’Brien’s former VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound ($9.50) with Craig Williams aboard rounds out the single-figure fancies in the Sydney Cup line-up having run out of her skin for third in the Tancred at Rosehill on April 3.
The Sydney Cup is scheduled to run as Randwick Race 7 at 3:05pm (AEST) on Saturday.
