Rebel Dane is currently available at 2016 Australia Stakes odds of $3.30 and the talented sprinter is set to start the Group 2 event as a clear favourite.
Rebel Dane will start the 2016 Australia Stakes as a clear favourite. Photo by: Steve Hart
Rebel Dane has not been seen at the races since he finished a gallant third behind Chautauqua and Srikandi in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 23, but he showed that he was ready for a return to racing when he finished in a barrier trial over 838 metres at Royal Randwick on January 12.
The California Dane entire opened at Australia Stakes odds of $3.60, but there has been consistent support for the Group 1 winner and he is now into a quote of $3.30 to win at Moonee Valley for the first time.
Durendal ($7.50) is the only horse towards the top of the Australia Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes that is not returning from a spell and he has a clear fitness edge over a number of his rivals in the race.
He returned to winning form when he took out the Isuzu Handicap (1400m) at Ballarat on November 21 and he went on to take out the Western Health Foundation Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on December 12 and the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at the same venue on New Year’s Day.
Hucklebuck and Holler are both set to return to the races in the Australia Stakes and they are both on the third line of betting at a quote of $8.
Holler has not been seen at the races since he recorded a dominant front-running win in the Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day, while Hucklebuck missed the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival due to bone chips and will be making his first appearance at the races since he finished 12th in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16.
Trust In A Gust is one of the most interesting horses in the Australia Stakes field and the injury-plagued galloper is priced at $8.50 to record his first race win since he took out the 2014 edition of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
The Keep The Faith entire has been restricted to just two race starts since that victory and has not been seen at the races since he finished a disappointing seventh in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on August 8.
The only other horse that is available at single figure Australia Stakes odds is last year’s winner Mourinho, who has the chance to join Black Caviar as the only-time winner of the Group 2 race.
Mourinho failed to fire in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but before that scored a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
There has been a sprinkling of support in Australia Stakes betting for Rageese ($10 into $9), while Richie’s Vibe ($17 out to $18), Written Up ($71 out to $91) and Sirbible ($11 out to $12) have all been on the drift.
