Amexed Well Backed In Rough Habit Plate Betting

The Rough Habit Plate odds of Amexed have shortened significantly in the past 24 hours and jockey Michael Rodd believes that the impressive staying type is capable of running a big race in the Group 3 event at Doomben tomorrow.

Michael Rodd will partner Amexed in the 2014 Rough Habit Plate and Amizade in the Champagne Classic at Doomben tomorrow.

Michael Rodd will partner Amexed in the 2014 Rough Habit Plate and Amizade in the Champagne Classic at Doomben tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Amexed starting his winter campaign with a narrow third in the Bundaberg Distilling Company Maiden (1300m) at Eagle Farm on April 11 and broke through for his maiden win in the Strata Unit Underwriters Maiden (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on April 26.

Rodd said that he was very impressed with the performance of Amexed at the Sunshine Coast and told Racing Ahead that he believes the Pentire gelding is a promising stayer who can be competitive against the strong field in the Rough Habit Plate this weekend.

“He looks a really nice staying type of horse this bloke,” Rodd said.

“He has been over the course and distance before and ran second, admittedly in a softer grade, but his win at the Sunshine Coast was very good.

“He had 59 kilograms and he box-seated behind the pace and really ran away from them at the end.

“It is a race with quite a bit of depth, there are a couple of Kiwi horses that look pretty smart and we have a few Sydney horses and obviously Gai’s won the Alister Clark, but I think my bloke is a real up and comer.

“He has drawn well, he is going to get a nice run behind the speed and if I can save some ground around the turn I really think that he can run a race.”

Rodd will also partner Spirit Of Boom for trainer Tony Gollan in the BTC Cup and has picked up the ride on the lightly-raced Amizade in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m).

Amizade has shown plenty of speed since making her racing debut with a dominant eight lengths victory in the XXXX Gold Maiden (1000m) at Eagle Farm on April 9, but Rodd believes that she will need plenty of luck from the outside gate against a number of talented juveniles in the Champagne Classic.

“She looks a little jump and run type, but she has drawn very awkward and she is going up in grade,” Rodd said.

“I have to talk to Desleigh (Forster) and talk about what plan we want to do, but she does look like a runner so she will probably push forward.

“Hopefully we can follow Time For War or Eloping across and give her as easy a run as possible.”

Amexed has been backed into 2014 Rough Habit Plate odds of $15, while Amizade is available at quote of $13 for the Champagne Classic.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.