Favourite Humidor will be suited by the step up to 2000m in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Humidor, above in green colours, is the early favourite for the Australian Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Darren Weir trained Humidor heads the market order for the Australian Cup at $3.60 with Ladbrokes.com.au and is coming off some consistent form after finishing second at his two starts behind his stablemates.
The Teofilo four year old was runner up to Burning Front in the Group 3 $150,000 The Resimax TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 11 and followed that up with a send to Multiple Group 1 winner Stratum Star in the Group 2 $200,000 Crown Lager Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Humidor was winner over 2000m twice in New Zealand before entering the Weir stable and racing manager Jeremy Rogers expects the ex-Kiwi to be at his best in the Australian Cup.
“He’s been getting better and better each start and stepping up to 2000m at Flemington should really suit him,” Rogers told racing.com.
“He still does a few things wrong but should be hard to beat.”
Stratum Star at $9 in early betting along with Real Love ($17) make up Weir’s three entrants for the Australian Cup.
Stratum Star is chasing his fourth win on the trot after winning the Group 1 $1m Peters Investments-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on December 3, the $1m Moet & Chandon Magic Millions Trophy (2200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14 and the Peter Young Stakes.
Early market order for the Australian Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Humidor, $4.40 Jameka, $6 Hartnell, $6.50 The United States, $7.50 Exospheric, $9 Stratum Star, $17 Awesome Rock, Ecuador, Endless Drama, Tom Melbourne, $21 Preferment, $26 He’s Our Rokkii, Seaburge, Tally, Boom Time, $41 or better the rest.
