Elite Belle and Moriarty are both available at 2014 Kingston Town Classic odds of $6 and are locked in a battle for favouritism in betting markets for the Group 1 event at Ascot next weekend.
Moriarty has been one of the best backed runners in 2014 Kingston Town Classic betting markets. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Elite Belle finished sixth behind Ihtsahymn in the 2013 edition of the Kingston Town Classic, but stamped herself as a genuine contender for this year’s race when she stormed home late to record an impressive win in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last weekend.
The Canny Lad mare has recorded one win from her three race starts over 1800 metres, when she took out the Listed La Trice Classic at Ascot on Perth Cup Day earlier this year, and trainer Grant Williams is confident that the six-year-old will handle the step-up in trip for the Kingston Town Classic.
Moriarty was sent to the Perth specifically to target the Kingston Town Classic, but connections opted to give the Clodovil gelding a start in the Railway Stakes and that decision paid dividends when he stormed home late to finish third.
Jockey Nash Rawiller was forced to settle Moriarty at the tail of the Railway Stakes field after he drew an outside barrier, but the imported galloper absolutely flew home in the final 600 metres to put himself on top of the Kingston Town Classic betting market.
Balmont Girl is on the third line of 2014 Kingston Town Classic betting markets at a quote of $7 after she produced arguably the best performance of her career to dare to finish second in the Railway Stakes.
The Balmont mare is sure to have no problem running out a strong 1800 metres after she won the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) and Group 3 Western Australian Oaks (2400m) during her autumn preparation.
The only other horse that is available at single figure Kingston Town Classic odds is Elite Belle’s stablemate Disposition, but Williams is yet to confirm whether the Reset gelding will take his place in the field for the Group 1 event.
Disposition had his undefeated streak of four race wins ended when he was upset by Rommel in the Group 2 Western Australian Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday, but the three-year-old is still being kept safe at a quote of $8.
Despite his impressive Western Australian Guineas victory, Rommel is available at a price of $13 to record a maiden win at Group 1 level and is on the same line of betting as last year’s winner Ihtsahymn and Gai Waterhouse-trained Pheidon.
