Entirely Platinum Early Favourite In Chelmsford Stakes Betting

Team Hawkes-trained Entirely Platinum is currently available 2014 Chelmsford Stakes odds of $3.30 and he is the early favourite in betting for the Group 2 event that will be held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Royal Descent has been the best backed runner in 2014 Chelmsford Stakes betting markets.

Royal Descent has been the best backed runner in 2014 Chelmsford Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Steve Hart

Entirely Platinum was extremely well-backed in the lead-up to his comfortable first-up win in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16 and bookmakers have been conservative with their quote for the progressive gelding, despite the fact that he will be making his debut at weight-for-age level.

While Entirely Platinum remains favourite in Chelmsford Stakes betting, Chris Waller-trained Royal Descent has been the best backed runner in the past 24 hours and is into $4.20 after opening at $4.60.

Royal Descent has not recorded a race win since she won the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) by a dominant ten lengths at Royal Randwick in April last year, but she has been placed at Group 1 level on two occasions over the Randwick mile and she finished a tough second in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 23.

“It is probably not the right day to be drawing barrier one, they will be getting off the fence, but it is better than drawing nine,” trainer Chris Waller said.

“We thought long and hard about this race and whether she would run or not, but we came up with running.

“She is fit, she is a good horse and she will be very hard to beat.

Australian Derby winner Criterion finished third behind Tiger Tees and Royal Descent in the Warwick Stakes and he is on the third line of Chelmsford Stakes betting at quote of $5, while fourth placegetter Sacred Falls has remained steady at odds of $5.50.

Waller was happy with the performance of Sacred Falls in the Warwick Stakes, but he believes that the two-time Doncaster Mile winner will need another race start before he reaches peak form and rates Royal Descent as a better chance in the Chelmsford Stakes.

“He was good first-up; he had to lead and he is no leader,” Waller said.

“He got beaten by a good sprinter that took them all off the bit on a very heavy track.

“He will bounce back and be very competitive and he will fight out the finish.

“He is still one run away from rock hard fitness, but he is going well.”

Hawkspur won the 2013 Chelmsford Stakes in dominant fashion and he is the only other runner in the field for the Group 2 event that is available at single figure odds.

The Purrealist gelding will need a direr track to perform at his best in the Chelmsford Stakes, but he performed fairly in both the Missile Stakes and Warwick Stakes.

The Waller-trained trio of Bagman ($26), Moriarty ($34) and Junoob ($34) have all drifted in the Chelmsford Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes, while Laser Hawk is the outsider of the field at a quote of $51.

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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.