Fawkner has been backed into 2015 Underwood Stakes odds of $3.40 and he has been a clear market mover in betting markets for the Group 1 event that will be held at Caulfield on Saturday.
Fawkner is set to start the 2015 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday as a clear favourite. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Fawkner opened at a quote of $3.70 when the Underwood Stakes field was released earlier in the week, but there has been consistent support for the Reset gelding and he is on track to start the race as a clear favourite.
The eight-year-old is set to contest the Underwood Stakes for the first time in his racing career, but he has previously taken out both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at the venue and he won the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.
Contributer remains on the second line of Underwood Stakes betting markets, but the Godolphin-owned entire has been a big drifter and he is out to a quote of $4.50 after opening at $4 24 hours ago.
The High Chaparral entire took out the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14, the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 and the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but he was never able to get into the race when he finished fifth behind The Cleaner in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.
Contributer will take on The Cleaner again in the Underwood Stakes and the cult hero is the only other horse that is available at single figure Underwood Stakes odds.
The Cleaner was only narrowly denied by Mourinho in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15, but he was able to return to winning form and he secured a place in the 2015 Cox Plate field with his front-running win in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes.
Trainer Mick Burles believes that The Cleaner has improved again ahead of the Underwood Stakes and he is confident that his star galloper is capable of recording a maiden win at the highest level of racing this weekend.
There has been a sprinkling of support for P.B. Lawrence Stakes winner Mourinho ($18 into $17) and Mark Kavanagh-trained Magicool ($51 into $34) with Ladbrokes, while imported stayer Dandino ($16 out to $17), Chris Waller-trained Weary ($11 out to $12), Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan ($10 out to $11) and New Zealand-based Volkstok’n’barrell ($13 out to $14) have all been on the drift.
