Rising Romance is available at 2014 Mackinnon Stakes odds of $5 and the talented mare is currently locked in a battle for favouritism with Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man and luckless Cox Plate runner Criterion.
Rising Romance is a narrow favourite in 2014 Mackinnon Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
He’s Your Man opened as a narrow favourite in 2014 Mackinnon Stakes betting markets and he has remained steady at a quote of $5.50, but he has been leapfrogged as favourite for the race after Rising Romance was backed from $6 into $5.
Rising Romance is yet to record a win during her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but she finished an impressive second behind Admire Rakti in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and trainer Donna Logan told Sky Racing HQ that the Group 1 winning mare had taken no harm from the tough run.
“I am very pleased with how she has come through Caulfield,” Logan said.
“She put on weight, she looks a treat and I could not be more pleased with her actually.”
He’s Your Man has not been seen at the races since he scored a narrow win over stablemate Royal Descent in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October and he is available at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $5.50 to record a maiden win at weight-for-age level.
Chris Waller’s racing manager Liam Prior admits that He’s Your Man will face the toughest test of his racing career in the Mackinnon Stakes, but he is confident that the Cape Cross entire has the talent to record back-to-back wins at the highest level of racing.
“It will be a test and he is the fresh horse on the scene so to speak,” Prior said.
“If he is fit, he will be hard to beat.”
Criterion is one of several Cox Plate runners that have been included in the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes field and the Australia Derby winner is currently available at a quote of $5.50 to record the maiden win of his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival preparation.
A great deal went against Criterion in the Cox Plate last weekend, but he was still able to hit the line strongly to finish seventh and trainer David Payne believes that the Sebring entire will be suited by a return to Flemington after he struggled to get around the tight-turning Moonee Valley circuit.
“It is a nice big track and he will love that long straight,” Payne said.
“He will be able to at least get balanced up.
“He is better ridden quiet and we are not going to change his pattern now.”
Happy Trails is another horse that will be backing up in the Mackinnon Stakes after an unlucky run in the Cox Plate and he has been one of the best backed runners in betting for the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
The Good Journey gelding opened at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $9, but he has been backed into $7.50, while there has also been support for Moriarty ($31 into $19), Spillway ($31 into $26), Amralah ($14 into $11) and Costume ($81 into $51).
