The 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of Signoff have been slashed during the week, but the promising stayer still needs to win the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday to be assured of a start in the $6 million event on Tuesday.
Signoff has been extremely well-backed to win both the Lexus Stakes and Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Signoff was available at a quote of $51 in Melbourne Cup betting markets earlier in the week, but there has been an avalanche of support for the Authorized gelding and he is now into $17 to take out ‘the race that stops a nation’ even though he isn’t guaranteed a start in the race.
The Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) was the original 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target for Signoff, but he has impressed connections without winning during his spring preparation and they are now eyeing a maiden Group 1 start for the progressive galloper.
Signoff had a four race winning streak ended when he resumed in the WeDrive Plate (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30, but he returned to strong form in the Spring Is The Season Handicap (1700m) at Flemington on September 13 before failing to fire in the Group 2 JRA Cup (2040m).
The four-year-old narrowly missed out on winning the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 11 and was far from disgraced when third behind imported gallopers Contributer and Noble Protector in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at the same venue a week later.
Trainer Darren Weir has been happy with the form of Signoff during his spring preparation and he is confident that the four-year-old can earn a place in the 2014 Melbourne Cup field by taking out the Lexus Stakes at Flemington tomorrow.
“He has drawn well, he is very fit and well and he has had a great preparation,” Weir told Racing Ahead.
“Glen (Boss) got off him last start and suggested he needed blinkers and Johnny Allan who rides a lot of work for us here has been saying that for a quiet a while and we thought this was a good time to put them on.
“I would have thought that he would be in the first four or five.
“It would be pretty hard not to (back-up in the Melbourne Cup), but we will just see how the horses pulls up and all those sorts of things.
“We will just get through Saturday first and worry about Tuesday when that comes.”
Signoff is currently available at 2014 Lexus Stakes odds of $2.80 and he is a clear favourite in betting for the Group 3 event with Ladbrokes Australia.
