Two Blue is currently available at 2015 Winter Stakes odds of $4.20 and is a narrow favourite in a competitive betting market for the Listed event that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Two Blue started her winter campaign with a fifth place finish in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 30 and she produced an improved performance to finish a close second in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m) at the same venue on June 13 before she took out the TAB.Com.Au Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 27.
Trainer Kristen Buchanan elected to give Two Blue another opportunity at black-type level in the Civic Stakes (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 4 and she was only narrowly denied a maiden win at Listed level by a fast-finishing Haussmann.
Two Blue may remain a narrow favourite in Winter Stakes betting markets, but Chris Waller-trained You’ll Never has been a clear market mover in the betting market with Ladbrokes.
You’ll Never opened at a quote of $6 when the 2015 Winter Stakes field was released earlier in the week, but he has now been backed into $4.60 after finishing third in both the Racing To Win Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 13 and the Natski Handicap (1500m) at the same venue on June 27.
Haussmann ($5.50) defeated a number of his Winter Stakes rivals to win the Civic Stakes, but the majority of punters are unsure if the inconsistent galloper can record back-to-back race wins for just the second time of his career.
Peter Moody-trained Noela’s Choice brings a different form line into the Winter Stakes and she has been backed from $7.50 into $7 in early betting for the Listed event.
Noela’s Choice has been a consistent performer during what has been a lengthy racing campaign and she earnt an opportunity in a race like the Winter Stakes when she beat the likes of I’m In The Money, Orion Love and Miss Hufflepuff in the TAB Place Multi Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on July 11.
The only other horses that are available at single figure 2015 Winter Stakes odds are Joe Pride-trained See The World ($9) and the resuming Liberty’s Choice ($9).
See The World has performed well without winning since returning to the races, while Liberty’s Choice will be making his first appearance at the races since he finished sixth behind Hooked in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Instrumentalist ($51 into $41), Wouldnt It Be Nice ($21 into $19), Rugged Cross ($13 into $12), Spurtonic ($15 into $13) and Canny Ballad ($34 into $31), while Royal Island has been scratched.
