The Chris Waller trained trio of Libran, Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal are set for a great battle at the top of the betting in the lead up to the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.
Libran, above, is one of 3 Chris Waller trained stayers vying for favouritism for the Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Who Shot Thebarman drew barrier five and has firmed in from an opening quote on Tuesday of $3.80 to be currently the Sydney Cup favourite at $3.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au while Libran has eased slightly to $3.70 after drawing barrier three in the eleven horse field.
Last year’s winner Grand Marshal is marked at $4.40 after drawing barrier six.
Libran heads into the Sydney Cup on the back of three successive wins in the Listed $125,000 Girvan Waugh Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on March 5, the Group 3 $150,000 Irresistible Pools & Spas N E Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill a fortnight later and the Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Brenton Avdulla has forged a great association with the English import and will be aboard again this week following his hat trick of wins on the five year old.
Who Shot Thebarman (Blake Shinn) and Grand Marshal (James McDonald) are peaking at the right time after running second and third to stablemate Preferment in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on March 26.
Next in the betting at $10 is the Gai Waterhouse trained Cafe Society who has drawn barrier nine with Chad Schofield in the saddle.
Cafe Society is stepping up to the 3200m for the first time but has had a solid grounding with a second to Libran in the Manion Cup followed by a third to the Sydney Cup rival again in the Chairman’s Handicap.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Almoonqith (barrier ten) is a winner over the 3200m and is next in the market order at $11 just ahead of the Lloyd Williams owned Gallanate (barrier eleven) at $12.
Sydney Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Who Shot Thebarman, $3.70 Libran, $4.40 Grand Marshal, $10 Cafe Society, $11 Almoonqith, $12 Gallanate, $17 Destiny’s Kiss, $31 Auvray, $51 Dee I Cee, Bayanova, $101 Like A Carousel.
