Mahuta has been backed into 2016 P.B. Lawrence Stakes odds of $4.20 and he is set to start the Group 2 event at Caulfield this afternoon as favourite.
Mahuta will have the chance to return to winning form in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Mahuta stamped himself as a potential star when he recorded five straight wins during his spring and autumn campaign before he returned to the races with a third place finish behind Lord Of The Sky in the Bletchingly Stakes.
Lord Of The Sky opened at P.B. Lawrence Stakes odds of $6, but he has been on the drift in the past 24 hours and he is now out to a quote of $7.50 to complete the Bletchingly Stakes and P.B. Lawrence Stakes of $7.50.
Talented mare Suavito will go into the P.B. Lawrence Stakes first-up and she has been backed into $4.60 to record yet another first-up victory.
Suavito has not been seen at the races since she failed to fire behind Azkadellia in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 9, but she started her autumn campaign with a most impressive victory in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13.
Another horse that is set to return to the races in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes is Miss Rose De Lago – who Damien Oliver has elected to ride instead of Suavito.
Miss Rose De Lago has also not been seen at the races since the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, but she has an excellent record at Caulfield and has three wins from four starts at the venue.
She has been steady at the $7 mark throughout the week, but could be a drifter in the lead-up to the Group 2 event.
The only other horse that is available at single figure P.B. Lawrence Stakes odds is cult hero The Cleaner, who is priced at $9.
The Cleaner has not been seen at the races since he failed to fire in the Conquering at Launceston on December 9, but new trainer Peter Gelagotis is confident that last year’s runner-up is ready to fire fresh.
There has been a sprinkling of support in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes for Awesome Rock ($34 into $14), while Tall Ship ($26 out to $61), Magnapal ($34 out to $71), Berisha ($51 out to $101) and Set Square ($26 out to $31) have all been on the drift.
