Updated 2017 Kingsford Smith Cup betting odds are now out on the confirmed field of weight-for-age winter hopefuls with the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart leading the latest markets.
Black Heart Bart is favourite in 2017 Kingsford-Smith Cup betting to handle a seven day turnaround at Eagle Farm this weekend in Brisbane. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Fourteen gallopers will take to the Eagle Farm track in Race 7 on Saturday afternoon in the $700,000 Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), which previously ran over less metres as the BTC Cup.
Despite being on a short seven day turnaround, the bookies are taking no chances with Weirâs five-time Group 1 champion Black Heart Bart.
On the back of a failed title defence in Adelaideâs Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) last weekend at Morphettville, the six-year-old sits top of the updated Kingsford Smith Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.40 to return to winning form.
Black Heart Bart ran a first-up seventh behind upset The Goodwood winner Vega Magic, beaten two and a half lengths in his maiden start since completing the Group 1 CF Orr â Futurity Stakes double over 1400m at Caulfield in February.
Second-up on the weekend heâll be fitter and ready to fire, the son of Blackfriars boasting an impressive record two runs in (7-3-3-0).
Heâs had just the one run at Eagle Farm when backing up from his The Goodwood win 12 months ago to finish second to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Three other runners are under double-figures in this yearâs Kingsford Smith Cup betting markets including the early mover Derryn ($7 into $6.50) who takes on the older sprinters from barrier five.
Mark Zahra is booked to ride the Lindsay Park-trained Hinchinbrook colt who was under a length beaten for third by Redzel in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 13.
That followed a nice win at Royal Randwick in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m).
Rounding out the single figure fancies for the first elite level of the carnival at Eagle Farm are Counterattack and Clearly Innocent at an equal $7.50 quote each for the win.
Chris Waller saddles-up the consistent Redouteâs Choice four-year-old Counterattack who comes off back-to-back seconds.
The stallion was under a length off Redzel two back at Randwick in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) in the wet before his second to the same Team Snowden-trained horse in the Doomben 10,000 a fortnight ago.
Beaten only a half-length in the Doomben 10,000, Counterattack will be firing on all cylinders this weekend from a nice mid-field barrier seven draw with Kiwi hoop Opie Bosson in the saddle.
Clearly Innocent also hails from Sydney representing Newcastle trainer Kris Lees in barrier nine with Hugh Bowman booked to ride the five-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt.
Bowman rode the gelding last time out during the Scone Cup Carnival for a smart two and a quarter-length victory in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m).
The step-up to 1400m looks ideal this weekend with Clearly Innocent undefeated over the distance (2-2-0-0) ahead of his maiden Group 1 assignment in the Kingsford-Smith Cup.
The last favourite to win the race formerly known as the BTC Cup when it was run over 1200m was superstar mare Black Caviar (2011) and since her there have been three double-figure winners including Hot Snitzel ($26 in 2015) when the event took place at Doomben.
Of the longer priced hopes in markets for the revamped feature this weekend standouts include last Saturdayâs BRC Sprint winner Jungle Edge ($11), last seasonâs Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate ($13) and Bjorn Bakerâs class mare Egyptian Symbol ($13).
Check out the latest Kingsford Smith Cup 2017 odds below, betting open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.