A smart field of Group 1 bound three-year-olds face off in the Autumn Stakes 2016 on CF Orr Stakes Day in Melbourne this weekend and the bookies are tipping the fitness edge to work in the favour of early favourite Holler in the Caulfield clash.
Holler is narrow favourite to win the 2016 Autumn Classic against a class field of fellow three-year-olds at Caulfield this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Eight of the nine Caulfield races on the card are Group status events including the $200,000 Group 2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) where a dozen promising youngsters are in the mix.
Current Autumn Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the John OâShea-trained Holler out in barrier nine paying $3.10 as the favourite with Damien Oliver booked to ride the Commands colt.
Winner of the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day during the spring, Holler returned to racing with another Moonee Valley win this time in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).
The bookies are tipping that form to stack up again on Saturday with Holler facing many rivals coming into the race first-up.
Close second favourite in Autumn Stakes betting at $3.30 is the rails-drawn Mahuta who has won his past five starts on the trot for Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir.
The Flying Spur colt is best known for his Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) success from last November as well as his smart one length Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) win on the Gold Coast first-up last month.
He is undefeated over the Autumn Stakes distance with three previous 1400m wins and looks on track for a big autumn targeting the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) next month at Flemington.
Outside the clear top two there are three other runners under $10 including Mick Priceâs returning Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner from the Melbourne Cup Carnival Tarzino ($8).
Instead of taking on a field dominated by other, older Group 1 winners in the $500,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes (1400m), Price opted to run Tarzino against his own age in the Autumn Stakes.
Jumping from barrier eight with Craig Newitt aboard the talented Tavistock colt will improve off whatever he does first-up as he steps out over more distance, but he has winning 1400m form and fresh the distance should suit.
Also at a current quote of $8 is the only filly taking on the boys here, Tarzinoâs stablemate Sailing By.
The fellow Price-trained Fastnet Rock filly gets the run of the race from barrier two with Nicholas Hall in the saddle.
She blitzed a 1200m Geelong Synthetic trial at the start of the month by three lengths and her last run under race conditions was a fourth to Badawiya in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 4 during the spring.
Rounding out the single figure hopes at $9 is Snoopy with the outside barrier to overcome but time to do so.
Prepared by the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Lope De Vega colt has won four of his seven starts to date including his latest run over 1200m at Moonee Valley on January 23.
See below for the full Autumn Stakes 2016 betting odds, prices provided by the countryâs leading online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au who will match your first deposit dollar for dollar up to $500 as a first-time customer when you quote the code BETBONUS!