It’s 30 years since trainer Robert Smerdon trained his first Group 1 winner.
Coincidently it was in the 1985 Blue Diamond Stakes with Let’s Get Physical. On Saturday he saddles heavily backed Diamond favourite Fontiton ($2.20).
Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au reports little interest from punters in finding anything to beat Fontiton. Second favourite Pride of Dubai is out to $6.00 for the Caulfield Group 1.
“It’s Robert Smerdon’s pearl anniversary on Saturday and if betting is any guide history will repeat. Fontiton is a super filly and she’s been backed as if unbeatable,’’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Christian Jantzen.
There has been plenty of action on the big day of racing, here are some betting trends on the other majors:
· In the Futurity Stakes it has been one-way traffic for $1.70 favourite Dissident. Entirely Platinum ($8.50) is the only one tried to beat him.
· In the following race Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist resumes from a spell. Protectionist heads betting at $4.20, but there has been solid backing for Mourinho ($7.50).
· The top two fancies for the Oakleigh Plate, Earthquake ($4.80) and Vain Queen ($6.00) are unwanted. Good support for roughies Lord Of The Sky ($17) and Bel Sprinter ($21).
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au: Join Sportsbet.com.au Here.
(prices in brackets from 25/2/15)
Blue Diamond Stakes
$2.20 Fontiton (in from $2.50)
$6.00 Pride Of Dubai (out from $5.50)
$11 Stoker (in from $13)
$11 Lake Geneva (steady)
$14 Of The Brave (out from $12)
$14 Sampeah (out from $12)
$21 Flamboyant Lass (steady)
$21 Air Apparent (steady)
$26 Thurlow (out from $17)
$26 Miss Gidget (steady)
$34 Claudia Jean (steady)
$51 Manhattan Blues (out from $41)
$67 Prompt Return (out from $51)
$101 Bantam (steady)
$126 Reemah (out from $101)
Oakleigh Plate
$4.80 Earthquake (steady)
$6.00 Vain Queen (out from $6.00)
$7.00 Atmospherical (in from $8.00)
$10 Shamal Wind (in from $11)
$10 A Time For Julia (in from $13)
$11 Nostradamus (steady)
$12 Iconic (in from $13)
$17 Lord Of The Sky (in from $21)
$17 I’m All The Talk (in from $21)
$21 Under The Louvre (in from $26)
$21 Bel Sprinter (in from $26)
$21 Fast ‘n’ Rocking (steady)
$26 Eloping (out from $21)
$51 It Is Written (out from $34)
$67 Sistine Demon (out from $51)
$126 Whittington (out from $81)
$301 General Jackson (out from $201)
