Arkansaw Kid opens as Blue Sapphire Stakes favourite
Saturday’s Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield has attracted a strong contingent of 11 three-year-olds, with the Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Arkansaw Kid pegged as a firm +150 favourite with online bookmakers.
It comes after a terrific performance in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day, where the son of Harry Angel powered into a fourth-place finish behind Ozzmosis.
Prior to that effort he was a Listed winner at Caulfield in the Gothic Stakes (1200m), where Damien Oliver — who takes the ride this weekend — steered him to secure victory.
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Brave Mead may have found the 1600m too testing in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes, but now the son of Brave Smash gets back to a track and trip where he found success two starts back.
He finds himself on the second line of betting at +320, as top betting sites seemingly have this race pegged as a top-heavy affair.
The pair of Snapback and The Instructor at +600 apiece are the only other gallopers in single figures, with the only runner with any support at a big price being Sunset Dreaming, who has shortened from +1400 into +1200.
The 2023 Blue Sapphire Stakes is the sixth race on the Caulfield card and is set to be run and won at 3:10pm local time.
Blue Sapphire Stakes 2023 field
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