Century Stakes 2020 runner-by-runner betting guide
| What | Century Stakes |
| Where | Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031 |
| When | Thursday, November 5, 2020 | 1:55pm AEDT | Race 3 |
| Prizemoney | $175,000 |
| Distance | 1000m |
| Status | Listed |
| Race Conditions | Set weights + penalties |
| 2019 Winner | Soothing – 56kg (3) | Jockey: Craig Williams | Trainer: James Cummings |
| Watch Live | |
2020 Century Stakes betting preview
The Listed Century Stakes is one of the feature events on Oaks Day on Thursday at Flemington, where the scratching of Graff has left us with a field of nine. The in-form Ancestry has come up an early favourite after his dominant win over 955m at The Valley on Cox Plate Day, whilst the Chris Waller-trained Fiesta is only half a point behind after his win in the last on Derby Day. The 2020 Century Stakes is set to jump at 1:55pm AEDT.
#1 Graff (3)
SCRATCHED
#2 Crystal Dreamer (10)
Ellerton Zahra Racing’s eight-year-old gelding produced one of the eye-catching runs in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint. He was beaten by just over a length to Graff and showed he still has what it takes to compete at this level. Unfortunately, he goes up 2kg and will give the leaders a bit of a start, while he doesn’t have the turn of foot some of these possess. He does have an impressive record down the straight at Flemington, but we’re looking elsewhere in this race.
#3 Garner (6)
Despite finishing behind the aforementioned Crystal Dreamer in the Caulfield Sprint, it’s a little easier to entertain the thought of Garner being competitive here. While he has not run a place at any of his first three attempts this campaign, he tasted some success on Melbourne Cup Day last year and should enjoy the return to Flemington. If he gets back to the form he showed in Adelaide during the autumn, he could give the favourites something to worry about.
#4 I Am Someone (2)
Formerly of the Paul Preusker stable, this six-year-old gelding is having his first start for new trainer Matt Laurie. He had excuses in his first-up effort when failing to beat a runner home in the Gilgai Stakes four weeks ago, and he pulled up lame in the process. He had been competitive throughout the winter in these types of races, but this looks to be a lot harder than those events. He was at big odds in the Gilgai, and we expect him to go around at a similar price here.
#5 Mystyko (7)
Trevor Rogers’ seven-year-old gelding makes a return to the track after going for a spell back in March following an unplaced effort in a BM90 at Bendigo. He meets a much tougher assignment here than what he did that day and looks to be a touch outclassed. When the whips get cracking and the favoured runners start making their runs, he may struggle to keep up.
#6 Ancestry (4)
Phillip Stokes’ four-year-old gelding has been an easy watch for punters in each of his three wins this campaign, the most recent of which was a dominant display in the opening event on Cox Plate Day when leading up Jungle Edge – no easy task. The step up in grade looks ideal, and he could be the horse to beat. With apprentice Michael Poy retaining the ride, Ancestry will look to make this a genuine sprint as he goes in search of his first Listed win.
#7 Fiesta (9)
Chris Waller’s mare seemed to have the weight of the nation behind her in the final event on Derby Day when crunched in the betting late. She was the widest runner on the grandstand rail and charged home over the final 200m to score in convincing fashion. She will give Ancestry a few lengths’ head start up until the 200m mark but possesses a turn of foot her rival does not have. If she is close enough, she is good enough to roll the favourite.
#8 Villami (5)
Gerald Ryan’s four-year-old mare was sent around as a well-backed favourite upon resumption in a BM70 at Warwick Farm four weeks ago. The runner-up in that event has since come out and won the Listed Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield to frank the form. She excels on firmer ground, as two of her three wins have come on Good tracks. This will be her first attempt down the Flemington straight, which is the main query, but she has to be considered for exotics.
#9 Varda (1)
James Cummings and John Allen team up with this four-year-old Godolphin mare, who went through her entire winter campaign undefeated and beat home the handy Masked Crusader at Randwick on her last start before heading for a three-month spell. She seems to prefer the sting out of the ground, having only one win from five starts on firmer tracks. She is, however, yet to run outside of the quinella first up, although she’s still a Flemington maiden after three attempts at the track.
#10 Knowles (8)
Jason Warren’s four-year-old mare will go around in the Century Stakes as one of the rank outsiders in the field. She is back after a three-month spell, which she looked like she needed after a disappointing run in the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville last start. This looks a much tougher assignment than that, so we expect Knowles to wind up in the ‘also ran’ category.
Century Stakes 2020 betting predictions
| $100 Betting Strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 quinella: | Ancestry, Fiesta |
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