Wyong Gold Cup betting market with odds and free tips
THE Wyong Gold Cup runs this Friday at 4.35pm and it features a quality field of stayers looking to prepare for the bigger cup races later in the spring.
Bookmakers have presented punters with a very even market with seven of the 11 runners currently paying under $10 which could make finding a winner tough, but we’ll separate the pretenders from the contenders.
The best-backed runner in the field is the former New Zealand gelding Sacred Master which is looking to race its way into the Caulfield Cup and its odds have been slashed. Now with Chris Waller, the five-year-old opened at $7 which was snapped up quickly and it’s now equal-favourite at $5.
On the same line is stablemate Junoob which hasn’t won since taking out the Ballarat Cup last November. Punters have been forced to stay patient with the nine-year-old which has produced two good runs of late and looks a strong contender again.
At $5.50 with Sportsbet is Song And Laughter which flashed home late in the Premier Cup at Rosehill and the rise in distance looks ideal for the Jim Litt-trained mare.
It was able to defeat the highly-touted Singing three starts back and that form coupled with the light weight should be able to see it contend here.
2016 Wyong Gold Cup market
1. Junoob – $5
2. Orbec – $7
3. Sacred Master – $5 at CrownBet.com.au
4. Loophole – $6.50
5. Alegria – $7
6. Song And Laughter – $5.50
7. Slow Pace – $34
8. Olympic Academy – $9
9. Get On The Grange – $15
10. Halfway To Heaven – $81
11. Quartermaster – $41
Junoob opened up as the solo-favourite at $4.80, but has drifted with the support for Sacred Master which has closed steadily all week.
Also on the drift has been the John Thompson-trained Orbec which is second up after finishing sixth in the Premier Cup. It opened at $6.50, but has moved out a half-point to $7.
Alegria has been specked in from $8 to $7, but punters will be backing it on trust. The John O’Shea-trained mare usually fires fresh up, but it disappointed for ninth last start and never looked a chance. It does handle rain-affected tracks so there is confidence with rain forecast.
Sacred Master looks the best bet of the race and having won the Avondale Cup in New Zealand before running third in the Auckland Cup a month later, it looks a strong chance and despite Rory Hutchings stating this was his horse to watch, senior rider Hugh Bowman takes over the riding which can only be seen as a positive.
Best Wyong Gold Cup day bets
Race 1 – Pirapala ($2.80 at Sportsbet):
Scratched from racing at Canterbury on Wednesday, Pirapala looks set for a top spring campaign following its two-length trial win at Rosehill on August 15.
The Gerald Ryan-trained filly has the breeding (Sepoy x Celebrity Girl) and there is plenty expected of it on debut. It opened at $4 for the win and has been backed off the map since. It’s now a $2.80 chance at Sportsbet and punters should get their day off to the right start.
Race 2 – Sir Magic ($2.70 at CrownBet):
Despite drifting in the betting from $2.50 to $2.70, Sir Magic looms as a chance to win three consecutive races. The Angela Davies-trained gelding had to fight off a game Viatrix last start in what should be a good form guide this season.
It has now won back-to-back races either side of a spell and it gives Hugh Bowman another strong ride at Wyong this Friday.
Race 3 – Ebenos ($3 at Sportsbet):
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding has been fluctuating in the market throughout the week, but punters are happy with the $3 being offered.
It has had two starts for two placings and the drop in weight will play right into its hands here after carrying 59kg behind Spirit And Fire last start. Both starts came on rain-affected ground so the conditions should suit and it has race day advantage over the other favoured runners.
Keep an eye on any negative market fluctuations, but it looks a strong hope.
Race 4 – Calabasas ($3.30):
Finished a close second behind subsequent winner Super Too last start and that form looks good for a rating 65 handicap.
The Kim Waugh-trained colt gets the inside barrier to work with and its fifth in the Black Opal at Canberra wasn’t overly bad as it finished just 3.7 lengths behind Defcon.
It has drifted out a half-point in the market which is a concern, but it should be one of the hardest to beat in the race.
Race 6 – Elle Lou ($2.10 at CrownBet):
Comes into this having finished third behind Pearls in the Toy Show last start. It won its start prior when beating Extensible and those quality city form lines should stack up.
The five-year-old mare has won five from 21 which isn’t a mind blowing statistic, but all five wins have come on a slow track and conditions should be ideal. Looks the horse to beat at the short quote.