Jessica amongst principals in ante-post Melbourne Cup betting
BF Australia
The Emirates Melbourne Cup might seem some way away with summer still meekly attempting a comeback on British shores, but likely contenders for the two-mile spectacle are already jockeying for position in the ante-post market, writes Elliot Slater.
Amongst those who are close to the top of punters’ wish list, New Zealand-bred mare Jessicabeel is well worth consideration on the back of some fine performances in the spring. The five-year-old, (once stepped up in distance from one mile to two), showed tremendously improved form, culminating with a terrific win in the Grade 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup in April where the daughter of Zabeel ran on strongly over the two-mile trip to defeat Divine Rebel by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer John O’Shea seems keen to consider all the major staying handicaps, including the Cox Plate, and is set to tailor his mare’s campaign to peak just at the right time for the ‘race that stops a nation’, in early November. In sending her over staying distances the Randwick-based handler certainly seems to have found the key to the improvement in his latest stable star who is offered at around 20/1 for Australia’s greatest sporting spectacle and is currently amongst the main hopes for the home team.
The Dermot Weld-trained pair of Irish raiders Rite Of Passage, winner of this year’s Ascot Gold Cup, and multiple Group 3 winner Profound Beauty, both trade at 16/1 and are expected to bid to give their legendary handler a third success in the race following the wins of Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002.
Faint Perfume, trained by Bart Cummings, and Shocking, handled by Mark Kavanagh, are currently the other most popular ante-post picks for the home team, also being offered at odds of around 20/1 with Melbourne Cup betting.
Loading ...