The Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) always draws a quality field of gallopers and ten horses have been confirmed to step out at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The Festival Stakes is the final stop on the traditional path towards next month’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes; a race that offers its winner ballot-free entry into the 2019 Doncaster Mile and there is plenty of value to be found in betting as a result.
Pecans resumed for an impressive win in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1400m) at Hawkesbury on November 8th and has opened the $3.90 favourite in 2018 Festival Stakes betting.
The five-year-old has been a strong and consistent performer for Joe Pride throughout her entire racing career so far and has recorded six wins and five minors through only sixteen competitive appearances.
She is a three-time black type winner and will take plenty of benefit into this race. The rise in trip will suit and she is drawn ideally in barrier 6.
The Chris Waller-trained My Nordic Hero has so far received the greatest share of attention in 2018 Festival Stakes betting and is $6.50 into $5 at the time of publish.
The classy grey has continued to improve with his preparations since arriving in Australia from his native Ireland in 2016, and he is another horse that will strip fitter for a smart first-up run for second in the November Handicap (1400m) a fortnight ago.
My Nordic Hero will have the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle for his run in the Festival Stakes and could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 5.
Goodfella and Spectroscope have both been slight drifters in early Festival Stakes betting, but they do remain on the third and fourth lines at $5.50 and $7.50 respectively.
Goodfella has returned to the track in decent form this time and will return from a freshen up on Saturday. The son of Snitzel has won or placed in five of his six most-recent starts and was simply outclassed on the other occasion; a run to finish seven lengths off the winner in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
He typically takes a run to get going and could need the tune-up here to find his best for the Villiers Stakes in a fortnight.
Spectroscope was blocked for a run in the Group 3 Chatham Stakes (1400m) last time out and should be ready to peak third-up here.
Some of the five-year-old’s best form and results have been posted at 1500m and he could prove to be the value in Festival Stakes betting.
Duca Valentinois and New Tipperary share the fifth line of Festival Stakes betting at $9 quotes, while there is a case to be made for the ultra-consistent Victorian raider Chamois Road at $13.