Stratum Star a beacon for punters in early betting for Blamey Stakes

DARREN Weir star and Futurity Stakes runner-up Stratum Star has been the early “go-to” in first markets for Saturday’s Blamey Stakes at Flemington. .

DARREN Weir star and Futurity Stakes runner-up Stratum Star has been the early “go-to” in first markets for Saturday’s Blamey Stakes, shortening to outright favourite for the Group 2 mile at Flemington.

Monday, March 7

COOLMORE CLASSIC (Rosehill, Saturday): The unbeaten Ghisoni and Solicit share favouritism at $4.60. Ghisoni has won all three of her starts thus far including the Surround Stakes at Randwick on February 27. Solicit was runner-up to Winx in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick on February 13 before taking out the Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick two weeks later. Azkadellia has already firmed from $8 to $6, while Amicus is an $8 hope

BLAMEY STAKES (Flemington): Stratum Star — who was runner-up to Turn Me Loose in the Futurity Stakes last start — has shortened from $6.50 to $4.40 favourite. The United States has tightened from $5.50 to $5 along with He Or She ($9 to $8). The original favourite Politeness has drifted from $4.60 to $6.

TAB KEWNEY STAKES (Flemington): The last-start Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Catch A Fire is the $5.50 favourite for the TAB Kewney Stakes at Flemington. Don’t Doubt Mamma is the outright second elect ($6.50 into $6) with Pasadena Girl $6.50 and Badawiya $6.50 out to $7.

VRC SIRES PRODUCE STAKES (Flemington): Seaburge has eased marginally as favourite from $4 to $4.20 for the VRC Sires Produce Stakes. Detective and Zamzam are both $4.50 out to $4.60 with Revolving Door $5 out to $5.50. Hot Dipped has received early support and has tightened from $8 to $5.50.

BLAMEY STAKES

Flemington, Saturday

$4.50 Politeness

$5.50 The United States

$6.50 Stratum Star

$9 Divan, He Or She

$13 Puccini, Trust In A Gust

$15 Guardini, Red Excitement, Velox

$21 General Groove, Kenjorwood, Manndawi

$31 Dances On Stars, Lidari, Observational

$51 Entirely Platinum

$201 Digitalism

MARKET: TAB FIXED ODDS

Monday, February 29

RANDWICK GUINEAS (Saturday): Reigning Caulfield Guineas champion Press Statement opened $1.80 for the Randwick Guineas and is already into $1.70

The Chris Waller-trained colt resumed with an authoritative Hobartville Stakes win at Rosehill on February 20 and is aiming to record his seventh win from nine starts.

Montaigne — who was third in the Hobartville Stakes — is a $7.50 chance with the Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me a $9 hope.

CANTERBURY STAKES (Randwick, Saturday): Favouritism is currently shared in the Canterbury Stakes by First Seal and Our Boy Malachi at $2.80.

First Seal returned from almost a year off when victorious in the Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on February 20, while Our Boy Malachi left Solicit in his wake in the Expressway Stakes at Rosehill on January 30.

Last year’s Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec is a $6.50 chance in what would be his first run since the Cox Plate, while Holler — who won the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley two starts back — is $7.50.

Money continues to come for Press Statement in the Randwick Guineas. Picture: Simon Bullard

Monday, February 22

OAKLEIGH PLATE (Saturday): Bounding, Heatherly and Keen Array share favouritism at $6 for the 1100m Group 1 affair at Caulfield on Saturday.

Heatherly opened as the sole favourite at $5 but the support has been for Bounding (opened $7.50; one bet of $1200 at $7) and Keen Array (opened $11; one bet of $600 at $9)

Fast ‘n’ Rocking (opened $7.50) and Kinglike (opened $11) are both $13 with Headwater, Secret Agenda and The Quarterback all $15

FUTURITY STAKES (Saturday): Turn Me Loose is the outright favourite at $4 for the 1400m Group 1 event on Saturday after initially sharing top billing with Lucky Hussler

Last year’s Emirates Stakes winner has shortened from $4.60 to $4 while Lucky Hussler remains at his opening quote of $4.60

Solicit is currently $5.50 with Boban, Hucklebuck and Politeness all $8 ahead of the C.F. Orr Stakes winner Suavito ($10)

CHIPPING NORTON STAKES (Saturday): Winx has been installed the raging $1.50 favourite for the 1600m Group 1 contest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Hartnell and the Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan are both $8.50 with Boban and Dibayani on the next line of betting at $11.

Scone Country Championship Qualifier winner Clearly Innocent. Picture: Ryan Osland

Sunday, February 22

Clearly Innocent $11-$3.50 is the new outright favourite to win the Country Championship Final at Randwick on April 2 after winning the Scone qualifier.

The Greg Bennett-trained galloper couldn’t have been more impressive covering plenty of ground and coming from back in the field.

Stablemate All Summer Long ($11-$8) is also off to Randwick for a shot at glory after finishing second. Goulburn winner, Lofty’s Menu, has been solid at $6 after firming from $15 on Saturday.

Thursday, February 18

AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS (March 5): Xtravagant ($5.50) has the caught the eye of punters in the Australian Guineas market. TAB reports that one customer has splashed out $2300 @ $5.50 to win the Guineas. You could have secured as much as $13 last week.

Shutter Bug is the $6 favourite to take out the Goulburn Country Championships Qualifier on Saturday. In a wide open affair, there are five other horses under double figures in what appears to be a competitive betting affair.

Originally published as Stratum Star a beacon for punters in early betting for Blamey Stakes