Chris Waller's Etna Rosso tipped to finally break through in 2025 Pakenham Cup

A horse that hasn’t won for months leads Pakenham Cup betting while Private Eye dominates $1 million The Supernova markets.

Etna Rosso, pictured winning the 2024 Newcastle Gold Cup, is the early favourite for Saturday’s Pakenham Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Chris Waller-trained Etna Rosso has opened favourite to snap his run of minor placings in Saturday’s $300,000 Pakenham Cup.

Etna Rosso has finished in the minor money at his past five starts and seven of his past nine runs but is a $3.50 favourite to arrest that streak in the Pakenham Cup.

Premier Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher has won two of the last four Pakenham Cups with Smokin’ Romans in 2021 and Ashrun in 2023 and has four of the 22 nominations for this year’s race.

The nine-year-old Smokin’ Romans is among the entries, opening at $11 in the ‘all-in’ market on Saturday’s feature.

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His stablemate Ziryab, who was narrowly beaten at Caulfield last start, rated highest of Maher’s quartet tat $9 along with the Lindsay Park stayer Alenquer.

Black Run, who beat Ziryab at Caulfield, is the $4.50 second favourite to stretch his winning run to four in the Pakenham Cup.

Meanwhile, top-class Sydney performer Private Eye is the dominant $2.50 favourite in betting on The Supernova.

The Supernova, the second of Southside Racing’s spring slot races, carries $1 million in prizemoney.

The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye will run in the Ladbrokes slot as he chases his third win is as many Victorian appearance.

Private Eye will be one of the hardest to beat in Saturday’s $1 million Supernova at Pakenham. Picture: Racing Photos

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Private Eye won the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield in August before returning to claim the Group 3 Moonga Stakes in October.

The eight-year-old last raced when fifth to Jimmysstar in the $3 million Russell Balding Stake (1300m) on November 1.

Private Eye was kept up to the mark for his Melbourne trip when second in a barrier trial at Kembla Grange on December 2.

The fields for both the Pakenham Cup and The Supernova will be announced on Wednesday.

Originally published as Chris Waller's Etna Rosso tipped to finally break through in 2025 Pakenham Cup