Out-of-form gallopers Shadowfax and Danzylum have been sensationally backed to spoil the return of Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed in the Listed John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield.
One TAB Sportsbet punter has unloaded on Shadowfax and smashed his quote from $7.50 to $4.40 favouritism, while Danzylum has been backed from $21 to $9 for Thursday’s 1400-metre feature.
Southern Speed opened at $5.50 but had eased to $7 on Wednesday following the heavy support for her rivals.
TAB Sportsbet book manager Michael Guthrie said Shadowfax had been backed to win $25,000 and Danzylum to win $26,000.
Corporate bookmakers have Shadowfax as short as $4 and Danzylum at $8.
Guthrie said the support for both horses was surprising.
“I thought Shadowfax was a 6-1 ($7) chance but one big punter kept backing it,” Guthrie said.
“Shadowfax last time had excuses (when second last) but it wasn’t much of a run.”
Guthrie said two punters had weighed in to support Danzylum who has also been struggling for form.
He finished last to At The Heads in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on January 14.
At the Heads opened $4.20 favourite for the Dillon before easing to $5.50.
Guthrie’s speed maps suggested the Manifold winner would be able to take a sit outside the lead and be the first to the front halfway down the straight.
“It might be his day again,” Guthrie said.
Meanwhile, champion jockey Craig Williams believes Southern Speed has the class to win first-up but is mindful she will improve as her campaign progresses towards the Group One Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10.
Williams said trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas were pleased with how well she had spelled since her fourth to Glass Harmonium in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in October.
“She had a really good break and Leon is happy with the way she has come back,” Williams told Radio Sport National.
Southern Speed has come to hand quickly in the past winning her first three starts but it took her two runs last spring to find form.
Williams said the Caulfield Cup winner may need a couple of runs again to find her best.
“Obviously she will take a couple of runs (to find her best form) but when you go back to her three-year-old days she had really good form at the start of her campaign and if she comes back like that it wouldn’t surprise,” Williams said.
“She is clearly the class horse.”
AAP TURF
