Sepoy’s chances of setting a weight-carrying record for a three-year-old in the time-honoured Oakleigh Plate have slipped according to betting markets across the country.
But trainer Peter Snowden remains optimistic that the star colt is up to the challenge.
Sepoy opened favourite on Wednesday but corporate bookmakers have promoted Bel Sprinter ahead of him for Saturday’s Group One 1100-metre sprint at Caulfield.
TAB Sportsbet has held off making a favourite switch but admits it seems inevitable Bel Sprinter will be the market leader after his price was slashed from $4.40 to $3.10.
On Friday Sepoy, who has won 10 of his 11 starts, was clinging on to favouritism at $3 after opening at $2.
“The momentum certainly seems to be with Bel Sprinter,” TAB Sportsbet’s book manager David Macknamara said.
“Today we are still getting more out of him than Sepoy who is continuing to drift.”
Macknamara said he expected the big punters to get involved on Saturday and Bel Sprinter was his tip to start a slight favourite.
Some corporate bookmakers already have Bel Sprinter under $3.
Despite the alarming betting drift, Snowden said Sepoy was in top order for the challenge of carrying 58kg and eclipsing Fastnet Rock’s 57kg record for a three-year-old in the Oakleigh Plate which was first run in 1884.
“It is a challenge, I know, but he’s the sort of horse that you want to take into a challenge,” Snowden told Radio Sport National.
“You can’t fault his record.”
Snowden declared barrier 11 an advantage as it should ensure Sepoy gets a clear run.
“It is a plus,” Snowden said.
“There is good speed in the race so it just gives us options.
“The last thing you want is to be held up.”
Snowden said Sepoy was more forward than normal for a first-up run with the Oakleigh Plate his last start before Dubai’s Golden Shaheen (1200m) on March 31.
“It won’t be on the score of fitness that gets him beaten tomorrow,” Snowden said.
Meanwhile, trainer Jason Warren said Bel Sprinter was in top order but barrier five could prove a tricky gate with the risk of the gelding getting caught in a “traffic jam”.
Bel Sprinter can race on the speed but Warren is planning for him to ridden behind the leading division as he was last start when he came with a explosive sprint to land the Listed Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
“There is good speed in the race so hopefully he can get a sit somewhere behind them,” Warren said.
He said the danger was that any crowding could fire up Bel Sprinter and ruin his chances.
“I am sure he will be in the ruck at some point and we’ve just got to hope Ben (Melham) can keep the horse settled for the first half of the race,” Warren said.
“If he gets in a scrum I reckon he will just take off.”
Bel Sprinter has won five of his six starts and Warren says he has improved since his first-up win.
“He has progressed well,” Warren said. “His weight is spot-on and his blood count has improved.”
AAP TURF
