Avilius created a huge stir during the spring last year in Sydney and Melbourne and has been installed the $8 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win the Australian Cup at Flemington on March 9.
The Godolphin import won his first four starts last campaign including The Bart Cummings at Flemington before running fourth in the Cox Plate and 22nd in the Melbourne Cup in his last two runs.
“Considering how well the James Cummings-trained gelding performed between 1600 to 2500 metres in his first Australian preparation, Avilius has opened favourite for the feature Group 1 race over 2000 metres during Melbourne’s Festival of Racing which should attract a high quality field,” TAB’s Trent Langskaill said.
Extra Brut, who finished third to Trap For Fools and Latrobe in last year’s Mackinnon Stakes at weight-for-age over 2000 metres on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival after taking out the Victoria Derby, is rated an $11 equal second favourite.
Homesman, who won the Underwood Stakes last spring along with runner-up finishes in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Caulfield Cup, has also opened an $11 chance.
Rekindling, victorious in the 2017 Melbourne Cup, is one of eight gallopers currently priced at $15 while Almandin, the 2016 Melbourne Cup winner, is one of 15 horses presently listed at $26.
TAB’s MARKET FOR THE 2019 AUSTRALIAN CUP
$8 Avilius
$11 Extra Brut and Homesman
$15 Alizee, Best Of Days, D’Argento, Grunt, Johannes Vermeer, Land Of Plenty, Rekindling and Unforgotten
$26+ Others Quoted including Almandin, The Taj Mahal and Trap For Fools