Golden Slipper punters have shrugged off the possibility the race will be run on a wet track to keep the faith with long-time favourite Sepoy.
“Sepoy has easily been the most popular horse with us today,” TAB Sportsbet’s Matt Jenkins said on Thursday.
“At one point during the day 40 per cent of all win investments were for Sepoy.”
Rosehill’s track rating was downgraded early Thursday because of overnight rain.
Sepoy has been TAB Sportsbet’s favourite since Golden Slipper betting began on February 4.
The Darley colt opened at $8.50 but was as short as $1.90 before his defeat on a wet track at Rosehill on March 19.
Since his loss in the Todman Stakes and Tuesday’s barrier draw, Sepoy’s quote has fluctuated between $2.90 and $3.20.
His supporters are faring better than punters who rushed TAB Sportsbet to back the Lee Freedman-trained Atomic.
Atomic was the first horse to attract serious money with the TAB’s all-in market as punters snapped up $35 about his chances.
The support was a precursor to his first-up win in the transferred Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown on February 9.
His campaign came to an end after his Blue Diamond Stakes failure leaving Freedman with Masthead as his only Golden Slipper runner in his quest for his fifth win in the race.
Masthead returned a career-high rating when third to Sepoy in the Blue Diamond.
He won a Randwick barrier trial in soft fashion last week to confirm his place in Saturday’s field.
Bush filly Karuta Queen has been the biggest firmer since the barrier draw.
The Magic Millions winner is back in to $11 after she fell from favour with her Black Opal Stakes Stakes defeat as a long odds-on favourite.
AAP TURF
