Maffioso is rated a $2.60 chance in the 3YO Colts and Gelding Final
In previous years it hasn’t been uncommon for a number of the Group 1 finals to have an odds-on favourite, but none of the market leaders for this weekend’s pacing finals are at red-and-white figures.
The most open event is the $188,000 3YO Colts and Gelding Final, which has five horses under double figures.
Maffioso was a potential odds-on favourite from a front-row draw, but landing barrier nine means punters who fancy the Peter Tonkin-trained colt can get $2.60.
Hot on his heels is the Paul Fitzpatrick-trained Rohan Home, the fastest of all of last Saturday night’s semi final winners, at $3, while Magic Operative ($6), Im Mark Antony ($7.50) and Mister Anthony ($8.50) are the other leading contenders.
An even trickier draw means Kept For Pleasure has been installed a $2.40 favourite from barrier eight in the $188,000 3YO Fillies Final.
Likely polemarker Muscle Beach is considered the biggest danger at $3.80, while the under-rated Dazed And Confused is at $5, just ahead of Kiwi star Lizzie Maguire ($5.50).
Ananz is rated a $2.25 chance to repeat her semi win from outside the front row in the $301,000 2YO Fillies Final, while For Dear Life ($4), Life Inthefastlane ($4.80) and Dreams Of Heaven ($7.50) are the others under $11.
The shortest-priced top pick of Sunday’s pacing finals is Living On Fire in the $301,000 2YO Colts and Geldings Final.
The Bill Galea-trained star, whose only defeat in six starts was a gritty second placing in last week’s semi final, is a $2.10 chance.
New South Wales raider Captain Joy is considered Living On Fire’s biggest danger at $4.20, while the classy Garnet River is a $6 chance.
TAB Sportsbet is also betting on the 2YO Trotters Final, in which Chris Alford-trained blueblood Down Under Muscles is the $2.35 favourite from Magic Interest ($6), Dottie Hinson ($7) and Hanginwiththestars and Happy Maori, who are both at $7.50.
Danny Bouchea is the only odds-on favourite of the day in fixed-odds betting, the Nick Youngson-trained star rated a $1.80 chance to add the three-year-old trotters title to the two-year-old Crown he claimed last year.
Resuming stars Safari and Sundons Gift are the favourites for Sunday’s Breeders Crown Graduate Pacers and Trotters Free-For-Alls respectively.
Safari ($2) just shades Diamonds N Furs ($3) for favouritism in the pacing event, while Sundons Gift is a $3.40 chance in a trotter features that also sees Viva La Fever ($4.20), Will Trapper ($4.80), Just Glorious ($5) and Earl Of Mot ($9) all in contention.
