BOOKMAKERS are marginally in front of punters with one day of the Victoria Racing Club four day carnival left to be run on Saturday.
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Leading rails bookie David McLauchan, who was born in Warrnambool, said the first three days betting was on a par with last year’s event.
“The bookies just have their noses in front,” McLauchan said. “The trick now is to stay in front on the final day. A few well backed fancies got the money on Thursday and the last favourite just won which helped the punters.
“Money is much the same as last year’s carnival. The carnival is a massive event, it appears to grow each year.”
Darren Weir’s Warrnambool satellite stake is chasing another group 1 victory with Brave Smash in the $1 million VRC Sprint Classic down the famous Flemington straight. Bookies rate Brave Smash a $13 chance to win the 1200-metre race.
Weir’s Warrnambool yard has a strong representation on the final day of the carnival including Gallic Chieftain and Magablast in the $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while Kenedna runs in the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes.
Sister Kitty Mac is a $41 chance in the early betting markets to win a $120,000 restricted race for Symon Wilde.
The Maher-Eustace stable saddles up four runners. Aloisia is backing up from an unplaced run in the Empire Rose last Saturday to run in the Matriarch Stakes, Yulong January will attempt to win his fourth race in five starts.
Wall Of Fire and Sheriff John Stone are the other runners for the Maher-Eustace stable.