Caulfield Odds: Punters Eye Manighar For Underwood Stakes
Online bookmaker Sportsbet say Peter Moody’s classy stayer Manighar is the only horse that interests punters for Saturday’s Group One Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
Shaun Anderson of Sportsbet reports money has arrived at a steady rate for Manighar since Wednesday’s barrier draw and the seven-year-old gelding has firmed from $3.40 into $2.40.
Manighar will start from barrier 10 in the 14-horse field. Arch-rival Southern Speed beat Moody’s grey in the Makybe Diva Stakes last start but has been friendless with punters easing to $6.50 after opening $5.50.
“It’s a quality race, there’s class from top to bottom, but the punters only have eyes for Manighar,” said Anderson.
“There was a nose between him and Southern Speed last start and with luck in running Manighar probably would have won.”
Manighar only got clear with 200m to go on his seasonal debut and was denied by a narrow margin. Moody believes the former Luca Cumani trained stayer will continue his improvement since arriving from England.
“We know him a lot better now and I think that’s going to help,” Moody said. “I thought he’d improved on the autumn before his first-up run and I think his run at Flemington the other day confirmed it.”
Sincero, an impressive winner of the Memsie Stakes, is the second favourite at $5.00. He is out from his opening quote, but had support at $5.50 and is best backed to beat the favourite.
Kiwi visitor Ocean Park, a last start Group 1 winner across the Tasman, has eased to $7.50 and December Draw is also out two points to $11.