English stayer Withhold is one of the headline entries for the Group Three Geelong Cup which has attracted a field of 16.
The Geelong Cup has proven a guide to the Melbourne Cup with internationals Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) completing the double.
To be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the Roger Charlton-trained Withhold has barrier six in Wednesday’s 2400m-race and has been installed the $3.80 favourite in opening markets.
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller’s three entries includes two imports, Finche and Casterton, who have yet to race in Australia.
Finche, to be ridden by Hugh Bowman, is topweight with 59kg and has barrier four and on the second line of betting at $4.80, while Casterton ($11) has barrier 10 for Michael Walker.
Trainer Darren Weir has five entries including Yogi who was third behind Avilius and Jameeh in The Bart Cummings at Flemington last start in his unsuccessful attempt to secure a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
7-04.00 | BET365 GEELONG CUP | 2400 M |
Of $350000 and $15000 trophies. 1st $210000 and trophies of $12000 to owner $1500 to jockey $1500 to trainer, 2nd $63000, 3rd $31500, 4th $15750, 5th $8750, 6th $7000, 7th $7000, 8th $7000.(GROUP 3) No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 17 + 4 EM
No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barr | Wgt | Pen | RTG |
1 | FINCHE (GB) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 59 | (107) | |
2 | ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN (IRE) | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 8 | 58 | (105) | |
3 | WITHHOLD (GB) | Roger Charlton | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 58 | (105) | |
4 | WALL OF FIRE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 14 | 57 | (103) | |
5 | ZACADA (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | 11 | 56.5 | (102) | |
6 | CASTERTON (IRE) | Chris Waller | Michael Walker | 10 | 55.5 | (100) | |
7 | MIDTERM (GB) | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 9 | 54.5 | (98) | |
8 | NORTHWEST PASSAGE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Dwayne Dunn | 1 | 54.5 | (98) | |
9 | YOGI (NZ) | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 13 | 54.5 | (98) | |
10 | HARIPOUR (IRE) | Darren Weir | Luke Nolen | 7 | 54 | (95) | |
11 | RUNAWAY | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Stephen Baster | 12 | 54 | (91) | |
12 | GUARDINI (FR) | Darren Weir | Ben Thompson | 2 | 54 | (90) | |
13 | MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) | Darren Weir | Harry Coffey | 15 | 54 | (89) | |
14 | CHEQUERED FLAG (NZ) | Darren Weir | Beau Mertens | 3 | 54 | (87) | |
15 | WHEAL LEISURE | Archie Alexander | Jye McNeil | 5 | 54 | (83) | |
16 | BARRY THE BAPTIST | Paul A Jones | 16 | 54 | (77) |
Credit: AAP