By MICHAEL GUERIN
Australian bookmakers have abandoned the New Zealanders in tonight's Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park.
Australasia's richest 4-year-old race brings together an unusually strong local crop while the Kiwi contenders Stars And Stripes and Dancingonmoonlight, on paper at least, appear to be struggling for their best form.
That has prompted Australia's biggest bookmaker, Steve Single, to rate Stars And Stripes a 10-1 chance with Dancingonmoonlight the rank outsider at 25-1 even from the ace.
"I wasn't impressed by what I saw of Stars And Stripes in his last start at Cambridge and 4-year-olds here are very strong so I am willing to take him on," said Single.
The Sydney bookie has Hunter Cup runner-up Sailor's Corner at $2.75, with Jofess at $3.75.
The pair have the best of the draws and one of them should lead and will have to keep the pace genuine as the field also contains outstanding stayers in Smooth Satin and Aquagold.
But a hot pace will be just what Stars And Stripes' driver Ken Barron is hoping for.
The reigning Pacer Of The Year won four Derbys last season, all when able to follow a fast tempo and come with his trademark late sprint.
That sprint may have been dulled at Cambridge last start, but he was not suited by the wet track or the slow tempo on that occasion, so it is a run best ignored.
If the leaders do go crazy, which is always possible at Harold Park, Stars And Stripes could continue his remarkable feature-race record.
Dancingonmoonlight is better than she showed in last week's Paleface Adios Sprint. She should get the trail or be three back on the markers at worst tonight from where she could sneak a trifecta place.
The horse to beat is undoubtedly the Queenslander Sailor's Corner.
Sailor's Corner is a powerful front runner and if he is able to find the front then he would take an incredible amount of running down. Brian Gath has answered trainer Vic Frost's SOS and will partner Sailor's Corner again tonight.
But the best value in the race, particularly on the New Zealand tote, could be Ocean Spirit.
His recovery for third after an early check in last week's Paleface Adios Sprint was sensational.
Like Stars And Stripes Ocean Spirit could settle handy to the pace and finish over the top.
Racing: Bookies ignore Kiwis in Chariots
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