Bookies Bracing For Major Six-Figure Payout

BOOKMAKERS are bracing for a significant payout if Stanley Road wins the Association Cup which gets underway at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

BOOKMAKERS are bracing for a significant payout if Stanley Road wins the Group 1 Association Cup (720m) which gets underway at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Betting giants Ladbrokes and TAB.com.au have reported sizable all-in wagers for the Mark Gatt-trained stayer which rounded out his Association Cup preparations with a fast-finishing 42.15 seconds victory at headquarters last Saturday night.

It's understood Sportsbet are readying for a negative result also but not to the magnitude of Ladbrokes and TAB.

Since winning the Group 2 Summer Plate (720m) at Wentworth Park in January, Stanley Road has been in devastating touch, headlined by his epic victory in the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers (725m) at The Meadows.

And it's that sublime form which has seen a relentless stream of money for the 12-time winner, resulting in as little as even money being offered about him prevailing in Saturday week's $75,000-to-the-winner decider.

"It has been all one-way traffic for Stanley Road in our all-in market for the Association Cup," Ladbrokes' Tom Hackett said.

"Stanley Road currently accounts for over 85 percent of our hold on the race and is one of only two losing results in the current book.

"The only other dog there has been support for is Let's See and she accounts for almost nine percent of our hold.

"We expect money to come for different dogs as we get closer to the race but there seems little doubt that Stanley Road will be the best backed."

Only enhancing the son of Allen Deed's claims going into the staying showpiece is the omission of Sunset Bourbski which will be aimed towards the Group 1 Galaxy (715m) in Perth.

Sunset Bourbski – a soundly beaten fifth behind Stanley Road on Saturday night – had been a solid second favourite since all-in betting on the Association Cup opened.

But with the big wet which hit Sydney recently pushing the Association Cup series forward a week, and in turn clashing with the Galaxy, connections of Sunset Bourbski have elected to journey west in their bid for a breakthrough Group 1 victory.

Stanley Road will step out in the first of three Association Cup heats on Saturday night from box six up against Sandown track record holder Here's Tears.

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