Glamour runners unloved

THE trainers say maybe but the money says “no’’ for the return of topliners Hey Doc and I Am A Star in tomorrow’s Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.

Betting markets have taken an “absolutely bizarre’’ twist since they opened about lunchtime on Wednesday, according to TAB spokesman Trent Langskaill.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a market change so much in such a short time,’’ Langskaill said.

“The good horses are out the gate and the money has come for Grande Rosso and Flippant. Maybe we opened Hey Doc and I Am A Star too short, but I think the message is that both horses will improve from the run.’’

Group 1 stars Hey Doc and I Am A Star are using the Aurie’s Star Handicap as a pipe-opener for the $1 million Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 27.

The market place message is that each is vulnerable firstup tomorrow.

I Am A Star opened the $4.20 favourite but blew out to $7.50 yesterday and Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc opened at $4.80 and blew out to $6.50.

The money came for Grande Rosso, with a $2000 bet at $19 sparking a tumble into $6, and Sydney visitor Flippant, who opened at $7 and was last night the $4.60 favourite.

Tony McEvoy (Hey Doc) and Shane Nichols (I Am A Star) said their horses could win, but conceded they would improve and were vulnerable.

“He’s going well and he can certainly win, but he’s at his best second-up and that’s the Memsie for $1 million,’’ McEvoy said.

Nichols said I Am A Star was “super, as good as she’s s ever looked’’, but said the betting market overreacted when he revealed she had not barrier trialled for tomorrow.

“It was like one of her legs had fallen off,’’ he said.

“I can say she is certainly as good as she was [when she resumed with a win] a year ago. She was nowhere near the horse then that she is now.’’

David Hayes said Grande Rosso and Snitzen were the pick of his four, the others being Cannyescent and Ruetigger.