‘Bonneval a popular horse’ – bookies

Australian bookmakers are bracing for big money to come for Bonneval ahead of Saturday’s $3.2 million Caulfield Cup after she was cleared to run by Racing Victoria vets on Thursday.

Bonneval lost her grip on favouritism after she was a disappointing sixth in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes, after which she was found to have pulled up lame.

Racing Victoria ordered the four-year-old mare to be scanned on Thursday and had their vets inspect her again, where she was passed as fit to run in Saturday’s Group I feature.

Despite drifting from $5.50 to $9 since Tuesday’s barrier draw, Crownbet have continued to lay Bonneval at the same rate as $4.20 favourite Johannes Vermeer, and it is expecting the support to continue right up to race time.

‘‘They were still keen to back her since the draw, even when she was under a cloud. Not big, but constant money,’’ Crownbet’s Matt Campbell said.

‘‘Now she is clear to run, I think punters are going to rally back to her. She is a popular horse.

‘‘Johannes Vermeer has been the obvious one since he was runner-up in the Caulfield Stakes last week and he drew the good barrier. Punters have been happy to take whatever price we have had up.

‘‘He is $5.50 to $4.20 since the draw, but I think he has found his mark at that price and punters are looking for value now.’’

TAB’s Glenn Munsie said the Caulfield Cup had become ‘‘one of those races where the favourite was shortening because everything around it was blowing’’, and that punters liked what they saw in the Aidan O’Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer as he flashed into second behind Gailo Chop in the Caulfield Stakes

‘‘They just don’t want Humidor or Bonneval to any great extent with us and it means as they get out Johannes Vermeer has to get in,’’ Munsie said.

‘‘They have seen him now and know he has backed-up in the past, which is very important. He is very firm in the betting without any real big money.’’