Trainer Mark Kavanagh has questioned the faith punters have put in Raffaello who has been heavily backed for his first test at Group One level in Saturday's Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.TAB Sportsbet's betting manager Daniel Happell said Raffaello was the first horse laid when the field was declared on Wednesday and the best supported runner."Some smarties moved in and the first bet we laid was $2,500 at $8," Happell said.Raffaello firmed to outright favourite and was as short as $5

Trainer Mark Kavanagh has questioned the faith punters have put in Raffaello who has been heavily backed for his first test at Group One level in Saturday's Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

TAB Sportsbet's betting manager Daniel Happell said Raffaello was the first horse laid when the field was declared on Wednesday and the best supported runner.

"Some smarties moved in and the first bet we laid was $2,500 at $8," Happell said.

Raffaello firmed to outright favourite and was as short as $5.50 before taking a breather at $6.

But Kavanagh, while hopeful the punters have got it right, is wary about Raffaello making the leap in grade after a slashing first-up win over Maxisun and Makybe Diva Stakes winner Vigor in a 1200-metre sprint at Caulfield on August 15.

"It is a massive rise in class and he has to be taken on trust," Kavanagh said.

"He is going pretty well and I think he can give it a shake but I take a conservative approach with tipping my horses and I like to see them make it in that grade first."

Only last March, Raffaello was a restricted class galloper before rounding out his autumn campaign with a second to Miss Maren in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m).

Jockey Michael Rodd said there were "a few little tricks" to riding Raffaello but he was "very exciting".

"He switches off early in his races and you have to get him to the outside for a clear run so he can produce that really good turn of foot he's got," Rodd said.

Happell said Winter Championship winner Gold Salute was the next best backed horse in the Rupert Clarke, firming from $7.50 to $6.50 while to Pinnacles had been specked by the professional punters from $51 to $31.

Raheeb is a market drifter from $11 to $13 but trainer Mick Price is upbeat about the six-year-old stallion's prospects this spring.

He said that while Raheeb would need luck from barrier 14, he was encouraged by his first-up fourth to Swift Alliance when not far from the minor placegetters, Rupert Clarke rivals Gold Salute (second) and Chasm (third).

"I think he's got a good race in him this spring," Price said.

"I might be still chasing that tough, hard race fitness with him but hopefully he can run in the first three," Price said.