Punters believe the John O'Shea-trained Tickets can turn the tables on Manhattan Rain in their rematch in Saturday's Group One Champagne Stakes at Randwick.Tickets finished 1-1/4 lengths second to Manhattan Rain in the second leg of the two-year-old triple crown, the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), last Saturday.The Gai Waterhouse-trained Manhattan Rain is a drifter with Centrebet, out from $1.90 to $2.10, while Tickets has enjoyed solid support, tightening from $2.75 to $2.65.A field of just six
Punters believe the John O'Shea-trained Tickets can turn the tables on Manhattan Rain in their rematch in Saturday's Group One Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
Tickets finished 1-1/4 lengths second to Manhattan Rain in the second leg of the two-year-old triple crown, the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), last Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Manhattan Rain is a drifter with Centrebet, out from $1.90 to $2.10, while Tickets has enjoyed solid support, tightening from $2.75 to $2.65.
A field of just six will line up after trainer Gary Portelli scratched Romanus on Friday.
Portelli told stewards the colt had a nasal discharge and was unfit to run.
Manhattan Rain's jockey Nash Rawiller is confident the Encosta De Lago colt will aim up again and doesn't think the extra distance will make a difference to the result.
"My bloke finished off very strongly and they wouldn't have caught us with another furlong (200m) and I can't see them doing it on Saturday either," Rawiller said.
Waterhouse is targeting her fifth Champagne Stakes with her last coming via Meurice who was ridden by Rawiller two years ago.
Tickets has also attracted support with TAB Sportsbet where he has tightened from $2.60 in to $2.50.
Tim Ryan from TAB Sportsbet said there was not much support for Manhattan Rain but he remained at $2.
"The favourite's been pretty quiet but there are plenty of punters who have him anchoring their multis and that's why he's held his price," Ryan said.
Queenslander Choistar has been friendless in betting but remains third favourite at $6.
"One of the best backed is Onemorenomore at $14, he's had plenty of support," Ryan said.
The Jason Coyle-trained Onemorenomore comes into the race after running fourth to Manhattan Rain in the Sires' Produce.
He came from near last at the turn to finish four lengths from the winner.
Two starts back Onemorenomore flew home from near last to defeat Rogue Warrior to win the Listed Baillieu Handicap (1400m) on a heavy Kensington track at Randwick on April 1.
Randwick track manager Dave Hodgson rated the surface slow on Friday and with showers forecast overnight and race day an upgrade was not expected.
The wet track will be welcomed by Michael Flanigan who trains Choistar who is bidding to become the first Queenslander to win the Champagne Stakes since former glamour filly Eye Liner in 1965.
Choistar blitzed Euphemism by five lengths to win the Listed Fernhill Handicap last start on a heavy Randwick track on April 13.