Money keeps coming for semi favourites

ALTHOUGH they opened as short-priced favourites, punters are still backing a trio of Emma Stewart’s Breeders’ Crown runners.

Successful in their heats, Encipher, Soho Historia and The Lost Storm are predicted to have no trouble repeated the dose during tomorrow night’s semis at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Likely to search for the lead from barrier five, The Lost Storm has firmed from $1.35 to $1.25 after two sizeable bets were placed on the two-year-old.

Faring slightly better in gate four, Soho Historia is into $1.75 after opening at $2.50 in the first of the three-year-old fillies’ qualifiers.

Defending champion Encipher is now a $1.70 - down from $1.90 - in the second semi.

Outside of Stewart’s squad, New South Wales raider Jewel Melody has been backed to upstage the locals in the first semi for two-year-old fillies.

Although drawn the outside of the front row, Jewel Melody has firmed from $2.40 to $1.95.

Away from the Breeders’ Crown, Torrid Saint has tightened from $2.40 to $2 in the Melton City Council Sprint.

A last start winner of the Yarra Valley Cup for Julie Douglas, Torrid Saint has drawn barrier five but slots into four as a result of a scratching.

“Betting on the semis has been very strong since markets opened,” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou said.

“In fact, I would rate the activity right up there with some of the bigger meetings that I’ve seen in my time at TAB. Punters are more than happy to be jumping on early.”