Aussie horses at Ascot nearly double the value on Betfair

Betfair punters have the opportunity to get the better of their Australian counterparts tonight when Star Witness makes his international debut in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Ascot.

Last seen when seventh in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March, Star Witness is rated a $5.60 chance by Betfair punters in the King's Stand on the Royal meeting's opening day.

By contrast, TAB Sportsbet is offering its customers no better than $3.50 on Danny O'Brien's colt emulating his father Starcraft in becoming an international winner.

Betfair spokesman Jake Norton mused that the significant discrepancy between the odds on a Star Witness victory on Betfair and local Australian outlets could be attributed to one of two things.

"Firstly, betting into global pools such as Betfair's international racing markets enables Australian punters to avoid the inevitable price reduction made by local bookies, who see punters wanting to back the Aussie horses coming from a mile away," Norton said.

"Alternatively, Star Witness's price in the King's Stand suggests British punters may underestimate him. This opinion is supported by internationally renowned and respected ratings expert Timeform, who has indicated that Star Witness will require a career-best performance in order to claim victory overnight on Tuesday.

"Either way, if you're an Aussie punter wanting to back Star Witness, you'd be crazy not to do so on Betfair."

Star Witness's nearest rivals in Betfair's market on the 1000m sprint are Sole Power ($8.80) and Kingsgate Native ($9.80). All other King's Stand runners can be backed at odds of $13.50 or better.

He is joined by fellow Australians Hinchinbrook and So You Think at the Royal meeting, each of whom can be backed at an industry best price on Betfair.

Hinchinbrook is $14 to win Saturday's Golden Jubilee Stakes ($8 with TAB Sportsbet) where he may encounter Star Witness ($9.80 Betfair; $5.50 TAB Sportsbet), while So You Think lines up in tomorrow night's Prince of Wales's Stakes ($1.46 Betfair; $1.40 Centrebet).