More Felons, a notable contender for the $2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup, has withdrawn from the race, leaving Ciaron Maher’s Circle Of Fire as the current favourite.

Trained by Chris Waller, More Felons showcased promising form in two recent outings, winning the Listed Parramatta Cup and narrowly missing victory in the G1 Tancred Stakes.

However, he reportedly presented lame following his last run, intensifying the already competitive field.

Despite not initially securing a spot in the Cup, Circle Of Fire’s impressive win in the ballot-exempt G2 Chairman’s Stakes positions him as a strong contender.

Trained by Maher, the four-year-old entire is expected to handle the 3200-meter distance well, especially after his remarkable Chairman’s victory.

Maher also boasts the second favourite in the race, Ashrun, aiming for consecutive Sydney Cup victories after Explosive Jack’s triumph last year.

Other key contenders include Tancred winner Kalapour, Athabascan, and Amade from OTI Racing.

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