If betting markets retain anything like their current shape when the race is run at 9.35pm, the Bill Dixon-trained hulk will run favourite in Australia’s richest handicap event.

For all his achievements, Blacks A Fake, who is trained and driven by Dixon’s daughter-in-law Natalie Rasmussen out of the same Queensland property, didn’t run favourite in the only Hunter Cup he contested.

He won it last year, but a 30-metre handicap meant he was sent out the $4.90 third favourite behind Divisive ($3.70) and Safari ($4.50).

After drawing ideally in barrier four for Saturday night’s race, I Am Sam, to be driven by Rasmussen, was promoted to $3 favouritism in TAB Sportsbet’s fixed odds market on the 3065-metre marathon.

While many have been surprised with I Am Sam’s rise to such prominence, Rasmussen and husband Grant Dixon aren’t among them.

“Grant and I have always had a very big opinion of him, it’s just been a matter of getting to do what we thought he could do out on the racetrack,” she said.

“So I’m not surprised he’s favourite, because I know that this is his sort of race and it’s coming together at the right time.”

A four-time Derby placegetter as a youngster, I Am Sam has won 28 of his 74 starts and is just $1326 short of $400,000 in stakes.

He has stamped himself as Australia’s toughest horse with a stunning Victorian summer campaign, including wins in the Popular Alm FFA and Horsham Cup.

But a gutsy effort off 20 metres in the Shepparton Cup at his most recent outing, when pipped by boom American import Mr Feelgood after doing most of the work, was what consolidated his place near the head of Hunter Cup charts.

Landing gate four at Tuesday’s barrier draw was what assured the son of Perfect Art favouritism.

“I just wanted the front row somewhere because he is the sort of horse who likes to be up in a forward spot,” she said.

“It could have been hard to get there from 10 or 11, so barrier four is very nice and if he steps safely like he normally does, hopefully he’ll be able to lob nice and handy.”