Diva odds cut for back-to-back victories
Makybe Diva is as low as 3-1 favourite to repeat her success of last year in the Emirates Melbourne Cup two weeks today following reports of a setback for key rival She’s Archie.
The seven-year-old beat She’s Archie by a length and a quarter in the 2003 renewal of the Flemington race, but the Darren Weir-trained mare had been fancied to reverse the form.
However, Weir has revealed that She’s Archie missed a piece of fast work this morning as she is suffering from general soreness, and she will not be running in Saturday’s Cathay Pacific Airways Cup at Moonee Valley.
Weir intends to assess the mare’s chances of making the Melbourne Cup next week, prompting William Hill to cut Makybe Diva to 3-1 from 10-1 for the big race, while Coral go 7-2.
Dermot Weld’s 2002 winner Media Puzzle has been attracting some support and is 8-1 from 25s, while stablemate Vinnie Roe is 7-1 from 14-1 with the same firm.
William Hill: 3-1 Makybe Diva, 7-1 Vinnie Roe, 8-1 Hugs Dancer, Media Puzzle, 10-1 Distinction, 14-1 Rizon, Strasbourg, 16-1 Confectioner, 20-1 Razkalla, 25-1 bar.
Coral: 7-2 Makybe Diva, 13-2 Vinnie Roe, 9-1 Media Puzzle, 10-1 Hugs Dancer, Distinction, 14-1 Grey Song, Strasbourg, 16-1 Razkalla, Rizon, 20-1 Fantastic Love, Mamool, Mummify, 25-1 bar.
Totesport: 7-2 Makybe Diva, 8-1 She’s Archie, Vinnie Roe, 10-1 Distinction, Hugs Dancer, 12-1 Media Puzzle, 16-1 Elvstroem, Grey Song, Mummify, Rizon, Strasbourg, 20-1 Mamool, 25-1 Fantastic Love, Razkalla, 33-1 bar.
