Forty eight hours away from Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m), the UK raider Mount Athos, trained by Luca Cumani, has emerged favorite at $7.50 (13/2).
Former favorite Fiorente is at $8 second favourite with Sportingbet after drawing favourably in barrier 5.
Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan says Mount Athos is expected to start the favorite at race time.
“The money we’ve taken for Mount Athos during the week and even immediately after the draw suggests the horse is flying and can win from anywhere,” Sullivan says. “He’ll have time to find his place and is still the horse to beat,” Sullivan said.
In other Cup betting news: Lexus Stakes winner Ruscello eased from $20 to $40 after drawing gate 24; Dear Demi, which was $26 prior to a stout 2nd in the Mackinnon Stakes, stays at $15 after drawing barrier 16.
Dear Demi’s owner, John Singleton, stands to collect more than $2million from Sportingbet if the mare wins after placing $50,000 by $25,000 on the horse at odds of $41.
LATEST CUP MARKET
1. DUNADEN (1) $41 $41
2. GREEN MOON (10) $26 $41
3. RED CADEAUX (23) $51 $51
4. SEA MOON (7) $15 $16
5. BROWN PANTHER (6) $19 $23
6. FIORENTE (5) $8 $8
7. FORETELLER (15) $26 $26
8. DANDINO (4) $11 $12
9. ETHIOPIA (14) $61 $61
10. FAWKNER (8) $21 $28
11. MOURAYAN (19) $81 $81
12. SEVILLE (9) $21 $19
13. SUPER COOL (13) $41 $41
14. MASKED MARVEL (2) $31 $31
15. MOUNT ATHOS (22) $7.50 $7.50
16. ROYAL EMPIRE (11) $26 $31
17. VOLEUSE DE COEURS (21) $12 $13
18. HAWKSPUR (18) $13 $15
19. SIMENON (12) $21 $26
20. IBICENCO (17) $67 $71
21. VEREMA (13) $13 $13
22. DEAR DEMI (16) $15 $15
23. TRES BLUE (20) $17 $19
24. RUSCELLO (24) $41 $20