Preferment has attracted plenty of support in the last 48 hours and is now $9 to win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old was $13 on Wednesday morning, but money has seen the Victoria Derby winner crunched into $9 and on the third line of betting.
Preferment drifted from $9.50 to $17 following his 13 lengths ninth placing in last Saturday's Cox Plate.
"Punters thought that was an over-reaction and he was quickly back into $13," said TAB's Glenn Munsie
"However, since Wednesday morning we have seen a wave of support and he is the second best backed behind Fame Game ($3.60)."
The son of Zabeel has been as much as $35 in Cup betting, with one punter having $1,000 at that price in September.
In 2007 Efficient won the Melbourne Cup as a four-year-old, one year after winning the Victoria Derby.
Big bets on Preferment this week:
$1500 @ $13, $800 @ $13, $400 @ $13 [twice], $800 @ $12, $750 @ $12, $500 @ $12, $900 @ $9, $500 @ $9.
KEY MOVES FOR SATURDAY:
Wakeful Stakes (race 2): My Poppette ($6.50-$4.60) has been the best backed runner in the race. Ambience is the $4.20 favourite. Princess Aria ($31-$13) is rated a knockout chance.
Guvera Stakes (race 3): Artlee ($10-$5.50), winner of the Country Championships at Randwick in autumn, is easily the best backed runner.
Coolmore Stud Stakes (race 4): The first of four Group 1 races with Exospehere ($1.40) solid in betting and will go around as the shortest favourite and only odds-on shot of the day.
Lexus Stakes (race 5): These horses looking to gain a start in the Cup, with the winner of this race traditionally popular to win on Tuesday. Ruling Dynasty ($7-$5.50) for James Cummings has been well supported. The last start winner is currently $61 to win the Melbourne Cup.
Mackinnon Stakes (race 6): The most open betting race of the day with Magic Hurricane ($6) favourite. Sky Racing expert Ron Dufficy has made Gailo Chop ($18-$13) his best value bet of the day.
Victoria Derby (race 7): Lizard Island ($14-$11) is gathering support with Tarzino ($2.35) to start favourite.
Myer Classic (race 8): Royal Descent ($6-$5) is tipped to bounce back after finishing last in the Caulfield Cup.
TAB.COM.AU Stakes (race 9): Delectation ($6-$5) best backed to win the second last race of the day.
TAB.COM.AU MARKETS
Melbourne Cup
$3.60 Fame Game
$8.50 Trip To Paris
$9 Preferment
$13 Amralah, Max Dynamite
$15 Almoonqith, Criterion
$21 Bondi Beach, Hokko Brave, Our Ivanhowe, The United States, Who Shot Thebarman
$26 Gust Of Wind, Hartnell, Kingfisher, Red Cadeaux, Snow Sky, The Offer
$31 Dandino, Grand Marshal
Others quoted
Victoria Derby (Race 7)
$2.35 Tarzino
$7.50 Kia Ora Koutou
$10 Lizard Island, Get The Picture
$12 Extra Choice
$14 Pay Up Bro, Shards
$16 Etymology
$26 Man Of Choice, Colonel Custer, Jadeer
Others quoted
Coolmore Stakes (Race 4)
$1.40 Exosphere
$10 Keen Array
$11 Mogador
$15 Counterattack
$17 Hellbent
$21 Sebring Sun, Japonisme, Super One
$26 Ready For Victory
$51 Dal Cielo
$101 Black Vanquish
$151 Ragazzo Del Corsa
Mackinnon Stakes (Race 6)
$5.50 Magic Hurricane
$6.00 Stratum Star
$7.00 Flamingo Star, Contributer
$8.00 Happy Trails
$10 Pornichet
$11 Magic Artist
$14 Gailo Chop
Others quoted
Myer Classic (Race 8)
$4.50 Stay With Me
$5.00 Royal Descent
$7.50 Azkadellia
$10 Miss Rose De Lago
$11 Abidewithme
$13 Mays Dream, Politeness, Slightly Sweet
$15 Jessy Belle
$18 Fenway
$19 La Passe
Others quoted