Australia: Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare a longshot in Makybe Diva Stakes
At first glance, the odds seem like a mistake. Vow and Declare, the winner of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in Australia last November, was 50-1 in future-book betting on Thursday for Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes.
But the one-mile distance of the $545,200 Makybe Diva Stakes does not necessarily fit Vow and Declare, who is best suited to races at 1 1/2 to two miles. The race is run at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, the same venue as the Melbourne Cup.
The Makybe Diva is a comeback race for Vow and Declare, who has not raced since he finished fifth as an odds-on favorite in a handicap at 1 5/8 miles at Flemington in April. Trainer Danny O’Brien was quoted in the Australian racing press recently as saying Vow and Declare is ready for a return to action, but that the Makybe Diva Stakes is not an ideal distance.
O’Brien may have the winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes in Russian Camelot, a 4-year-old Irish-bred colt who has not raced since a win in the Group 1 South Australian Derby at 1 1/2 miles at Morphettville Racecourse on May 9.
Russian Camelot, the expected favorite on Saturday at around 5-2, is better suited to a one-mile race than Vow and Declare. A winner of 3 of 5 starts, Russian Camelot won his debut at seven furlongs last November and won a one-mile handicap at Pakenham Racecourse in April in advance of the South Australian Derby.
The Makybe Diva Stakes, named for the mare who won three consecutive runnings of the Melbourne Cup from 2003-2005, drew a full field of 16 and is the seventh race on a nine-race program. First post time is 10:05 p.m., Eastern, or 7:05 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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Fierce Impact, a 7-year-old Japanese-bred horse, and Perfect Jewel, a 6-year-old mare, have run recent races that make them competitive.
Fierce Impact was third in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Aug. 22 in his first start since April. He closed from 12th in a field of 16 to finish a neck behind winner Verry Elleegant. Fierce Impact won consecutive Group 1 races last October and November.
Perfect Jewel won three group stakes at tracks near Perth in Western Australia from January to mid-June and won his debut on the Melbourne circuit in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes at six furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on Aug. 29.