Racing: Diva meets veteran on equal terms

MELBOURNE - Master Irish trainer Dermot Weld believes Makybe Diva is generously weighted in the Melbourne Cup compared to his old warhorse Vinnie Roe.

The pair, who fought out the finish of last year's Cup, have been allotted 58kg in Tuesday's Cup.

Makybe Diva had 55.5kg when she beat Vinnie Roe last year. He had 58kg.

"The 2.5kg brings them equal. Remembering he is a 7-year-old horse, he is eight in Australian time, I don't think he is that well in for an old horse," Weld told Melbourne radio station 927 yesterday.

"That said I didn't think he would get much less, so I wasn't surprised by the weight.

"I think she is well in. I genuinely think that for a mare who has won two Melbourne Cups and what she has done, she is very well handicapped.

"I think she should have another two kilograms, she is an outstanding racehorse."

Speaking from Ireland, Weld said he was well aware of Makybe Diva's win in last Saturday's Cox Plate.

"It was a brilliant run. She is an outstanding mare as we all know.

"I keep saying last year's Melbourne Cup was one hell of a horse race.

"She ran a superb race and Vinnie Roe ran an excellent race giving her five pounds and you look even at the fourth horse Elvstroem, the way he has gone this year racing in Dubai and Europe this year."

Weld was echoing the comments of Australian training great Bart Cummings, who said he had never seen a horse weighted better than Makybe Diva in a major race.

Cummings, who has 11 Melbourne Cup wins as a trainer, said she was the best-weighted horse in the history of the race.

Weld said his grand old horse would be having his racing swansong.

"It is more than likely he will go to Coolmore Stud when the race is over."

He repeated his warnings from previous years that the Flemington track must not be too firm on Tuesday.

"Providing it is safe I believe he can give a very good account of himself. If it was really really firm I would have to scratch the horse."

Vinnie Roe relished the soft conditions at Flemington yesterday.

He worked from the 1600m on the course proper and finished on terms with fellow Cup entrant Franklins Gardens, full of running.

Weld, who trained 1993 Cup winner Vintage Crop, played down the chances of Vinnie Roe in the Cup, saying he was one of the outsiders at 14 to 16 to one.

"He is the old man of the party."

He noted the big run for second by Japanese visitor Eye Popper in the Caulfield Cup and said he was a horse that stood out.

But when asked by a cheeky Australian whether that meant Eye Popper was the horse to beat Makybe Diva, Weld quickly changed tack.

"Vinnie Roe is the horse to beat the mare."

- NZPA