MELBOURNE - Damien Oliver's engagement for Caulfield Cup runner-up Kaapstad Way in the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday has influenced bookmakers to make the New Zealander outright favourite for the $A3 million race.
Oliver won Thursday night's Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Yippyio, who came in from 16-1 to 12-1 for the Melbourne Cup, but Oliver regards the Chris Wood-trained Kaapstad Way as a better Cup prospect.
Kaapstad Way, whom Oliver got off to ride Fairway into third place in the Caulfield Cup, is at 8-1 for the Melbourne Cup ahead of Far Cry, Bohemiath, Arctic Owl and Freemason.
Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe was tightened from 14-1 to 12-1 after he ran on well to finish second behind Sunline in Saturday's Cox Plate.
There has also been specking for Wellington Cup winner Second Coming, who also ran on well from back in the Caulfield Cup, and has now firmed from 20-1 to 16-1.
Latest betting for the $3 million Melbourne Cup is.-
8, Kaapstad Way; 10, Arctic Owl, Bohemiath, Far Cry, Freemason; 12, Diatribe, Streak, Yippyio; 14 Enzeli; 16, Lightning Arrow, Oxford Dollar, Second Coming, Tie The Knot; 20, Brew, Mont Rocher; 25, Citra's Prince, Coco Cobanna, Pravda, The Hind; 33, Hill Of Grace, Mayshiel.
The other big move with Melbourne bookmakers yesterday was Skalato in Saturday's Victoria Derby.
The 3-year-old justified heavy support to bolt away with the AAMI Vase at Moonee valley on Saturday.
That victory has seen him shorten to favourite for the $A1million Derby.
His runner-up on Saturday, Universal Prince, is rated the main Derby danger by bookmakers, with third placegetter Sale Of The Centruy on the third line of Derby betting.
The Derby market is.- 5-2, Skalato; 7-2, Universal Prince; 6, Falls the Shadow, Sale Of Century; 8, Royale Exit; 10, Hit The Roof, Reenact, Show A Heart; 16, Adolescence, Verbal.
Racing: Kiwi stayer now favourite for Cup
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