Racing: Xcellent firms for Cox but doubts on Diva

SYDNEY - Xcellent has attracted betting support for the Cox Plate as doubts surface about pre-post favourite Makybe Diva's fitness.

Xcellent, an odds-on chance in New Zealand to win the Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings on Saturday, has firmed in to A$17 from A$21 with bookmaker Michael Eskander for the Cox Plate to be run at Moonee Valley on October 22.

Eskander said that was because of a A$5000 bet he had fielded at A$21 on the New Zealand star.

But the big money has poured in for Makybe Diva's stablemate Mummify, who has been backed to win A$1 million in the Cox Plate.

Bill Hurley's Sportsbook reported a wager of A$100,000 to A$3000 at odds of $34 on Mummify, while Colin Tidy and Eskander both accepted bets of A$3000 each way.

His odds are now A$21 with Hurley while TAB Sportsbet has him as low as A$17.

In the meantime, Makybe Diva has eased from A$2.75 to A$3 for the big weight-for-age feature.

"We can't write a bet on Makybe Diva to win the Cox Plate but there has been huge interest in Mummify," said Tidy's Mark Morrissey.

Makybe Diva galloped between races at Mornington on Saturday, but rumours have surfaced since that she hasn't been going as well as she could.

The dual Melbourne Cup winner is due to run in the Turnbull Stakes on Saturday, with Steven King replacing usual jockey Glen Boss, who will be riding at Randwick.

Mummify will be at Randwick, running in the Craven Plate.

Levin trainer Peter McKenzie had a change of fortune on his Sydney sojourn yesterday when promising stayer Miles made the field for the group one Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick - although he drew barrier 19 in a field of 20.

Miles and stablemate Empyreal were low on the order of entry but a high attrition rate among the entries has seen him scrape into the field, while Empyreal is first emergency.

Former New Zealand mare Bhandara is also in the field.

McKenzie's 3-year-old, Sculptor, who missed the Dulcify Quality on Saturday after playing up in the barriers, is an acceptor for the group one Spring Champion Stakes.

Fifteen horses make up the Epsom Handicap field, with Gai Waterhouse fielding four of the favourites in Mr Celebrity, Lotteria, Desert War and Flaming.

Mr Celebrity, by Peintre Celebre out of the Marscay mare Lamora, is the only New Zealand-bred horse in the field.

The spring campaign of Nevis is over after she was found to have a hairline fracture in a pastern. She is a daughter of former top South Island mare Tartan Tights.

- NZPA