Horse Racing

After starting as the odds-on favourite in the pre-nomination betting markets open at Sportsbet to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup, Faint Perfume has now been surpassed as the punters get behind her stablemate and rival Dariana.

Both four-year-old mares are trained by the legendary Cups King Bart Cummings, who is vying for his unprecedented 13^th Melbourne Cup trophy on Tuesday November 2 at Flemington, 51 years after winning his first Melbourne Cup with Light Fingers in 1965.

Last year’s Crown Oaks winner Faint Perfume opened as the warm favourite to become the 2010 Melbourne Cup champion, but her odds have now drifted out $15 as Dariana and Shocking shorten into the equal $13 favourites at Sportsbet.

Redoute’s Choice mare Dariana has now been pinned as Cummings top chance in the 150^th Melbourne Cup.

Dariana has won three of her nine career starts to date for $451, 165 in prizemoney including her win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) last start in June at Eagle Farm.

Yet to resume racing for the season, the punters seem to fancy Dariana and it is always a good tip to watch the betting markets and follow the money.

So, placing an early bet on Dariana at Sportsbet while she is at such generous odds could prove to be very profitable!

The other early favourite for the $6 million Melbourne Cup this November is reigning champion Shocking seeking back-to-back success in the world’s richest handicap.

If the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking goes on to claim success in this year’s Cup, he will become just the sixth horse in history to win multiple Melbourne Cups joining an elite list that includes Makybe Diva (2003,2004,2005), Think Big (1974, 1975), Rain Lover (1968, 1969), Peter Pan (1932,1934) and the inaugural champion Archer (1861, 1862).

Dariana has been earmarked to have her first-up start in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 28 where she will face off against Faint Perfume, another of Cummings’ stars last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think, and fellow Melbourne Cup hopeful Zabrasive.

The 2010 Memsie Stakes provides a great early preview for some of the spring’s major feature races including the Melbourne Cup and is one of the first top betting opportunities of the season at Sportsbet.

Horse Facts – Dariana

Jockey: A jockey is yet to be booked to ride Dariana in the 2010 Melbourne Cup but most recently she has been ridden by Michael Rodd.

Trainer: Bart Cummings

Owner: Bell View Park Stud, Dato Tan Chin Nam, Mr B S Tan

Age: 4YO

Gender: Mare

Career: 9-3-1-1

Current Melbourne Cup Odds: $13 Sportsbet

To get the best odds on Dariana for the 2010 Melbourne Cup don’t go to the TAB. Take a few minutes to sign up to online bookmaker Sportsbet instead and if you follow our link you can get a free $100 bet!