The Chris Waller-trained Lady Le Fay is the early favourite in the Matriarch Stakes 2016 field and betting markets to take out the Emirates Stakes Day support race at Flemington on Saturday.

Real Love is the highest-rated mare in Saturday’s 2016 Matriarch Stakes field and weights at Flemington Racecourse. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Flemington Race 6 at 3:30pm (AEDT) as part of the bumper program to close the Melbourne Cup Carnival, this year’s $300,000 Group 2 7News Matriarch Stakes (2000m) has attracted a full field of 18 mares.

Five of those are currently at single-figures for the win in Matriarch Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au including the narrow $5 favourite Lady Le Fay drawn a treat in barrier three.

Hugh Bowman rides the six-year-old daughter of Thorn Park who has her first run at Flemington and is out to improve on her close sixth when only two lengths off the winner Kaniana at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day in the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m).

She is out over more distance than that for the first time since her sixth to Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in the winter when beaten only two and a half-lengths.

She can handle the metres, will get the gun run from the gate, drops from 58kg to 55kg and after the luckless run on the rails last start will be improving at the roomier track on Saturday.

Heading the Matriarch Stakes field and weights with 59.5kg is the Darren Weir-trained Real Love who bypassed Tuesday’s $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in favour of this much easier assignment.

The Group 2 Perth Cup winner gives the kilos away and is out wide in barrier 15, but has been in strong form this campaign including the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) win three back.

Her Caulfield Cup fifth was brave, and she’s out to improve on the sixth to Oceanographer in the Lexus Stakes a week ago; she’s tough with claims and pays $9 for the win.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer Weir has also accepted for Kaniana and Powderworks drawn in barriers 12 and one respectively.

The aforementioned Kaniana comes off the Tesio Stakes win where she defeated a class field on October 22, but has her first look at the 2000m here and is a $19 outsider in Matriarch Stakes betting.

Stablemate Powderworks from the inside alley is a genuine roughie at $61 after the dead last (12^th) behind Smart As You Think – who takes on Yankee Rose in Thursday’s Crown Oaks – at the Valley last time out.

Shorter in the Matriarch Stakes odds meanwhile occupying the second line of betting is the market mover Denmagic ($11 into $6.50).

The punters have rallied behind this David Pfieffer-trained Sydney raider early, the four-year-old daughter of Denman coming off good form in Melbourne.

Her fourth to First Seal in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) on Caulfield Cup Day saw her beaten only one and three-quarter lengths, while her last run was the third a half-length off I Am A Star in last Saturday’s Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.

She’s had the look at the track now, looks like she’ll run more meters and is down in class.

The other headline hopes include the John Thompson-trained Myer Classic sixth placed Zanbagh ($8) and the consistent Gai Waterhouse-trained Wanted four-year-old Sort After ($9) coming off a 1700m win at the track from Melbourne Cup Day.

See below for the full Matriarch Stakes 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win markets from Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2016 Matriarch Stakes Field, Barriers & Odds