Matthew Smith’s multiple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact is the early 2020 Makybe Diva Stakes betting market mover to return to his best in the Flemington feature this weekend.

Fierce Impact is the early 2020 Makybe Diva Stakes market mover for the Group 1 at Flemington on Saturday. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

A smart field of Cox Plate-bound hopefuls is engaged for this season’s Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) that takes place over the mile at HQ on Saturday.

Drawn well in barrier five for jockey Mark Zahra, who rode Palentino (2016) to a recent win in the race, is seven-year-old Deep Impact entire Fierce Impact.

Smith’s Japanese-bred galloper has been backed in from $5.50 to $4.80 in the latest Makybe Diva Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to win for the first time since November last year.

He added to his future value at stud completing a Group 1 double last spring enjoying back-to-back victories in the Toorak Handicap and Cantala Stakes both over 1600m at Caulfield and Flemington respectively.

It was a frustrating autumn for the galloper who recorded a subsequent two further Group 1 minor placings plus the close fourth in the $5 million The All-Star Mile in the autumn before things went amiss when eight to Tofane in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) coming back in distance.

Fierce Impact kicked off his Cox Plate 2020 bid in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22 and was impressive first-up going down just a quarter-length when third to Verry Elleegant.

Second-up back up to a mile at Flemington and he looks a genuine winning hope in an intriguing edition of the Makybe Diva on Saturday.

Heading him in the markets is the easing Danny O’Brien-trained favourite Russian Camelot, the all-in Cox Plate top fancy out from $3.50 to $4 to win first-up.

Drawn wide in barrier 14 for jockey Damien Oliver, the Irish-bred Camelot entire makes his four-year-old debut and races for the first time since winning the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 9.

Steady at Makybe Diva Stakes odds of $6 is the in-form WA-based mare Perfect Jewel in barrier two for jockey William Pike.

The Grant & Alana Williams-trained Redoute’s Choice six-year-old has won three of her past four including a lead-up Caulfield success against her own kind in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes.

SA Derby runner-up from the autumn, Dalasan ($9) rounds out the single-figure chances and will be ridden by Jordon Childs third-up.

The ultra-consistent son of Dalakhani comes off back-to-back minor placings back in Adelaide as the beaten favourite in both the Group 3 Spring Stakes (2^nd) and Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (3^rd).

Childs replaces Jason Holder aboard the talented prospect and is thrilled to partner the proven Flemington performer who won the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) as a three-year-old on this day 12 months ago.

Click here for the latest 2020 Makybe Diva Stakes betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.