Despite the controversy surrounding Gai Waterhouse over the past month with the More Joyous – John Singleton saga playing out, the dedicated Sydney trainer could be in the spotlight for all the right reasons come the spring as she prepares the current 2013 Melbourne Cup betting favourite Fiorente.

Fiorente is one of four equal favourites in the early 2013 Melbourne Cup odds. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Her imported Monsun gelding travelled over from the UK where they were prepared by Sir Michael Stoute to win the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Goldsmiths Stakes (2414m) during last year’s July Carnival at Newmarket, late in the year to target the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival features.

They debuted down under in the world’s richest handicap and caught many off guard with their super impressive effort running a length away second to Green Moon in the $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November as a $30 outsider in the Melbourne Cup odds.

After a lengthy six month spell the progressive five-year-old returned to racing at Randwick on Sydney Cup Day and showed they had lost none of their spark when finishing under two lengths away third behind the since retired super colt All Too Hard in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

While their next race is yet to be penciled in their long range goal in 2013 is to return to Victoria and look to go one better in this year’s edition of the iconic Melbourne Cup.

It seems the bookies are taking no early chances with the exciting stayer either based on their first-up autumn run with Fiorente now sitting top of the futures Melbourne Cup odds at a quote of $11.

In a competitive all-in market Fiorente does share that first line of Melbourne Cup betting with three other hopefuls in:

• Mount Athos ($11) – Luca Cumani’s smart Montjeu six-year-old enjoyed three straight wins during our winter last year in Europe and travelled over to Australia for the Melbourne Cup finishing a competitive fifth, failed in the Japan Cup next start going back to the 2413m but was in flying first-up form this month scoring an emphatic nine length win in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes (2696m) at Chester
• Puissance De Lune ($11) – Darren Weir-trained Ballarat based Shamardal grey won the Bendigo Cup – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double last spring by a collective 13 lengths shooting into early 2013 Melbourne Cup contention, also a first-up winner in March of the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) where they dead heated with Budriguez
• Sea Moon ($11) – Sir Michael Stoute-trained stallion is a Group 2 winner in Europe and a Grade 1 runner-up (Breeders’ Cup) in the US, didn’t like the wet in the Prix de L’Arc last October but ready to bounce back when returning, will they handle the 3200m though?

Just outside of these top fancies are then the likes of Murray Baker’s crack New Zealand colt It’s A Dundeel ($13), one of David Hayes’ Melbourne Cup bound imports Jet Away ($15) who has won both their Aussie starts so far, European Group 1 performer Michelangelo ($18) and the Chris Waller-trained Australian Oaks winning filly Royal Descent ($19).

To get in now and place your early Melbourne Cup bets down at the juicy odds on offer pre-nominations then head over to bookmaker.com.au – Australia’s leading Melbourne Cup bookmaker.

2013 Melbourne Cup Odds

Flemington Race 7 – 05/11/2013

*Fixed Win Odds are All In, Top 24 only and subject to change @ bookmaker.com.au