Last chance 2013 Melbourne Cup hopeful Jet Away remains the firm favourite to win this afternoon’s Mackinnon Stakes 2013 and earn their start in the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) back at Flemington on Tuesday.

Jet Away remains the steady 203 Mackinnon Stakes betting favourite for this afternoon. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

David Hayes’ imported Cape Cross seven-year-old has won two of their four starts on Aussies shores since joining their Flemington-based trainer in the autumn from Britain.

They’ve been set for a shot at the Melbourne Cup since coming over, but are in danger of missing out on a start in the capacity 24-horse field for the world’s richest handicap currently sitting 30^th on the order of entry.

Last seen running a brave fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Jet Away gets a chance at a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption with a win this afternoon dropping back to the 2000m for the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

“He’s won six of his eight starts at 2000m,” Hayes told the New Zealand Herald this week.

“I thought he went an extremely good race in the Caulfield Cup,”

They opened top of the Mackinnon Stakes odds at $2.90 and remain at that price today as one of three single-figure fancies for the weight-for-age feature.

Odds on the second favourite in the markets, Rob Heathcote’s Toorak Handicap winner Solzhenitsyn, meanwhile have blown out dramatically.

After sitting as short as $3.80 earlier in the week to make it back-to-back Group 1’s this season, the Brisbane raider is now out to $5.25 with a number of historical hoodoos going against them today.

Third pick, and the Mackinnon Stakes market mover, is then Mick Price’s German import Pakal at $5.

The Lord Of England gelding put in a stellar effort carrying 60kg on October 13 to defeat French galloper Sertorius in the Cranbourne Cup (2050m), and while the form from that race is questionable, over the same distance but under WFA they are in with their chance today.

There was one other hope under $10 in earlier markets with Clarry Conners’ Caulfield Cup third placegetter Dear Demi ($9).

The smart four-year-old Dehere mare however has since eased out to double figures but is still a genuine chance for an upset Mackinnon Stakes result according to the Races.com.au team.

See below for the latest Mackinnon Stakes odds on the field, prices you can lock in right now online at Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll also find double the odds markets open on this afternoon’s Victoria Derby!

2013 Mackinnon Stakes Odds