There are three mares in the Melbourne Cup 2013 field including Dear Demi who is out to become the first of her kind to win the iconic handicap since the mighty Makybe Diva made it a triple in 2005.

Since the Melbourne Cup was inaugurated in 1861 a total of 13 mares have taken it out, most recently Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005) who remains he only triple Melbourne Cup winner in history.

This year three will look to be the 14^th when the $6 million, Emirates-sponsored two mile (3200m) feature runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm on Tuesday.

The shortest-priced of the mares in Melbourne Cup betting this year is last start Prix Kergorlay winner Verema ($15).

She’s out to become the third French-trained winner of the ‘race that stops a nation’ and the second for her trainer Alain de Royer Dupre who prepared the first, Americain, back in 2010.

Then comes Irish St Leger champion Voleuse De Coeurs at $17 who will race for the Michael Moroney for the first time.

The longest-priced of the female Melbourne Cup hopes is then the Clarry Conners-trained Dear Demi at $21 who has work to do from barrier 16.

While not thrilled with the gate his Dehere four-year-old drew, the Sydney-based Conners knows he’s done everything in his power to get Dear Demi right for her acid test in the Cup.

“I’m disappointed (with the draw), but she is 100 per cent and (the Mackinnon) has topped her off perfectly,” Conners told The Herald Sun this week.

“I think she can win, but she just needs some luck.”

She comes off some imposing form too having run a brave third to Fawkner, a $16 Melbourne Cup chance to complete the spring Cups double, in the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Dear Demi also ran just last Saturday, so she’s on the short back-up, when second to Side Glance in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) a race the maestro Bart Cummings often used to use for his Melbourne Cup starters.

“I thought she ran really well off a slow tempo, she just kept coming and coming,” Conners said.

“She hasn’t got that zip, and that’s why I think she is going to be very competitive in the Cup.

“I had to run her (on Derby Day). I would have had to gallop her (Saturday) morning anyway, so you might as well run in a $1 million race.

 

“She is a non-worker at home, but she tries hard (on the racetrack). I think this run will see her at her best.”

So will Dear Demi keep her top form going when stepped up to the 3200m on Tuesday?

Or will the pressure get the better of her on Melbourne Cup Day?

#22 Dear Demi – Horse Form

• Barrier: 16
• Weight: 51kg
• Jockey: Chris Munce
• Trainer: Clarry Conners
• Owners: Strawberry Hill Stud, Ms Y Hartman
• Age: 4YO
• Gender: Mare
• Breeding: by Dehere (USA) from Shirley
• Career: 26-5-6-6
• Win: 21%
• Place: 61%
• Last 6: 73832
• Prize Money:
• Track: 5-1-1-0
• Distance: 0-0-0-0
• Current 2013 Melbourne Cup Odds: $21

Pros for Backing Dear Demi to Win the Melbourne Cup 2013

• A super lightweight chance getting in with just 51kg, she carried 53kg in the Caulfield Cup and 56.5kg in the Mackinnon under WFA
• Has been ridden by four different jockeys in as many starts but Chris Munce, aboard for the Mackinnon, stays on here
• Munce is a previous Melbourne Cup winning jockey too having ridden Jezabeel, another mare, to victory in 1998
• Is the right age with four-year-old boasting the equal best record in the race (along with five-year-olds) – 43 wins each
• Has a decent Flemington track record (5-1-1-0) including her Group 1 Crown Oaks win here over 2500m last spring
• The form of Derby Day runners backing up in the Melbourne Cup over the years is decent
• Comes off two very good runs: Caulfield Cup third and Mackinnon Stakes second
• Caulfield Cup form going into the Melbourne Cup is always good

Cons for Locking Dear Demi in as the 2013 Melbourne Cup Winner

• Conners is yet to train a Melbourne Cup record
• Mares don’t have a great record against the boys in the Melbourne Cup with only 13 saluting
• The last was a champion (Makybe Diva) back in 2005
• Barrier 16 is wide and she’s got work to do
• Yet to step up to 3200m so the distance is a query
• Needs to handle the short three-day back-up having run on Derby Day

Think Dear Demi’s form franks her price in the Melbourne Cup betting markets? Then back her now at Ladbrokes.com.au and get her at double her fixed win odds making her a juicy $42 Melbourne Cup winner!