*Update: Real Love has been scratched from the field. Add into exotics the favourite Lady Le Fay. 

A class field of mares face off on Emirates Stakes Day this Saturday in Flemington’s Matriarch Stakes 2016, betting tips and the latest odds for the staying clash found below.

Real Love is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2016 Matriarch Stakes on Stakes’ Day at Flemington this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Running as Flemington Race 6 at 3:30pm (AEDT), this year’s $300,000 Group 2 7News Matriarch Stakes (2000m) features a bumper field of 17 hopefuls after the scratching of Tidy Prophet (2).

Of the five single-figure fancies in the latest Matriarch Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, the $5.50 favourite is Lady Le Fay drawn a treat in gate three (into two) with Hugh Bowman riding Chris Waller’s six-year-old.

She’s never been to Flemington and hasn’t won since late April, but getting back up to 2000m she is tipped to improve sharply four runs into her spring campaign.

The other best in Matriarch Stakes betting this Melbourne Cup Carnival include market mover Denmagic ($11 into $6.50) coming off a brave third beaten only a half-length in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) and the John Thompson-trained Zanbagh ($8.50).

So will the top fancies get the job done for the punters or is an upset Matriarch Stakes result pending from the likes of the Darren Weir-trained top weight Real Love ($10) or Rocket Commander ($19) drawn wide but in top form this campaign?

1^st

#1 Real Love ($10)

The big question for this genuine stayer is whether 59.5kg over 2000m will be too much and too sharp for her. Tipping class to prevail however and she’s getting better and better value by the hour. Wide draw doesn’t look an issue, but does give the kilos away. Still, she won the Group 3 JRA Cup over this distance with 58kg beating the boys at Moonee Valley recently and was brave for the Caulfield Cup fifth. Missed the Melbourne Cup despite making the field, and is out to atone for the sixth in the Lexus Stakes. She’s a danger and at the odds happy to take on the bookies.

2^nd

#16 Happy Hannah ($9)

Peter & Paul Snowden-trained four-year-old coming off back-to-back thirds in Sydney over a mile. She’s up in distance and racing the Melbourne way for the first time, but has previous form around these meters and should appreciate getting back up to it. Was third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) as a three-year-old at Randwick in the autumn and getting in on just 55kg (dropping from 59kg) can surprise with the flying Kerrin McEvoy boosting her chances from the awkward alley (16 of 17).

3^rd

#8 Denmagic ($6.50)

Happy to follow the money trail on this in-form David Pfieffer-trained four-year-old who from four runs this time in has three fourths and a third on the record. The latest was at this track in the Myer Classic against a tougher field over the mile. She ran an eye-catching third beaten only a half-length at big odds. Much shorter for this, so if she runs out the distance is a big chance.

Get behind our exclusive Matriarch Stakes 2016 betting tips at the guaranteed best prices online at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).