Grant & Alana Williams’ classy mare from Perth Arcadia Queen is tipped as the one to beat off her credible Cox Plate fifth in Saturday’s 2020 Mackinnon Stakes betting markets.

Arcadia Queen is the hot favourite in 2020 Mackinnon Stakes betting this weekend at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

This year the Group 1 $2 million Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) has drawn a well under capacity field of just 10 weight-for-age hopefuls facing off in the Flemington feature.

There’s still plenty of class among the ranks however including the favourite Arcadia Queen drawn in barrier five with Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye McNeil in the saddle.

Young 25-year-old McNeil saluted aboard Irish raider Twilight Payment in the ‘race that stops a nation’ and will be hoping to cap off a magic Melbourne Cup Carnival with another victory on Saturday.

Winner of the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) two back, five-year-old Pierro mare Arcadia Queen was last seen running 3.8 lengths back fifth behind Sir Dragonet in the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).

Better suited at Flemington against a smaller field, this is an easier assignment for her and she is at a current quote of $3.10 and firming in the Mackinnon Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to celebrate her third Group 1 success.

The danger occupying the second line of Mackinnon Stakes betting in 2020 is last year’s second placegetter Melody Belle.

Jamie Richards’ flying daughter of Commands was second to the international winner Magic Wand in the race 12 months ago and returns rock hard fit again this season.

Back home in New Zealand she has won her past two starts taking her Group 1 tally up to an incredible 12 and now she’s back down under looking for a bakers’ dozen and her second in Australia.

With outstanding form at the distance and previous winning form at Flemington, Melody Belle could be the value at $5 this weekend.

Equal in the current markets also paying $5 to win the Mackinnon is the Kris Lees-trained Mugatoo drawn in barrier nine for jockey Hugh Bowman.

The six-year-old is only lightly raced with eight wins from 16 starts ahead of his first start at Flemington.

Winner of the Group 3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) back in September before a close second to Mirage Dancer in Sydney’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), Mugatoo was last seen running out of his skin for fourth in the Cox Plate.

Rounding out the single-figure fancies in this year’s Mackinnon at $9.50 is then the Lindsay Park-raced Fifty Stars.

A genuine Flemington specialist boasting four wins and a second from nine runs at HQ, the Sea The Stars entire was last seen running fifth here in the Group 1 Kennedy Cantala (1600m) only a week ago on VRC Derby Day.

He was defeated just 1.65 lengths in a blanket finish and on the quick back-up looks a big hope getting out over the 2000m at the track and distance he won the Group 1 Australian Cup over back in March.

Click here for the latest Mackinnon Stakes 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Mackinnon Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.