14 middle-distance runners will start the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) this Saturday at Flemington after reigning champion Side Glance was scratched from the field earlier today due to a wrenched fetlock.

The $1 million Mackinnon Stakes is one of four Group One races running as part of Victoria Derby Day this weekend, offering punters a variety of great betting options and chances to back a winner.

There are five single figure hopefuls in the betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au, led by Rising Romance at $5.

The Donna Logan-trained mare has drawn wide in barrier 12 but that hasn’t stopped support for her by punters in the odds. She’s the market mover of the field, shortening from $6 to $5 overnight.

Rising Romance is one of two mares on the field dominated by males but her impressive runner-up finish to Admire Rakti in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last time out which followed a Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) second has made her the most popular runner.

The mare also won the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) back in April so is adept at both the distance and class of the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes.

However she will need to beat home a talented field of rivals to claim the crown, including four other runners offering single figure odds.

Both Criterion and He’s Your Man are hot on her trial at $5.50.

David Payne’s Criterion is set to represent Australia in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in December but first the four-year-old will get one last chance to add a win to his spring campaign.

Criterion brilliantly won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) back-to-back earlier this year but has had difficulty passing the post first since then. The horse has had five starts this spring, including a minor placing in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and two runner-up finishes in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

He was well-tipped to be a contender in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) last Saturday but was slow out the gate. He got to the outside and had to make up a long run but found the line really well. Despite finishing in seventh place he was just 1½ lengths off winner Adelaide.

The Chris Waller-trained He’s Your Man has won three of his last five starts including the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) last time out. He will once again be saddled by champion international hoop Joao Moreira as he gets a good start from barrier five.

Happy Trails ($8) was a very fast finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 14 but has failed to impress since then. He finished bottom three in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) despite starting from barrier one and midfield for his next two runs in the Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate. This is his sixth consecutive Group One race.

Foreteller ($9.50) rounds out the single figure odds after shortening from $10 and is the second of four Chris Waller-trained runners on the field. The Underwood Stakes winner was a fast-finishing fifth in the Cox Plate last Saturday, missing out on first place by just over half a length.

The 2014 Mackinnon Stakes field is full of talented horses and one offering lucrative double digit odds could easily cause an upset victory.

Bet on the Mackinnon Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au to get Best Tote or SP + 20%, which means you’ll get an extra 20% on top of your winnings in the race!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Ladbrokes Visa Card to get access to your winnings as soon as your horse passes the post.