It is a tight clash on the cards for VRC Derby Day in the Cantala Stakes 2016 – formerly the Longines Mile – with three entries battling for top spot in the all-in markets.

Nominations for this year’s $1 million Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m), the old Emirates Stakes previously run a week later, were taken on October 17 and feature 40 hopeful milers.

Pre-field Cantala Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are now heating up ahead of the release of final acceptances on Wednesday for the handicap clash.

Three of the Cantala Stakes nominations are paying between $6 and $6.50 in the all-in markets including stablemates He’s Our Rokkii (55.5kg) and lightweight Seaburge (50kg) sharing favouritism.

The in-form Lindsay Park-trained Roc De Cambes gelding He’s Our Rokkii is in flying form having won his past five latest runs going back to early April.

The latest saw him secure an elite level success in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.

As the Cantala Stakes was previously run a week later as the Emirates Stakes up until this year’s edition, history shows just one winner having come off a Toorak Handicap run with Shaftesbury Avenue (12^th in 1990).

The other $6 co-favourite in the early markets is Seaburge who is also nominated for the $200,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at the same meeting.

A final decision on which race the three-year-old son of Sebring will run in is set to be made closer to final acceptances.

No three-year-old has won the race in over 30 years, but the bookies are taking no chances on the colt who comes off a brave second to Divine Prophet in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have a total of five entries with the two early fancies joined by He Or She (54.5kg), Jacquinot Bay (52.5kg) and Tashbeeh (52kg).

Of those only He Or She is guaranteed a start in the capacity 16 horse Cantala Stakes field, but looks an unlikely final acceptor after his fifth in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) last weekend.

Co-trainer David Hayes has prepared three previous winners of the old Emirates Stakes: Better Loosen Up (1989), Planet Ruler (1992) and most recently All American (2009).

The other top fancies meanwhile are the Darren Weir-trained duo of Palentino ($6.50) and Voodoo Lad ($8.50).

Palentino is the second heaviest weighted hopeful with 57kg, the four-year-old Teofilo stallion looking to atone for a last start 13^th of 13 runners in Sydney’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Before that he won the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, a track and distance he is officially undefeated over.

Voodoo Lad gets in on 55kg in the Cantala Stakes weights and is also in impressive form.

The I Am Invincible five-year-old was runner-up to Bon Aurum two back in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and won the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) on Caulfield Cup Day by one and a half lengths last start.

Heading the weights for Saturday’s Group 1 mile feature with 58.5kg is the visiting French raider Vadamos prepared by Andre Fabre.

The Monson stallion debuted down under last Saturday running a distant 9.75 lengths away fifth behind the runaway winner Winx in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

Jockey Mark Zahra received mixed reviews for his ride on the Group 1 winner at Moonee Valley and the horse could get the chance to atone this weekend on the quick back-up.

Vadamos is at $11 in Cantala Stakes all-in markets currently to return to winning form second-up in Australia on successive Saturdays.

See below for the latest pre-field Cantala Stakes 2016 odds for you to back your early selections on the race online through Ladbrokes.com.au at the best price.

2016 Cantala Stakes Odds