Whobegotyou could be challenged for Cox Plate favouritism for the first time since markets were released in January after the support for fellow four-year-old Heart Of Dreams gained further momentum yesterday.
On the back of a number of professional punters' speed maps, which have Whobegotyou giving up three or four lengths to Heart Of Dreams before the home turn of tomorrow's $3million race, Betstar's principal Michael Eskander said there would be little between the four-year-olds in betting come raceday.
Most of the action in recent days has been for the trio of four-year-olds in the race as bookmakers have also reported good money for Gai Waterhouse's Rock Kingdom, who has firmed since Monday from $26 to $17.
Rock Kingdom's owners paid $130,000 to run the horse as a late entry.
''For the first time since we put him [Whobegotyou] at $8 in January, the money has dried up as punters are taking up the longer odds for Heart Of Dreams,'' said Eskander.
''Over their four meetings, the score is two-all and punters don't see much between them either.''
Heart Of Dreams firmed further into $5.50 from $7.50 earlier in the week while Whobegotyou has drifted from $2.40 at one stage to $3 last night.
Eskander said he would not be surprised if Whobegotyou drifted further to $3.50, despite being unbeaten in four runs at the track. The pair are now the only two horses under double figure odds in what is regarded as the most open Cox Plate in years.
Bookmakers are wary about the race's mystery horse Speed Gifted ($10) and his rider Dwayne Dunn said he enjoyed being on the largely unknown factor.Dunn said yesterday that Speed Gifted was ''in the right zone'' to tackle the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup.
''I couldn't fault him, he's done everything we have asked and while the Melbourne Cup is an ultimate goal he's fit and ready to be highly competitive in the Cox Plate.
''You've always got to have reservations as he's a horse that's only ever carried weights around 53kg and then on Saturday he jumps to 59kg and that's a question no one can answer.''
Dunn said there were similarities between Tawqeet, who he won the Caulfield Cup on three years ago, and Speed Gifted, both of whom raced in England prior to coming to Australia.
''Certainly different horses but they have that ability when they work alone, they're very relaxed, but like all English horses they need to follow in their work, and they would then knuckle down and work strongly.
''While it's a good Cox's Plate field, it's not like the days when Sunline dominated the race and in reality she was unbeatable.
''And then you would do your tactics around running second which was your most realistic best finishing position,'' he said.