Racing: Bookie's job on the line

Michael Eskander has staked his bookmaking career on Diatribe not being able to win today's Melbourne Cup.

Eskander took the stance when he accepted a torrent of bets for Diatribe at the traditional Cup eve "call of the card" betting function in Melbourne.

When betting was completed he was up for a payout of $A1.5 million should Diatribe win.

Eskander believed it was too tall an order for Diatribe to win the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at his third start in little more than three weeks.

"If he wins he is a champion. He has got to be one out of the box to win the Melbourne Cup," Eskander said. "I would doubt the horse is that good that he could even run a place in the Melbourne Cup. If he wins I'm out of business."

Diatribe was quoted at odds of 9-1. Diatribe won the Caulfield Cup on October 21 and was second to Sunline in the Cox Plate the next Saturday.

Diatribe was easily the best-backed horse at the call of the card but the function's biggest was $A60,000 which was placed on the Irish-trained Enzeli at odds of 12-1. That makes for a $A720,000 profit if Enzeli wins.

Eskander expects much more to be wagered on Enzeli today.

"I have no doubt it will start shorter than 12-1. Guarantee it. I reckon Enzeli will be closer to eights than 12s."