Melbourne Cup favourite Makybe Diva will have a solid workout at Sandown on Saturday morning with final acceptances for Tuesday's race to be taken later in the day.

Trainer Lee Freedman has elected to give Makybe Diva and Mummify their final hitout away from their home on the Mornington Peninsular.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva is at $3.50 to repeat her 2003 performance while Mummify, who won the Caulfield Cup last year, is a $17 chance.

Mummify was the early favourite for last year's Melbourne Cup but was withdrawn on the day of the race with an elevated temperature.

Makybe Diva went on to win, giving David Hall his biggest success as a trainer and paving the way for him to gain a contract in Hong Kong where he is now based.

Freedman took over and said he was pleased with both his charges.

"I'm happy with where they're at," Freedman said.

Irish trainer Dermot Weld arrived in town on Friday to see how his charges, 2002 Cup winner Media Puzzle and this year's second favorite Vinnie Roe, had settled in.

In his absence, Weld has been the subject of controversy with his warning that Vinnie Roe, who finished fourth in Media Puzzle's Cup, would not run if the ground was too hard.

"As I've said for many, many weeks, should the track come up firm on Tuesday morning when I inspect it, then he won't run," Weld said."

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