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Irish galloper Vauban appears set to run favorite in Tuesday’s nice race, with final 12 months’s winner Gold Journey and Caulfield Cup hero With out A Struggle flying the flag for the Australian-trained runners.
Discover our interactive kind information to all of the horses set to line up within the 163rd Melbourne Cup.
The barrier draw will happen later this night.
$4.40: 1. Gold Journey
7yo stallion (France) | Barrier xx | 58.5kg
Jockey: James McDonald | Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Gold Journey is aiming to change into solely the fourth horse to win back-to-back Melbourne Cups, and there are many punters who imagine he can do it.
His kind mirrors what it was a 12 months in the past — inserting within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) and a strong-finishing effort within the Cox Plate (2,040m) have him primed for an additional ahead exhibiting on Tuesday.
The seven-year-old does have to hold a kilogram greater than final 12 months, and no horse has lumped 58.5kg to victory since Suppose Large gained his second Cup 48 years in the past.
Gold Journey will not just like the observe too dry, so any rain will improve his probabilities underneath champion jockey James McDonald, who picked up the experience after Mark Zahra opted for Caulfield Cup winner With out A Struggle.
$34: 2. Alenquer
6yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 56.5kg
Jockey: Damien Oliver | Coach: Michael Moroney
This former European galloper hasn’t figured within the end at any of his 5 begins Down Below, however to be honest he ought to’ve completed nearer than his last-start ninth, crushed 3.4 lengths, behind Cleveland within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m).
The Cup can be his first try on the 3,200 metres, however coach Mike Moroney is aware of how one can win the good race having triumphed with Brew in 2000.
However Alenquer will appeal to extra consideration than your typical Cup outsider due to the person who’ll be within the saddle — corridor of fame jockey Damien Oliver.
The legendary hoop is out to say a fourth Cup at his thirty second and last experience within the nice race, and can carry a great deal of sentimental cash from punters on Tuesday.
$7.50: 3. With out A Struggle
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 56.5kg
Jockey: Mark Zahra | Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman
This can be With out A Struggle’s second try on the Cup after ending a well-beaten thirteenth final 12 months when he discovered the moist circumstances to not his liking.
Previously educated in England, the seven-year-old has solely raced 4 occasions since then, profitable three, beginning with spectacular back-to-back successes in Brisbane in the course of the winter.
A fortnight in the past With out A Struggle received his most well-liked dry floor within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) the place he powered by the road to attain and defeat a number of rivals he’ll face once more on Tuesday.
Jockey Mark Zahra elected to maintain the experience regardless of having the choice to stay with Gold Journey on whom he gained the Cup a 12 months in the past.
$17: 4. Breakup
6yo stallion (Japan) | Barrier xx | 55kg
Jockey: Kohei Matsuyama | Coach: Tatsuya Yoshioka
Breakup could also be a stage or two beneath the elite stayers in his native Japan, however gallopers with related profiles up to now have been greater than aggressive when venturing Down Below.
Punters confirmed him loads of respect at his Australian debut within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) a fortnight in the past, when he fought on pretty for eighth, crushed 5.7 lengths, behind With out A Struggle.
The secure stories that Breakup has taken profit from that run and the prospect of a dry observe on Tuesday poses no drawback.
They’re hoping a real check of stamina over the Cup’s 3,200 metres can be to his profit and assist reverse the outcome towards a few of his rivals from Caulfield.
$3.60: 5. Vauban
6yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 55kg
Jockey: Ryan Moore | Coach: Willie Mullins
The Irish-trained Vauban confirmed class as a hurdler after taking to jumps races in late 2021, however his return to the flat in June noticed him emerge as a number one Melbourne Cup contender.
A dominant 7.5-length victory at Royal Ascot over stablemate Absurde, albeit in a time slower than customary, put the six-year-old atop the betting markets, however he backed it up by defeating one-time Cup aspirant Valiant King within the Ballyroan Stakes (2,414m) in Dublin.
Vauban has settled effectively in Melbourne and a formidable observe gallop at Flemington final Tuesday has solely strengthened the arrogance of his supporters.
Tuesday brings a way of unfinished enterprise for his coach, legendary horseman Willie Mullins, whose Max Dynamite positioned twice within the Cup (2nd 2015, third 2017) sporting the identical silks as Vauban.
$12: 6. Soulcombe
5yo gelding (Nice Britain) | Barrier xx | 53.5kg
Jockey: Joao Moreira | Coach: Chris Waller
Soulcombe created an enormous impression at his first Australian begin a 12 months in the past, working away with the Queens Cup (2,600m) in the course of the Flemington carnival.
And whereas issues did not go proper throughout his autumn marketing campaign, the previous English galloper confirmed his true potential with a fast-finishing win when resuming within the Heatherlie Handicap (1,700m) at Caulfield in September.
Poor barrier manners, nonetheless, have since cruelled his probabilities, most not too long ago when he was effectively fancied within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) however missed the beginning badly and completed seventh behind With out A Struggle.
Connections have turned to the “Magic Man” Joao Moreira within the hope of getting Soulcombe to leap with the sphere and giving him each likelihood to be within the end.
$21: 7. Absurde
6yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 53kg
Jockey: Zac Purton | Coach: Willie Mullins
Absurde began his profession in France however for the previous 12 months has been with champion Irish horseman Willie Mullins.
In true Mullins type, the horse has combined his begins between jumps and flat races, together with a second to stablemate and Cup rival Vauban at Royal Ascot in June, though he was trounced by 7.5 lengths.
Two begins later Absurde booked his ticket for the Cup with a slim victory within the win-and-you’re-in Ebor Handicap (2,816m) in England the place he completed forward of one other Cup rival, Extra Felons.
Champion Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton is booked for the experience and is hoping to enhance on his third inserting for Mullins aboard Max Dynamite within the 2017 Cup.
$51: 8. Proper You Are
7yo gelding (Australia) | Barrier xx | 53kg
Jockey: John Allen | Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Proper You Are was one of many final horses standing after racing close to the brutal tempo set within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m), battling on effectively within the circumstances to complete fifth behind With out A Struggle.
It was a race he’d been set for after profitable the Mornington Cup earlier within the 12 months at his first try over 2,400 metres.
He’d beforehand established a very good document over 1,600 to 2,000 metres, leaving some inquiries to be answered over his skill to run the Cup’s 3,200 metres — however the identical may be mentioned for a lot of his rivals on Tuesday.
Proper You Are is one in every of 5 runners for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace who gained the Cup final 12 months with Gold Journey.
$21: 9. Vow And Declare
8yo gelding (Australia) | Barrier xx | 53kg
Jockey: Billy Egan | Coach: Danny O’Brien
Vow And Declare, lining up for his fourth Cup, is a credit score to coach Danny O’Brien, who’s maintained the 2019 champion’s zest for racing regardless of him struggling a close to career-ending harm two years in the past.
The veteran galloper has proven this spring that he is removed from a spent power, working second to cult hero Alligator Blood over 2,000 metres after which second to Cup rival Cleveland within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) simply over per week in the past.
Nevertheless the burden of historical past is working towards Vow And Declare, as solely three eight-year-olds have claimed the Cup — Twilight Fee in 2020 is the only real winner up to now 85 years.
And there have been simply 5 a number of winners of the Cup — the good Peter Pan (1932, 1934) was the one horse to triumph in non-consecutive years.
$26: 10. Cleveland
6yo stallion (Eire) | Barrier xx | 52kg
Jockey: Michael Dee | Coach: Kris Lees
Inevitably there is a sense of timing with a Lloyd Williams-owned runner heading into the primary Tuesday in November — this 12 months within the form of former Irish-trained galloper Cleveland.
The horse confirmed glimpses of his potential in six Australian begins in the beginning got here collectively as he powered to the road to say the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) and defeat Cup rivals together with Vow And Declare and Future Historical past.
Cleveland is one in every of two runners (together with Serpentine) for Williams, who holds the document with seven Cup wins thus far (1981, 1985, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020).
Coach and proprietor have chosen at hand the reins to Michael Dee, who’s been in a wealthy vein of kind up to now 12 months.
$34: 11. Ashrun
8yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 51.5kg
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy | Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
No matter his efficiency on Tuesday, it’ll be a tremendous feat to see Ashrun line up for his second tilt on the Cup.
The now-eight-year-old has improved at every run this spring after spending nearly three years on the sidelines following his tenth within the 2020 version for German coach Andreas Wohler.
Ashrun’s third and last tune-up for this 12 months’s race was a second within the Geelong Cup (2,400m) the place he completed simply forward of Cup rivals Extra Felons and Magical Lagoon in a blanket end.
Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have elected to place three-time Cup winner Kerrin McEvoy within the saddle, whose most up-to-date success got here aboard Cross Counter in 2018.
$101: 12. Daqiansweet Junior
6yo gelding (New Zealand) | Barrier xx | 51.5kg
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse | Coach: Phillip Stokes
Daqiansweet (pronounced dish-arn-sweet) Junior contested the Cup final 12 months and ran a decent sixth at lengthy odds behind Gold Journey.
Whereas he isn’t figured within the placings since, it is maybe solely honest to guage him on his most up-to-date run — fourth behind Cup rival Navy Mission within the Herbert Energy Stakes (2,400m) — which was really over an appropriate distance.
The six-year-old is an out-and-out stayer as evidenced by his win in final 12 months’s Adelaide Cup over 3,200 metres and third inserting within the Sydney Cup over the identical journey.
Coach Phillip Stokes says his sole focus this marketing campaign has been to get Daqiansweet Junior to peak on Tuesday and believes he can carry out simply in addition to a 12 months in the past.
$51: 13. Okita Soushi
6yo stallion (Eire) | Barrier xx | 51.5kg
Jockey: Dylan Gibbons | Coach: Joseph O’Brien
This six-year-old races in Eire underneath part-Japanese possession for coach Joseph O’Brien who gained two Melbourne Cups earlier than he turned 30.
Okita Soushi has a constant general document, with current highlights a win within the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2,414m) at Royal Ascot and a 3rd within the Irish St Leger Trial (2,816m).
He was a drifter within the betting at his Australian bow within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m), when he struggled to make floor from the again to complete twelfth, crushed 10 lengths, by With out A Struggle.
Whereas a honest quantity of enchancment is required for Okita Soushi to show the tables, you do need to respect the secure, which has handed a primary Cup experience to star Sydney apprentice Dylan Gibbons.
$101: 14. Sheraz
7yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 51.5kg
Jockey: Beau Mertens | Coach: Chris Waller
Chris Waller has all the time held a very good opinion of Sheraz, one in every of 4 runners to go spherical within the Cup for the champion coach.
However it’s been greater than 860 days because the seven-year-old’s final victory; his greatest outcome since arriving in Australia in 2021 was runner-up in final 12 months’s Sydney Cup (3,200m).
He labored dwelling pretty at his most up-to-date begin when tenth within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) behind Cup rivals Cleveland (1st), Vow And Declare (2nd) and Future Historical past (third).
The broader expanses of Flemington can be extra to Sheraz’s liking on Tuesday, however he would possibly want some rain to convey out his greatest.
$21: 15. Lastotchka
5yo mare (France) | Barrier xx | 51kg
Jockey: Craig Williams | Trainers: Mick Worth & Michael Kent Jr
Lastotchka can have her first Australian begin on Tuesday after being purchased in France by connections who’ve already tasted Cup success with imports corresponding to Protectionist (2014) and Gold Journey (2022).
The five-year-old has completed most of her racing on tender floor, so questions could possibly be raised if the observe is dry on Tuesday.
There is no query, nonetheless, over her skill to run the gap — her final begin was a victory within the Prix Gladiateur over 3,100 metres in Paris.
Have in mind although that of the 43 mares to run within the Cup since 2005, solely Excessive Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) have completed prime three.
Craig Williams can be within the saddle as he goals for a second Cup to go along with his 2019 triumph on Vow And Declare.
$101: 16. Magical Lagoon
5yo mare (Eire) | Barrier xx | 51kg
Jockey: Mark Du Plessis | Coach: Chris Waller
This winner of the 2022 Irish Oaks (2,414m) was a well-credentialed addition to Chris Waller’s secure early this 12 months and her pedigree suggests she’ll be suited by Tuesday’s stamina check.
Certainly her greatest run since coming Down Below got here final begin when stepping as much as 2,400 metres within the Geelong Cup, albeit a detailed sixth behind fellow Cup rivals Ashrun (2nd) and Extra Felons (fifth).
Understand that mares do not boast an important Cup strike price — 43 have run since 2005 and solely Excessive Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) have completed prime three.
$41: 17. Navy Mission
6yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 51kg
Jockey: Rachel King | Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Win, lose or draw on Tuesday, Navy Mission has had a profitable spring marketing campaign however the Cup looms as his hardest check but.
Victory within the Newcastle Cup (2,300m) in September preceded a fourth within the Metropolitan (2,400m), and final begin he was strongest to the road to say the Herbert Energy (2,400m) at Caulfield with Daqiansweet Junior in fourth.
Navy Mission is the primary of two runners this 12 months for racing’s first girl Gai Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott. Waterhouse’s lone Cup success got here a decade in the past with Fiorente.
He is additionally the one for these punters who prefer to have a flutter on the greys, however be thoughts conscious that solely six have gained the Cup in 162 runnings, the latest being Environment friendly in 2007.
$61: 18. Serpentine
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 51kg
Jockey: Jye McNeil | Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Serpentine, the 2020 English Derby winner, is lining up for his second Melbourne Cup following a distanced twentieth final 12 months.
He is racing in higher kind this time spherical and final begin fought on bravely for third behind Future Historical past within the Bart Cummings (2,500m) after racing huge early.
Punters, nonetheless, price Serpentine the lesser likelihood of a two-pronged assault (alongside Cleveland) for proprietor Lloyd Williams, who’s trying to find an eighth Cup.
Jye McNeil has been booked for the experience; he claimed the Cup for Williams with an all-the-way win aboard Twilight Fee at an eerily COVID-emptied Flemington in 2020.
$101: 19. Virtuous Circle
4yo stallion (New Zealand) | Barrier xx | 51kg
Jockey: Craig Newitt | Coach: Liam Howley
Virtuous Circle confirmed potential throughout his three-year-old season, with the spotlight being a second within the Australian Derby (2,400m) within the autumn.
Now 4, he isn’t discovering open firm any simpler and the jury stays out on his probabilities based mostly on his performances this spring.
The New Zealand-bred stallion was luckless when tenth within the Bart Cummings (2,500m) behind Future Historical past, however he appeared to have each likelihood when eighth behind the likes of Cup rivals Ashrun (2nd), Extra Felons (fifth) and Magical Lagoon (sixth) within the Geelong Cup (2,400m).
However Virtuous Circle retains the religion of his coach Liam Howley, previously the personal coach of record-holding proprietor Lloyd Williams and a part of the workforce that ready Almandin to Cup success in 2016.
$21: 20. Extra Felons
5yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 50.5kg
Jockey: Jamie Kah | Coach: Chris Waller
Chris Waller has taken over the coaching of this English import (previously referred to as Scriptwriter), who’s confirmed how effectively he is settled in Australia with a fast-closing fifth within the Geelong Cup (2,400m) nearly a fortnight in the past.
That race has confirmed to be a useful information for the Melbourne Cup through the years — Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) did the double, whereas On A Jeune (2005), Bauer (2008), Prince Of Arran (2019) and Emissary (2022) all positioned within the Cup after profitable at Geelong.
A take a look at Extra Felons’ formlines reveals he was soundly crushed by Cup favorite Vauban over 2,816 metres in England in June, and was no match for Absurde within the time-honoured Ebor Handicap (2,816m) in August.
He does, nonetheless, get weight aid from these rivals on Tuesday and is one which could possibly be on an upwards trajectory for Waller, who tasted Cup success with Verry Elleegant in 2021.
$31: 21. Future Historical past
6yo gelding (Nice Britain) | Barrier xx | 50kg
Jockey: Hollie Doyle | Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Future Historical past punched his golden ticket for the Cup by the win-and-you’re-in Bart Cummings (2,500m) at Flemington a month in the past.
He has since backed up his good kind with a close-up third behind Cleveland and Vow And Declare within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) after being compelled to make an early huge run.
The previous French-trained gelding is one in every of 4 runners for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who’re on the lookout for back-to-back Cups after their success with Gold Journey final 12 months.
Future Historical past has the notable engagement of record-breaking English jockey Hollie Doyle who’ll be the primary worldwide feminine jockey to experience within the Cup.
$51: 22. Interpretation
6yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 50kg
Jockey: Teo Nugent | Coach: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Interpretation discovered the event of final 12 months’s Cup all an excessive amount of for him as a stallion and failed to complete behind Gold Journey.
Now gelded, the previous Irish galloper has been constructing into his preparation and had little go his approach when ninth behind Cup rival Future Historical past within the Bart Cummings (2,500m).
He made amends by breaking by for his first Australian win (his first triumph in additional than 800 days) in final Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2,400m).
That outcome was sufficient for Interpretation get into the Cup area and be runner quantity 5 for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
$51: 23. Kalapour
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier xx | 50kg
Jockey: Zac Lloyd | Coach: Kris Lees
An outstanding front-running experience by retiring legend Damien Oliver guided Kalapour to victory within the Archer Stakes (2,500m) on Derby Day and assured him a spot within the Cup.
The win for Kalapour got here on the again of consecutive third placings in Sydney — within the Metropolitan (2,400m) and the St Leger (2,600m).
However Saturday’s outcome does not appear to have impressed the punters, who nonetheless price the previous Irish galloper as one of many long-shots of the sphere.
Kalapour is one in every of two runners within the Cup for Newcastle-based coach Kris Lees, who additionally saddles the Lloyd Williams-owned Cleveland.
$201: 24. True Marvel
8yo gelding (France) | Barrier xx | 50kg
Jockey: Ben Thompson | Coach: Matthew Smith
True Marvel is ready to line up because the veteran of the sphere, taking to the observe for begin quantity 54.
He does not win out of flip however working over longer distances is his forte; he is gained over 3,800 metres in addition to working second at 150-1 on this 12 months’s Sydney Cup (3,200m) and third within the Brisbane Cup (3,200m).
Nonetheless, True Marvel is predicted to run as one of many outsiders on Tuesday after his current tenth behind Cleveland within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m).
He is one in every of three eight-year-olds to contest this 12 months’s race — simply three have gained the Cup, with Twilight Fee (2020) the one one up to now 85 years.
Odds appropriate at 6.05pm AEDT Saturday.
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