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The Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup Runner By Runner Guide
Tuesday 5:00pm | Flemington Race 7
Not sure who to back with your annual punt on the Melbourne Cup? Maybe you've got no idea what you've just drawn in the office sweepstake? The TAB's runner-by-runner guide has all you need to know about the strengths and the weaknesses of all the horses in the field.
Barrier: 6.
Weight: 57.5.
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor.
Jockey: Pat Cosgrave.
The Caulfield Cup winner who has now won three Group 1 races on the trot. Perhaps one of the best international stayers to ever visit Australia. Could not have been more impressive winning the Caulfield Cup when overcoming a wide run and what appeared to be some team riding tactics to hold on. Will be right in the mix despite the big weight.
Barrier: 9.
Weight: 56.5.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.
Jockey: Ryan Moore.
A talented Team Williams runner with the Aidan O'Brien yard. Ran on well in the Caulfield Stakes and then hit the line well when third in the Caulfield Cup. Did have every chance in that race though and does appear to be overshadowed by its stablemate.
Barrier: 17.
Weight: 56.
Trainer: Ian Williams.
Jockey: Corey Brown.
Magic Circle has raced just twice this year and won both. Both wins have been at two miles and beyond and both wins were by six lengths. Has a sensational record. Betting will be a fair guide but would want to keep very safe.
Barrier: 4.
Weight: 55.5.
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi.
Jockey: Yuga Kawada.
A Japanese visitor that ran fifth in the Tenno Sho in April so has the ability. Was ordinary in the Caulfield Cup when finishing well down the track. A line can't be put through him but won't be getting any of The Shark's cash.
Barrier: 13.
Weight: 55.5.
Trainer: John Gosden.
Jockey: Jim Crowley.
Muntahaa won the Ebor last start in August carrying 62.5kg and beat a field of 20 that day. His best form has been at 2600m and beyond. Definitely will see the trip out but goes in fresh and hate that from stables who haven't been to Australia a lot in the past.
Barrier: 16.
Weight: 55.5.
Trainer: Michael Moroney.
Jockey: Jordan Childs.
A former German galloper now with the Mike Moroney stable. Just beaten by Best Solution in August at the last run in its homeland but didn't give much in the G1 Caulfield Cup. Hard to line his form up but his run behind Best Solution suggests he goes well. Happy to include in exotics at odds.
Barrier: 18.
Weight: 55.5.
Trainer: Chris Waller.
Jockey: Ben Melham.
One of the most popular horses in Australia and New Zealand with the 10-year-old racing in his fourth Melbourne Cup. Ran third in 2014 and his worst finish has been 11th. Won the Sydney Cup this year and ran on a treat in the Moonee Valley Cup. Would be a fairytale and not without a puncher's chance.
Barrier: 22.
Weight: 55.
Trainer: David Payne.
Jockey: Tye Angland.
A tough horse but has never been one who has screamed out through two miles. Ran fourth in the G1 George Main and then won a weak G2 Hill Stakes but faded badly in the Caulfield Cup. Loves to go forward and that won't suit in the Melbourne Cup. Passing.
Barrier: 10.
Weight: 55.
Trainer: Hughie Morrison.
Jockey: Hugh Bowman.
A Hughie Morrison stayer back for his second Melbourne Cup. It ran ninth here last year after jumping $7 (and being backed). Been super this year with an LR win in the UK and a G2 win in France from four starts with two seconds in his other two. Would prefer to have seen but is going better this time around.
Barrier: 11.
Weight: 54.5.
Trainer: James Cummings.
Jockey: Glyn Schofield.
A Godolphin import who won four straight when coming to Australia, culminating in a win in the G3 Bart Cummings. Went into the Cox Plate and stuck on well enough for fourth. Cannot see him threatening in a race of this quality. French form was only fair.
Barrier: 23.
Weight: 54.5.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.
Jockey: James McDonald.
Yucatan won like an absolute superstar at his first run in Australia, winning the G2 Herbert Power. He could have won that race by 12L but was severely throttled down at the death in an attempt to avoid a major penalty. He has had only 13 starts so is on the up. Been heavily supported in betting. Will have no problems with the trip and from the Williams team who know better than all what is required for Melbourne Cup glory.
Barrier: 1.
Weight: 54.
Trainer: Richard Freeman.
Jockey: Tommy Berry.
A former French galloper now with Richard Freedman. Getting well beaten in the Metropolitan and St Leger. Won't be featuring.
Barrier: 15.
Weight: 54.
Trainer: Chris Waller.
Jockey: Zec Purton.
The son of Frankel now with Chris Waller. Won at G3 level two runs back in France. Placed in the Geelong Cup after being supported. Only had nine career starts so not sure it has the toughness to get it done in such a rugged affair.
Barrier: 5.
Weight: 54.
Trainer: Darren Weir.
Jockey: Damien Oliver.
A former international who ran 11th in the Melbourne Cup last year when supported at odds. Spelled until this spring and now with Darren Weir. Ran third in the St Leger but this is a significant jump in grade. Big odds and deservedly so.
Barrier: 2.
Weight: 54.
Trainer: Michael Moroney.
Jockey: Patrick Moloney.
Won the Geelong Cup and Melbourne-version of the Queen Elizabeth last year. Hasn't done enough in four runs in this time. Some thought he went well in the Caulfield Cup but was never showing much.
Barrier: 7.
Weight: 54.
Trainer: David & B Hayes & T Dabernig.
Jockey: Mark Zahra.
An enigmatic David Hayes galloper who was super winning the Moonee Valley Cup when well backed. Has run some huge races in the past including winning a G1 in the UK, running second behind Winx in the 2017 Turnbull and an Australia Cup placing. Has struggled when racing at 3200m.
Barrier: 20.
Weight: 53.
Trainer: Chris Fellowes.
Jockey: Michael Walker.
A UK visitor who has been sensational in two Australian runs. Was the best of the run-ons in the Herbert Power before cruising to a win in the Lexus and has won over 3200m. Its class is a slight query but his staying credentials are A-1. Won't be far away.
Barrier: 3.
Weight: 53.
Trainer: Iain Jardine.
Jockey: Regan Bayliss.
The last horse in. Will be first horse beaten. Was dreadful in the Moonee Valley Cup and his overseas form has been poor. No.
Barrier: 14.
Weight: 53.
Trainer: Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott.
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn.
The city of Auckland Cup winner in January. Went on to win over 2400m at a G2 level in Sydney and then won second-up this time in. Ran on for third in the Bendigo Cup. A real grinding type who should have something left at the death. Lacks the class to win.
Barrier: 24.
Weight: 53.
Trainer: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
Jockey: Damian Lane.
A Baker/Forsman galloper who has shown no form this preparation, finishing in the bottom half of the field in all four runs. Ran second in the Sydney Cup in April at big odds but won't be featuring here.
Barrier: 12.
Weight: 52.
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
Jockey: Stephen Baster.
A Gai Waterhouse hope who comes off a Geelong Cup win. Only had three runs this time in so not sure he has the miles in the legs. Not bred for two miles and the Cup is not a race for leaders. No.
Barrier: 8.
Weight: 51.5.
Trainer: Chris Waller.
Jockey: Craig Williams.
The Queensland Oaks winner who was sensational when pushing Winx to 1L in the G1 Turnbull at WFA. Ran on well enough in the Caulfield Cup. Bred to stay all day and has the right kind of form for this. Contender.
Barrier: 19.
Weight: 51.
Trainer: Charlie Appleby.
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy.
A Godolphin UK visitor having just his eighth start. Won four races but the biggest was a four-horse Group 3 over 2414m. Has scope for improvement but a win would surprise. No Australian lead-in run.
Barrier: 21.
Weight: 51.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.
Jockey: Wayne Lordan.
It ran fifth in the G1 Cox Plate but was well beaten down the track. Won at G2 level back in the UK, two of those four wins have been at 1400m. Not confident he will see out the trip.
The verdict:
Yucatan - Some will be sceptical of his short favouritism but after the blistering way he blew the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m, G2) field apart it's hard to blame punters for buying in. Barrier 23 will frighten some and rightly so but the great race has been won from there before and if a horse is good enough it can overcome. Gun Kiwi jockey James McDonald on board and itching to get back involved. Definitely respect.
Marmelo - Was a pretty big let down last year after being backed heavily but has been prepared carefully this year as the stable has forgone an Australian run. Jockey Hugh Bowman clearly likes something about this horse and that should matter. Liked last year and to be honest still do. Place hope at least.
Who Shot The Barman - This one is more for the sentimental. The veteran stayer has been a favourite to Kiwi racing fans through the years if not for the great name but for the gutsy effort he always displays. He will become just the eighth 10-year-old to start in the race and the first of that age or older since 1982. It was valiant for fourth at Moonee Valley two weeks back and did his best work late. We're tipping a top 10 finish. If you're really brave there's great value for a place. Wouldn't it be a great story.
Cross Counter - Could query a lightly raced 3-year-old but has won at 2800m and with only 51kg on his back he has to jump off the sheet. Barrier 19 but when proven and champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy wants the ride, clearly a major chance and the wide alley shouldn't matter. Charlie Appleby an excellent trainer also. Would include in trifectas.
Best Solution
Youngstar
A Prince Of Arran
The Cliffsofmoher
For more Melbourne Cup related content, have a listen to The Spring Fever Racing Podcast hosted by Des Coppins and TAB bookie Stephen Hunt.
James McDonald will return to his favourite race meeting on Wednesday.