The Melbourne Cup field has been finalised, and the barrier draw has taken place at Flemington, with strong draws for some of the fancied horses.
Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace drew barrier two, and is the new $7 favourite for Tuesday’s $8 million race.
The Japanese stallion will attempt to become the first since Ethereal in 2001, to do the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.
If he is successful, the five-year-old will complete a clean sweep of the three biggest races in the Spring Carnival for Japan, following Lys Gracieux’s victory in the Cox Plate.
Former favourite Constantinople, trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, also drew well in barrier seven, and is second favourite at $8.
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien had snagged the last spot in the field when his horse Downdraft won the Hotham Handicap early on Derby Day.
Cross Counter drew well in barrier five, but he will carry the top weight of 57.5 kg.
Another British horse, the Richard Hannon-trained Raymond Tusk, drew barrier three and is $17 for the Cup along with Downdraft and Mustajeer.
Nearly half the field which is 11 out of the final 24 —are overseas-trained gallopers.
Top Australian trainer Chris Waller will try to win the Cup for the first time with Youngstar and Finche.
Melbourne Cup field
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Kg | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cross Counter | C Appleby | J Doyle | 57.5 | 5 |
| 2 | Mer De Glace | H Shimizu | D Lane | 56 | 2 |
| 3 | Master of Reality | J O’Brien | F Dettori | 55.5 | 1 |
| 4 | Mirage Dancer | T Busuttin + N Young | B Melham | 55.5 | 13 |
| 5 | Southern France | C Maher + D Eustace | M Zahra | 55.5 | 14 |
| 6 | Hunting Horn | A O’Brien | TBA | 55 | 11 |
| 7 | Latrobe | J O’Brien | J McDonald | 55 | 22 |
| 8 | Mustajeer | K Lees | K Lees | 55 | 6 |
| 9 | Rostropovich | D + B Hayes + T Dabernig | D Dunn | 55 | 12 |
| 10 | Twilight Payment | J O’Brien | P Cosgrave | 55 | 19 |
| 11 | Finche | C Waller | K McEvoy | 54 | 4 |
| 12 | Prince of Arran | C Fellowes | M Walker | 54 | 8 |
| 13 | Raymond Tusk | R Hannon | J Spencer | 54 | 3 |
| 14 | Downdraft | J O’Brien | J Allen | 53.5 | 15 |
| 15 | Magic Wand | A O’Brien | TBA | 53.5 | 24 |
| 16 | Neufbosc | D + B Hayes +T Dabernig | L Nolen | 53.5 | 23 |
| 17 | Sound | M Moroney | J Winks | 53.5 | 10 |
| 18 | Surprise Baby | P Preusker | J Childs | 53.5 | 20 |
| 19 | Constantinople | D + B Hayes + T Dabernig | J Moreira | 52.5 | 7 |
| 20 | Il Paradiso | A O’Brien | W Lordan | 52.5 | 17 |
| 21 | Steel Prince | A Freedman | B Prebble | 52.5 | 16 |
| 22 | The Chosen One | M Baker + A Forsman | TBA | 52 | 18 |
| 23 | Vow and Declare | D O’Brien (AUS) | C Williams | 52 | 21 |
| 24 | Youngstar | C Waller | T Berry | 52 | 9 |
