The Melbourne Cup is set to take place at Flemington on Tuesday, November 5, with post time scheduled for 04:00 GMT.
Known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the race draws a crowd of thousands and in recent times has attracted a strong overseas contingent.
Let’s take a look at some of the leading lights in this year’s renewal:
Understandably heading the betting market at odds of 6/1 is this year’s St Leger winner Jan Brueghel.
His debut win came by 8L in a Curragh maiden in May, before three more victories - two in Group Three company before the latest seeing him land the St Leger to crown himself a Classic winner.
Winner Market -
With Ryan Moore booked to ride the colt, I can see the price this son of Galileo tumbling as we get closer to the race.
Willie Mullins is hoping a changed preparation will aid Vauban (7/1) in this year’s Melbourne Cup.
The six-year-old was sent off the 9/2 favourite for last year’s renewal but could only finish well down the field in 14th place.
Vauban heads down under off the back of a victory in the Lonsdale Stakes at York and finishing second to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger. This form is top notch and he holds an outstanding chance.
Mullins has another ace up his sleeve too with Absurde (12/1). Last year the former Ebor Handicap winner finished seventh, beaten just over five lengths, at Flemington Park.
Since coming home he enjoyed a thrilling success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and got back to winning ways on the Flat in a Listed affair at Chester.
Adaptability is his strong point and he looks a lively each-way proposition.
There is plenty of home interest around Point King (16/1). Top jockey Jamie Kah and Point King combined to win the Archer Stakes in mid-September, which meant the horse was exempt from the ballot for the Cup.
Kah will be sporting the famous navy blue and white armbands that belong to record Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, who has lifted the trophy on seven previous occasions, most recently in 2020.
Those of you searching for the elusive longshot may want to consider the homesters, rather than the prominent European raiders.
Although Eliyass (20/1) suffered his first Australian defeat in four starts, trainer Gai Waterhouse was thrilled with his effort to finish third in the recent Turnbull Stakes.
Waterhouse said the Melbourne Cup was Eliyass’ main aim and she was pleased he had secured a start.
Winner Market -
Australian Bloodstock are very excited about the chances of their horse Sayedaty Sadaty (40/1) who was purchased after his fifth-place finish in the Derby at Epsom, when he was seven-and-a-half lengths behind City Of Troy, which followed two runner-up finishes at Listed level earlier in the season.
Beaten just four lengths in the Gordon Stakes by Jan Brueghel, this son of Anodin is every inch a stayer and will be running on through beaten horses in the dying embers of this Australian feature.
Suggested bet: Sayedaty Sadaty (E/W)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*
