It's the first Tuesday in November which means it's time to dust off the bag of fruit and look forward to the race that stops a nation, the $7.75 million Melbourne Cup.
With a capacity field of 24 and a number of international runners, it's always a tricky affair to line up, but we've done our best to narrow it down to the top five.
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1) Twilight Payment (IRE) (2) 58kg
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Jye McNeil
36 - 9:11:8 $5,682,805
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Was a strong winner of this race last year and has had a win and three placings from five outings since. Has to carry an extra 2.5kg this time around which doesn't sound like much but try lugging that over two miles. Weight has been known to stop a train and this Irishman would need to be very good to go back-to-back.
2) Incentivise (16) 57kg
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Brett Prebble
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12 - 9:0:0 $4,643,300
Only eight months ago this guy was getting towelled up in a Toowoomba maiden. Fast forward to now and he's put nine wins together on the bounce, including three Group 1's. His Caulfield Cup win last time out was as arrogant as Conor McGregor and it would be one of the feel-good stories of the carnival if he saluted.
3) Spanish Mission (USA) (14) 57kg
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Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Craig Williams
18 - 6:4:3 $2,092,657
Has been racing in elite company in the Northern hemisphere and has won up to 3600m before so the two-mile trip won't pose a problem. Gets Williams in the irons which is a tick and should be in it for a very long way.
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4) Verry Elleegant (NZ) (19) 57kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald
33 - 14:7:3 $9,690,744
Champion mare who has almost $10 million in the bank. Wasn't disgraced in last year's edition where she finished 7th hitting the line and has one of the best jockeys in the world on her back. Right in the mix.
5) Explosive Jack (NZ) (4) 54kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: John Allen
12 - 5:1:2 $1,814,730
Had an incredible three-year-old campaign picking up three Derbies in the process but looked very plain in the Caulfield Cup last time out when finishing second-last. Might have lost his pop.
6) The Chosen One (NZ) (5) 54kg
Trainers: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
Jockey: Damien Lane
36 - 6:5:3 $1,899,409
Was a very handy fourth in last year's Cup and looked good running second in the Herbert Power two starts back. Didn't really show up in the Caulfield Cup last start but can bounce back and looks a sneaky chance at big odds.
7) Delphi (IRE) (3) 53.5kg
Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey: Damien Oliver
10 - 5:1:0 $360,841
Lightly-raced galloper who has a solid strike rate winning five from ten starts. Had excuses in the Caulfield Cup last time out and gets the services of Ollie in the irons from the low draw. Maybe a place.
8) Ocean Billy (NZ) (13) 53.5kg
Trainers: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damien Thornton
25 - 7:1:1 $547,720
Got into this race by winning the Auckland Cup eight months ago but hasn't fired a shot since. Looks to be making up the numbers.
9) Selino (GB) (24) 53.5kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Ron Stewart
20 - 3:5:2 $1,481,470
Was a winner of the Sydney Cup earlier in the year which is over the same distance as this. Would be a fairy-tale for hoop Ronnie Stewart who doesn't get many of these opportunities. Can run a race at big odds if the track is dry.
10) Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (22) 53kg
Trainer: Denis Pagan
Jockey: Lachlan King
11 - 1:1:2 $1,268,675
Trained by AFL premiership-winning coach Denis Pagan and will be ridden by one of only two apprentices in the field, Lachlan King. Won last year's Victoria Derby but hasn't been able to get out of his own way since. You'll be happy to draw him in the sweep as last place is a definite possibility.
11) Knights Order (IRE) (9) 53kg
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
21 - 7:0:2 $473,501
Earned his spot in this field by winning the Brisbane Cup earlier in the year but hasn't really shown up in four runs this time in. Others look much stronger and a top-three finish would shock.
12) Persan (11) 53kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Luke Currie
27 - 7:5:3 $1,404,721
Was a very respectable fifth in last year's running and has been thereabouts in all three starts this preparation. Loves racing at Flemington where he has four wins and two placings from ten outings and looks a genuine top-three contender.
13) Carif (8) 52.5kg
Trainers: Peter & Paul Snowden
Jockey: Blaike McDougall
37 - 3:8:1 $730,385
Is proven over this staying test but has looked pretty ordinary at his past few starts and doesn't pose a threat to the top selections.
14) Master Of Wine (GER) (6) 52.5kg
Trainers: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Jockey: Fred Kersley
28 - 5:5:4 $900,309
Showed a glimpse of form two starts back but was very flat in the Caulfield Cup last start. Hard to have in this line-up.
15) Pondus (GB) (1) 52.5kg
Trainer: Robert Hickmott
Jockey: Rachel King
19 - 3:7:1 $336,109
Is owned by Lloyd Williams who knows a thing or seven about winning the Melbourne Cup. Will be ridden by the only female jockey in the field and we know what Michelle Payne did back in 2015. Might run a cheeky race at good odds.
16) Grand Promenade (GB) (21) 52kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
19 - 8:4:2 $1,009,800
Is a very honest conveyance only missing the top five once in 19 career starts. Loves this track with three wins and a second from just five attempts and looks to play a major role in the finish.
17) Miami Bound (NZ) (17) 52kg
Trainer: Danny O'Brien
Jockey: Patrick Maloney
26 - 5:0:5 $1,672,200
Ran 14th in last year's edition and hasn't really set the world on fire in recent efforts. Tends to mix her form and cannot entertain.
18) Port Guillaume (FR) (23) 52kg
Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes
Jockey: Harry Coffey
10 - 4:0:0 $308,688
Former Frenchie who hasn't done much in four local runs. You'd love to see him run well for jockey Harry Coffey but will jump at cricket score odds and will need plenty of favours to figure in the finish.
19) She's Ideel (20) 52kg
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Craig Newitt
25 - 6:6:5 $1,101,075
A very consistent mare who handles all going and was a solid fourth in the Sydney Cup earlier this year. Rarely runs a bad race and looks one for the exotics.
20) Future Score (IRE) (15) 51.5kg
Trainer: Matt Cumani
Jockey: Dean Yendall
22 - 6:2:4 $565,381
Has been well covered at his past few outings and has only won up to 2600m. Will struggle to make an impression against this lot.
21) Tralee Rose (NZ) (12) 51kg
Trainer: Symon Wilde
Jockey: Dean Holland
15 - 6:4:2 $744,725
Is a model of consistency who always puts in her best. Was a strong Geelong Cup winner at her latest effort and that has proven to be a good form race for this in the past. Has never missed a drum at this track in four starts and looks a very good prospect.
22) Floating Artist (GB) (10) 50kg
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Teodore Nugent
16 - 5:2:1 $479,018
Import who has been in red-hot form of late with three wins and two placings from his past five runs. Gets the bare minimum of weight and no surprise to see him right there when the whips are cracking.
23) Great House (IRE) (7) 50kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Michael Dee
15 - 5:2:3 $694,290
Scraped into this field with a win in the Hotham on Saturday. Has yet to win past 2500m but gets a postage stamp on his back and can earn a cheque.
24) Sir Lucan (IRE) (18) 50kg
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Glen Boss
8 - 2:1:0 $152,926
The wildcard of the race. Is the most lightly raced galloper in the field and had mixed his form in the Northern hemisphere. To be ridden by three-time Cup winner Glen Boss and a bold showing wouldn't surprise.
OUR TIPS:
1st: No.12 PERSAN (Each-way)
2nd: No.2 INCENTIVISE
3rd: No.16 GRAND PROMENADE
4th: No. 21 TRALEE ROSE
5th: No. 4 VERRY ELLEEGANT
Best long-shot: No. 9 SELINO
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/TAB/PATopics: Odds, Analysis, Betting, Horse Racing, Australia
