Melbourne Cup entries reduced to 40 as final chance looms for borderline runners
Eight horses have been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup at third declarations ahead of a crucial lead-up race for stayers trying to improve their order of entry.
Forty horses remain in contention for the Melbourne Cup after the third stage of declarations, as five entries prepare for last-ditch bids to make the field via the Bendigo Cup.
Six stayers left in the Melbourne Cup have accepted for the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday, but only the topweight Arapaho is assured of a start at Flemington next week.
Under the microscope in the $500,000 Group 3 race will be the Ciaron Maher pair of Interpretation and Sayedaty Sadaty, the New Zealand-trained Mark Twain, Sydney stayer Quietness and Annabel and Rob Archibald’s Don Diego De Vega.
Of the borderline quintet, Mark Twain is the best-placed to gain a start, sitting 25th in the latest order of entry to secure a place in the 24-horse field.
Interpretation and Sayedaty Sadaty are 33rd and 35th, respectively, with Don Diego De Vega splitting the stablemates at 34th.
Quietness, from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton operation is 38th but has opened a warm favourite to win the Bendigo Cup.
While the Bendigo Cup does not provide the winner with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption, prize money and a potential weight penalty can lift a horse up the order of entry ahead of Saturday’s final declarations.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice ran fifth in the Bendigo Cup before his monumental upset at Flemington six days later.
Meanwhile, English stayer Onesmoothoperator, who finished 12th in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, has received a 1kg penalty following his dominant win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last Friday night.
The Brian Ellison-trained veteran will now carry 53kg in next week’s Melbourne Cup.
Racing Victoria’s head of handicapping David Hegan said the re-handicap was warranted.
“Despite carrying the equal topweight of 57kg, he blitzed his rivals late to win eased down in stunning fashion (at Moonee Valley),” Hegan said.
“It was a superior performance to his Geelong Cup win last year.”
In contrast, Torranzino escaped a penalty for his Geelong Cup victory and will carry 51kg at Flemington after securing his spot with a determined win over Gilded Water.
Group 3 JRA Cup winner Star Of India didn’t receive a penalty for his victory on Saturday and he is 40th in the order of entry.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding, who is yet to pass the first ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup without a relevant black-type placing over 2300m or further, remains on the minimum of 51kg in the Melbourne Cup.
Gilded Water was a notable absentee among third declarations as Adelaide River, Brayden Star, Cleveland, Point King, Revelare, King’s Valley and Dashing Duchess were also withdrawn.
Revelare, the Archer Stakes winner, will head to the spelling paddock.
The decision follows a disappointing Caulfield Cup performance, in which the Robert Hickmott’s-trained stayer beat only one runner home.
Revelare’s withdrawal continues a trend among automatic qualifiers, following earlier exits of Roy Higgins Quality winner Deakin and Andrew Ramsden Stakes heroine Basilinna.
Seven-time Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams retains two chances – Changingoftheguard and Post Impressionist.
The Melbourne Cup remains a serious option for Buckaroo after he stretched the neck of champion mare Via Sistina when runner-up in the Cox Plate.
Craig Williams will be Buckaroo’s likely jockey if trainer Waller takes up the challenge after the seven-year-old started one of the favourites in 2024 before a luckless ninth-placed finish.
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