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Coverage of the Group 1 showpiece is also available via Ladbrokes Australia here:
The $6.2million feature has an illustrious roll of honour that stretches longer than the Flemington straight and 24 horses will be bidding to add their names to the history books in Tuesday’s highlight.
The atmosphere ahead of the Group One continues to reach fever-pitch and Australian racegoers are fearing an international onslaught in the two-mile showpiece, with eleven overseas runners taking their chance in the 3200m handicap.
The travelling party hadn’t always enjoyed too much glory in the famous race but they have started to make a big impact in recent years and Vintage Crop (1993), Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010), Dunaden (2011) and Protectionist (2014) have all powered to victory at Flemington.
According to the betting Fame Game looks to be the most likely horse to take the prize from Australia and the Japenese son of Heart’s Cry brings some formidable form to the table. The horse’s victories in the Copa Republica Argentina and the Diamond Stakes over the last twelve months were both impressive performances and he warmed up for Tuesday with an eye-catching sixth in the Caulfield Cup.
The way he finished at Caulfield was mightily impressive and he runs off the same weight at Flemington. With the long straight sure to suit and with the ground improving ahead of this week’s feature, he is going to be incredibly hard to beat.
Max Dynamite (L, pink) (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
It isn’t hard to see why the horse has been so popular in the market but the shrewd money looks to be on Willie Mullins’ talented MAX DYNAMITE.
The lightly raced French stayer has flourished since his move to Mullins’ yard and the dual-purpose operator has taken his flat form to a whole new level in 2014. An unlucky second in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (drawn out wide) was followed by an emphatic victory over the likes Trip To Paris and Big Orange in the Lonsdale Cup at York in August and the way he put that Group Two to bed was particularly exciting.
When superstar jockey Frankie Dettori pressed the button on the horse approaching the final furlong, Max Dynamite exploded into life and flew home, confirming why his handler holds him in such high regard.
A horse who is notoriously relaxed in his races, he is sure to relish the Melbourne Cup test and the ground and draw have been kind to the Irish contender. The successes of Mullins’ yard are the stuff of folklore in Europe and the trainer commands respect wherever he sends his stable flagbearers.
Indeed, the handler trained Simenon into fourth in the 2013 Melbourne Cup and he is convinced that Max Dynamite is a better horse with greater prospects of landing the prestigious handicap.
He will need plenty of luck in running, as will all horses, but he is an uncomplicated ride and there is no better big race jockey than Dettori. Connections are heading into the race full of confidence and there is every reason to expect a huge performance from the contender.
Of the remainder, The United States is another lightly raced horse with plenty of potential and his victory in the Moonee Valley Cup in track record time last time out was a top staying performance. He drops 3.5kg for the Melbourne Cup and he is lucky enough to have the services of Joao Moreira on board.
It is also impossible not to consider Aidan O’Brien in these major races and Kingfisher is another horse who warrants maximum respect. The son of Galileo was unlucky not to beat Trip To Paris in the Ascot Gold Cup in June and although he has failed to reach that form since, he is a horse who remains very well handicapped and he has the ability to run a huge race.Melbourne Cup Day – Race Schedule (all times AEST)
Watch and bet live at 365 > Live Streaming
Race 1 – 10:40am Gr.3 Emirates Airline Plate
Race 2 – 11:20am tab.com.au Trophy
Race 3 – 12:00pm J.B. Cummings AM Tribute Plate
Race 4 – 12:40pm Lavazza Short Black
Race 5 – 1:20pm Schweppes #FlemingtonFling
Race 6 – 2:00pm Lexus Hybrid Plate
Race 7 – 3:00pm Gr.1 Emirates Melbourne Cup
Race 8 – 3:55pm LR James Boag’s Symphony Stakes
Race 9 – 4:35pm LR MSS Security Sprint
Race 10 – 5:15pm Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes
