The countdown is on to tonight’s 2021 Melbourne Cup barrier draw, scheduled to air at 6pm AEDT immediately following the last race at Flemington on Derby Day.
The final field is yet to be locked in, but the 161st edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ looks set to feature a typically strong field of 24, potentially headlined by up to 12 internationals.
Peter Moody’s sensational stayer Incentivise remains at the top of Ladbrokes’ All-In market following his dominant win in the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago.
The Shamus Award gelding firmed into as short as $2.30 following the win, followed closely by last year’s winner Twilight Payment, who is the only other runner at single figures ($9.00).
The Irish international is hoping to become the first horse since Makybe Diva to do the Cup double, while Miami Bound and The Chosen One could potentially line up for a second straight year.
There’s still plenty of doubt surrounding Spanish Mission, however. The American raider failed a second vet examination earlier in the week and remains on the second line of betting at $10.00.
Meanwhile, back in Sydney, champion trainer Chris Waller has a big decision to make with nine-time Group 1 winning mare Verry Elleegant.
The reigning Horse of the Year was the beaten favourite in last week’s Cox Plate, but is looking to atone with James McDonald back in the saddle after the star hoop lost his ride on Away He Went.
Ladbrokes’ All-In Melbourne Cup market can be viewed here, while the likely final field is available below.
Likely 2021 Melbourne Cup Field*
| No. | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1131×33912 | TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) | G | 9 | Joseph O’Brien | Jye McNeil | – | 58kg |
| 2 | 111111×111 | INCENTIVISE | G | 5 | Peter G Moody | Brett Prebble | – | 57kg (1.5kg penalty) |
| 3 | 17x2513x2x | SPANISH MISSION (USA) | H | 6 | Andrew Balding | Craig Williams | – | 57kg |
| 4 | x3112x2143 | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | M | 6 | Chris Waller | James McDonald (?) | – | 57kg |
| 5 | 132113×950 | EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | – | 57kg |
| 6 | x2606x3420 | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | H | 6 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | – | 54kg |
| 7 | 111x6x4210 | DELPHI (IRE) | H | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damien Oliver | – | 53.5kg |
| 8 | 1x610x5059 | OCEAN BILLY (NZ) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | – | – | 53.5kg (1.0kg penalty) |
| 9 | 86541×0840 | SELINO (GB) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | – | – | 53.5kg |
| 10 | 29431×0090 | JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) | G | 4 | Denis Pagan | Lachie King | – | 53kg |
| 11 | 3x8511x909 | KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Daniel Stackhouse | – | 53kg |
| 12 | 5x1244x373 | PERSAN | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Luke Currie | – | 53kg |
| 13 | 07422×4747 | CARIF | G | 6 | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blaike McDougall | – | 52.5kg |
| 14 | x663x00030 | MASTER OF WINE (GER) | G | 7 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | – | – | 52.5kg |
| 15 | x22x722x54 | PONDUS (GB) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | Rachel King | – | 52.5kg |
| 16 | x221211251 | GRAND PROMENADE (GB) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 52kg (1.0kg penalty) |
| 17 | x1510x0600 | PORT GUILLAUME (FR) | G | 5 | Ben & JD Hayes | Harry Coffey | – | 52kg |
| 18 | 78333×0095 | MIAMI BOUND (NZ) | M | 5 | Danny O’Brien | – | – | 52kg |
| 19 | 2324×37197 | SHE’S IDEEL | M | 6 | Bjorn Baker | – | – | 52kg |
| 20 | 3x6133x086 | FUTURE SCORE (IRE) | G | 7 | Matt Cumani | Dean Yendall | – | 51.5kg |
| 21 | 4100×66730 | FUN FACT | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | – | – | 51.5kg |
| 22 | 12114×3321 | TRALEE ROSE (NZ) | M | 5 | Symon Wilde | Dean Holland | – | 51kg |
| 23 | x41x81x248 | SIR LUCAN (IRE) | H | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Glen Boss | – | 50kg |
| 24 | 4×13275155 | GREAT HOUSE (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | – | – | 50kg |
*Note all horses and saddle cloth numbers are TBC.
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