This years renewal of the race that stops a nation promises to be an intriguing contest full of international flair. Some may say the internationals are over rated and some may say they are simply the supreme stayers. Just Horse Racing has pinpointed the runners who have been guaranteed a start in the race and the ones who need to win to leapfrog themselves into the field.
1 JUKEBOX JURY: Guaranteed a start. Handicapped to his best which makes it very hard for him to run well with 57kg
2 AMERICAIN: Guaranteed a start. Arrogant win in the Moonee Valley cup and didn’t cop a penalty. The one to beat.
3 SHAMROCKER: Guaranteed a start. Below her best of late but has been set for this all along. Don’t be surprised to see her improve out of sight.
4 MIDAS TOUCH: Guaranteed a start. Had a few setbacks but if hes sound he has a huge chance.
5 DUNADEN:Guaranteed a start. Top win in the Geelong Cup and aiming to emulate Americain who did the double last year.
6 MANIGHAR:Guaranteed a start. Nice effort in the Caulfield Cup which would have topped him off nicely.
7 GLASS HARMONIUM: Guaranteed a start. Forget he went around in the Cox Plate. Blinkers may come off and will settle a lot better with the slower tempo.
8 UNUSUAL SUSPECT: Guaranteed a start. Eye catching run in the Caulfield Cup but a few have latched onto him. Maybe too much mug money now.
9 DRUNKEN SAILOR: Guaranteed a start. Similar from to Jukebox Jury and weighted to beat him.
10 LINTON: Guaranteed a start. Scratched from the Moonee Valley Cup and you just wonder whether he is at his best.
11 PRECEDENCE: Guaranteed a start. Getting under the radar. Always wide in the Caulfield Cup and is the blowout runner.
12 MOURAYAN: Guaranteed a start. Won a weak staying event at Flemington in easy fashion. Has to take the next step.
13 LUCAS CRANACH: Guaranteed a start. Ran on OK in the Caulfield Cup and with added fitness can ran well in the Melbourne Cup.
14 RED CADEAUX: Guaranteed a start. Slow import, apparently you can qualify with a third in a moderate race overseas.
15 FOX HUNT: Guaranteed a start. German St Leger winner. Some specking.
16 HAWK ISLAND: Guaranteed a start. Wasting their time.
17 LOST IN THE MOMENT: Guaranteed a start. Looked to hit a huge flatspot last start when he was a while between runs.Improver but cant afford to do much wrong here.
18 ILLO: Guaranteed a start. Good effort in the Moonee Valley Cup. Peaking here.
19 MODUN: Guaranteed a start. Godolphin Group 3 winner. Hard to completely write them off.
20 AT FIRST SIGHT: Guaranteed a start. Was shaping well but has had a few setbacks. If at his best he runs top 3.
21 BOOMING: Guaranteed a start. Small setback which saw him scratched last Saturday. Everything OK? Weird preparation for a two mile race.
22 OLDER THAN TIME: Guaranteed a start. 2nd in an ordinary Sydney Cup over two mile.
23 SAHARA SUN: Borderline. Runner up in Chilean Derby. Suspect they may pull him out of the race in favour of bauer gaining entry to the field.
24 TULLAMORE: Borderline. Top run in the Caulfield Cup.
25 THE VERMINATOR: Borderline.
26 MOYENNE CORNICHE: Borderline.
27 SAPTAPADI: Borderline.
28 BAUER: Borderline.
29 SHEWAN: Borderline.
30 IRONSTEIN: Unlikely to gain a start.
31 LAMASERY: Needs to win the Bendigo cup and receive a weight penalty to move up the order of entry.
32 NIWOT: Unlikely to gain a start.
33 GREEN MOON: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
34 SPECHENKA: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
35 SHOWCAUSE: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
36 MACEDONIAN: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
37 TANBY: Needs to win the Bendigo cup and receive a weight penalty to move up the order of entry.
38 GALIZANI: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
39 ANUDJAWUN: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
40 TWO FOR TEA: Needs to win the Lexus on Saturday.
