Melbourne Cup 2022: Punters back a Gai Waterhouse import at big odds

Image: Steve Hart

Hoo Ya Mal has been well backed at odds in the Melbourne Cup

The 2022 Epsom Derby runner up Hoo Ya Mal has had each way specking with Ladbrokes for the race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Hoo Ya Mal makes his Australian debut for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and while there has been talk he may not stay, some punters are warming to him to do one better than Fiorente in 2012 and win the Melbourne Cup at his Australian debut. He opened $21 and has been well tried, into $15.

The dominant favourite is a horse who just beat him at Goodwood earlier in the year, Deauville Legend, sitting at $3.60, clear of Realm Of Flowers at $9.50. They are the lone runners at single figures.