The Melbourne Cup field is set and ready to go, with a number of horses affected by the barrier draw. Fiorente drew well at five, with last year’s runner-up looking to do one better in 2013. Some of the other favourites were not so lucky, however, with Mount Athose allotted barrier 22 in the field of 24 and last year’s winner, Grey Moon, drawing barrier 10.
Some of the other horses adversely affected by the draw were the 2011 runner-up Cadeaux and recent Lexus Stakes winner Ruscello, who drew barriers 23 and 24 respectively. Voueuse De Couers will also be running from the outside after drawing barrier 21. 2011 winner Dunaden also had a bad draw, with the champion running from the other side of the field in barrier 1.
Fiorente was already the early favourite for this year’s Cup, and this favourable barrier draw will only add to expectations. The Irish-bred six-year-old is trained by Gai Waterhouse, who is looking to bring home her first ever Melbourne Cup. Another iconic Australian trainer, Bart Cummings, wont have a runner at this year’s Cup after Precedence came up short in 25th position in a field of 24.
Horse (Barrier) Jockey Weight
1 – Dunaden (1) J P Spencer 58.5
2 – Green Moon (10) B Prebble 57.5
3 – Red Cadeaux (23) G Mosse 56.5
4 – Sea Moon (7) S W Arnold 56.5
5 – Brown Panther (6) R Kingscote 55
6 – Fiorente (5) D Oliver 55
7 – Foreteller (15) C Newitt 55
8 – Dandino (4) Ryan Moore 54.5
9 – Ethiopia (14) R McLeod 54.5
10 – Fawkner (8) Nicholas Hall 54.5
11 – Mourayan (19) B Avdulla 54.5
12 – Seville (9) J Bowman 54.5
13 – Super Cool (13) C W Brown 54.5
14 – Masked Marvel (2) M Rodd 54
15 – Mount Athos (22) Craig Williams 54
16 – Royal Empire (11) K McEvoy 54
17 – Voleuse De Coeurs (21) J B McDonald 54
18 – Hawkspur (18) J A Cassidy 53.5
19 – Simenon (12) R D Hughes 53.5
20 – Ibicenco (17) L Nolen 53
21 – Verema (3) C P Lemaire 53
22 – Dear Demi (16) C Munce 51
23 – Tres Blue (20) Tommy Berry 51
24 – Ruscello (24) C Schofield 50
