The final field of 24 for Tuesday's $10.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) is set. The barriers were drawn at Flemington on Saturday evening, once Victoria Derby Day was over. Favourite Point of Law, the former royal horse who won the Geelong Cup, drew gate 9. That is the kind of middle draw trainers hope for over two miles.
Ciaron Maher, Australia's leading trainer, has seven runners in the race. He also has the inside gate, with Middle Earth in barrier 1. Joseph O'Brien, two-time Cup winner, brings five from Ireland. They include last year's runner-up Goodie Two Shoes (19) and Sons and Lovers (3), who gives Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle his first Cup ride. At 33, O'Brien is chasing a third win after Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020).
Knight's Choice, the 2024 winner, comes back with jockey Robbie Dolan from gate 2. English raider Hopewell Rock jumps from 15 under Zac Lloyd. James J Braddock got the widest gate, 24, with Wine Dark Sea (23) and Vauban (22) close by.
The vets shaped this field more than the handicapper did. In the past week they ruled out three fancied runners: Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George, Japanese stayer Stinger Glass and Defiantly. Each scratching moved a horse lower in the order of entry into the 24.
Source
Original summary by Proventier.