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The mammoth Melbourne Cup order of entry has been cut down once again following the second round of acceptances on Monday, closing in on the final field of 24 for race day.
A near record-breaking international contingent has cast a prominent shadow over the race, with ten internationally-trained runners still in the fight for places in the final barrier.
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Just 32 horses remain in the order with just a week left until the biggest race on the Australian calendar and one of the most sought-after cups in the racing world.
The current record for international runners in the Melbourne Cup is 11, set in the 2011 race and matched again last year.
Eight of the ten internationally-trained horses left in the order are in the top 24.
The top weight of the field has been an issue leading into the ‘race that stops the nation.’
No horse, still in the order or not, has yet to reach the minimum top weight of 57kg, especially after the previously heaviest runner, Preferment, was pulled by trainer Chris Waller.
English gelding Big Orange has stepped up as the new top weight, currently sitting at 56kg, meaning the whole field will have to be bumped up at the final declarations on Saturday.
Despite being blown away in the Cox Plate by Winx, Hartnell has still been declared for the Cup and is heading into the race as one of the hot favourites.
Trainer John O’Shea was happy with the six-year-old’s form and progress as of late, but doubts over entering the Cup have been ever-present over the past two weeks.
“We paid up for him (yesterday) for second acceptances and hope to have a good week with him in the lead-up to the Cup,” O’Shea said.
“At this stage, everything is on track and we are excited to have a strong chance in Australia’s great race.”
“If at any stage we are not happy with him we will have no hesitation in pulling him out.”
Godolphin confirm Hartnell heads to the Melbourne Cup, has come through the Cox Plate run better than trainer John O'Shea expected @Racing
— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) October 24, 2016
Caulfield Cup winner Jameka is sitting pretty at the top of the entry order, looking to become the 12th horse to win the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.
The Godolphin stable still has seven horses in the field at this stage, including the aforementioned Hartnell, as well as Geelong Cup winner Qewy and place getter Oceanographer.
The winner of the Lexus Stakes on Saturday, the final stop before the field is completed, will guarantee entry into the Melbourne Cup if they’re already in the order of entry.
Qewy (25th) and Grey Lion (24th) are right on the fringe of the final field limit but aren’t running in the Lexus Stakes, leaving them vulnerable.
They will be hoping a non-order runner will win the race, otherwise they could both be pushed out of the first Tuesday in November.
Pentathlon (26th) and Rose Of Virginia (27th) have the chance to leapfrog their way into contention with a win at Flemington on Saturday, both have been confirmed to run the Lexus.
The last round of acceptances and finalisation of the Melbourne Cup field will be made at 4.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday following the running of the Lexus Stakes.
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