Melbourne Cup 2015 winner Prince of Penzance: Final results and finishing order
Prince of Penzance has won the 155th running of the Melbourne Cup. See the final finishing order and explore profiles of all the runners.
By Daniel Franklin
$51 : 1. Snow Sky (23)
| Age, sex | 5yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 (5 wins, 4 placings) |
| Prize money | $919,932 |
| Trainer | Sir Michael Stoute |
| Jockey | Ryan Moore |
| Last 5 starts | 7th, 1st, 1st, 6th, 5th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 16 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 58kg |
| Odds | $51 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Snow Sky is among the best-credentialed overseas raiders in recent years, coming to Australia as a winner of five races including the Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) at Royal Ascot.
But his success has earned him the topweight of 58kg, a weight carried to victory only once in the past 40 years — and that was Makybe Diva when she won her third Cup in 2005.
Snow Sky raced three times in England this year, including his Ascot win, before coming to Australia where he made his debut in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m), finishing fifth.
He was given a nice run behind the leaders by Damien Oliver but lost momentum at a crucial stage entering the straight and fought on to finish 4-3/4 lengths behind Mongolian Khan.
Snow Sky is untested at 3,200m but has won over 2,800m in the Yorkshire Cup and ran third over 2,900m in the English St Leger last year when he beat home Cup rival Hartnell.
His trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, is among the best in Europe and will saddle up his fourth Cup runner and first since Distinction finished sixth in 2004.
Snow Sky will also have the services of Ryan Moore, arguably the world's best jockey who rode Protectionist to victory last year.
$19 : 2. Criterion (3)
| Age, sex | 5yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 31 (7 wins, 12 placings) |
| Prize money | $6,743,869 |
| Trainer | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| Jockey | Michael Walker |
| Last 5 starts | 3rd, 5th, 6th, 1st, 2nd |
| This track | 4 starts (1 placing) |
| Barrier | 4 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 57.5kg |
| Odds | $17 |
| Breeding | New Zealand |
Criterion rates among the leading hopes for the home brigade and brings top-class weight-for-age form to this year's Cup.
A winner of the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby as a three-year-old, Criterion has matured and gone to another level since joining the Hayes-Dabernig stable.
He was a dominant winner of the rich Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney in April, defeating Cup rival Red Cadeaux, before heading to Hong Kong and Europe.
Criterion was not disgraced when fifth at Royal Ascot and then suffered interference when unplaced at York in a race contested by one of the world's best in Golden Horn.
At his first run back in Australia, Criterion claimed the Caulfield Stakes (2,000m) and defeated eventual Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan, with Hayes saying afterwards: "I think he's been racing at the Olympics and now he's back at the national titles."
He beat all-but-superstar mare Winx in the Cox Plate, which was the final lead-up to the Cup for recent winners Green Moon (2012) and Fiorente (2013).
Criterion, however, does meet Cup rivals Hartnell and Preferment worse at the weights from the Cox Plate — two horses that appear to be suited by the 3,200 metres.
$5 : 3. Fame Game (13)
| Age, sex | 6yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 17 (5 wins, 2 placings) |
| Prize money | $2,873,484 |
| Trainer | Yoshitada Munakata |
| Jockey | Zac Purton |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 12th, 1st, 2nd, 6th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 12 |
| This distance | 2 starts (1 placing) |
| Weight | 57kg |
| Odds | $4.80 |
| Breeding | Japan |
Japanese runner Fame Game is all the rage for the Cup and has been heavily backed following his fast-finishing sixth in the Caulfield Cup over a fortnight ago.
The effort was not without controversy after connections were questioned about whether jockey Zac Purton's patient ride at the back of the field was a way of "looking after" Fame Game for the big race at Flemington.
Purton says he was instructed to ride for luck in between horses and they gradually picked up ground through the field, with his closing 400m sectional times second only to runner-up Trip To Paris.
Fame Game's trainer Yoshitada Munakata says the horse does not like going to the outside in the straight and Purton will ride to a similar plan in the Melbourne Cup.
The step up to 3,200m and moving to the bigger track at Flemington will be ideal for Fame Game, who is a two-time winner of the Diamond Stakes in Japan over 3,400m.
He also finished a bold second to star galloper Gold Ship in the Tenno Sho (3,200m) in Kyoto in May when he finished in front of fellow Cup raider Hokko Brave.
Favourites have a fair record in the Cup (22 per cent); Fiorente (2013) has been the only market-topper to salute since 2005.
$21 : 4. Our Ivanhowe (10)
| Age, sex | 6yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 14 (5 wins, 3 placings) |
| Prize money | $786,973 |
| Trainer | Lee & Anthony Freedman |
| Jockey | Ben Melham |
| Last 5 starts | 6th, 7th, 9th, 2nd, 3rd |
| This track | 1 start (1 placing) |
| Barrier | 22 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 56kg |
| Odds | $20 |
| Breeding | Germany |
Our Ivanhowe is a German-bred galloper looking to give Lee Freedman and his brother Anthony a sixth Cup win and go to outright second on the all-time trainers list.
The Freedmans had some success with another ex-German in 2011 when Lucas Cranach ran third in the Melbourne Cup behind Dunaden at only his second start in Australia.
Our Ivanhowe has had a better grounding in preparation for the Cup, having arrived in Australia after finishing sixth in last year's Japan Cup.
He was given one run during the autumn to help his acclimatisation before resuming for a sound ninth at Caulfield in the Naturalism Stakes (2,000m).
The five-year-old then carried a big weight and fought on well for second in the Bart Cummings (2,500m) at Flemington before his bold third in the Caulfield Cup.
He loomed up in the straight to challenge the winner Mongolian Khan but his jockey Ben Melham said he ran out of condition in the closing stages.
Our Ivanhowe has not raced beyond 2,400 metres but performs like a horse that, with improved fitness out of his Caulfield run, would be suited by the 3,200 metres on Cup day.
$61 : 5. Big Orange (5)
| Age, sex | 5yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 13 (5 wins, 1 placing) |
| Prize money | $549,822 |
| Trainer | Michael Bell |
| Jockey | Jamie Spencer |
| Last 5 starts | 4th, 7th, 1st, 1st, 7th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 23 |
| This distance | 3 starts (1 win) |
| Weight | 55.5kg |
| Odds | $61 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Big Orange is another of the large contingent of overseas-trained gallopers hoping their Melbourne Cup trip bears fruit.
Trained by Michael Bell, the aptly named five-year-old (his sire is Duke Of Marmalade) has recorded two big-race victories this year.
He scored at big odds in Group Two company at Newmarket in July and backed that up a few weeks later with a dogged staying effort to win the Goodwood Cup (3,200m).
In that race Big Orange defeated fellow Melbourne Cup contenders Quest For More and Trip To Paris, who has since run a huge race for second in the Caulfield Cup.
But Big Orange blotted his copybook at his most recent start, finishing second last, beaten 14 lengths, behind another Cup runner Max Dynamite in the Lonsdale Cup in August (3,300m).
His connections said he lost a shoe and may not have been suited by the soft ground last start and would appreciate a firmer surface at Flemington.
But it appears bookmakers in Australia have not been as forgiving, and with the wide barrier draw Big Orange is currently rated as one of the outsiders.
$31 : 6. Hartnell (15)
| Age, sex | 5yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 20 (7 wins, 5 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,595,499 |
| Trainer | John O'Shea |
| Jockey | James McDonald |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 4th, 4th, 6th, 5th |
| This track | 1 start (No placing) |
| Barrier | 17 |
| This distance | 2 starts (1 win) |
| Weight | 55.5kg |
| Odds | $31 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Former English galloper Hartnell has impressed since he was purchased by the Godolphin racing operation and brought to Australia.
In his three-year-old year, Hartnell finished behind Cup rival Snow Sky in the Lingfield Derby Trial (2,300m) in May 2014 before winning the Queen's Vase (3,200m) at Royal Ascot the following month and defeating Big Orange.
His final European run was a seventh in the English St Leger (2,900m) in which Snow Sky (third) again had his measure.
But since coming to Australia, Hartnell has showed he is up to our best middle-distance gallopers, winning the Group One BMW Stakes (2,400m) in Sydney.
He was then a short-priced favourite for the Sydney Cup (3,200m) but did not settle when he raced in the lead and eventually weakened into fourth behind Grand Marshal and Who Shot Thebarman.
This spring, trainer John O'Shea has patiently brought Hartnell through with the Cup as his primary focus, and along the way was sixth in the Turnbull Stakes behind Preferment and struck trouble before running fifth in the Cox Plate.
He has the services of gun Kiwi jockey James McDonald, who came close to winning when second on Fiorente in 2012.
$41 : 7. Hokko Brave (17)
| Age, sex | 8yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 30 (5 wins, 10 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,896,169 |
| Trainer | Yasutoshi Matsunaga |
| Jockey | Craig Williams |
| Last 5 starts | 14th, 5th, 3rd, 6th, 10th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 20 |
| This distance | 2 starts (1 placing) |
| Weight | 55.5kg |
| Odds | $41 |
| Breeding | Japan |
Hokko Brave is certainly the second pick of the two Japanese runners according to the punters, who have him rated an each-way chance at best behind compatriot Fame Game who is the favourite.
The eight-year-old is relatively lightly raced for a horse his age and boasts a 50 per cent strike rate when it comes to finishing in the top three.
He has won races up to 2,600 metres and his stamina over the two miles should not be an issue as he has contested races at 3,600 metres.
The veteran did finish behind Fame Game in the Tenno Sho (3,200m) in May at his final start before coming out to Australia.
Hokko was brave in the Caulfield Cup and after being forced to make a wide run he finished less than six lengths from Mongolian Khan in 10th place.
While he will derive plenty of benefit from that run and will appreciate Flemington, it has been two years since his last win.
Craig Williams retains the ride and will be out to claim his first Melbourne Cup, the only one of Australia's four "majors" he has yet to win.
$13 : 8. Max Dynamite (2)
| Age, sex | 6yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 18 (3 wins, 5 placings) |
| Prize money | $379,647 |
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
| Jockey | Frankie Dettori |
| Last 5 starts | Fell, 7th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 2 |
| This distance | 7 starts (1 win, 3 placings) |
| Weight | 55kg |
| Odds | $13 |
| Breeding | France |
Max Dynamite started out his career racing at the elite level in France but found the competition much easier after his transfer to Irish master horseman Willie Mullins.
He was an instant hit jumping over hurdles before Mullins switched him back to the flat in June when he finished second to Quest For More in the Northumberland Plate.
After another run over the hurdles preceded an impressive flat victory in the Lonsdale Cup (3,300m) in August when he trounced fellow Cup runners Trip To Paris and Big Orange.
But the vanquished that day will claim Max Dynamite's winning margin was due to a liking for soft tracks while they will be better suited on a firmer Flemington surface.
A horse with a similar profile to Max Dynamite is his stable-mate Simenon who also raced over the obstacles in Europe before switching to the flat and finishing a bold fourth to Fiorente in 2013.
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori is booked to ride Max Dynamite and is hoping to go better than his lone second on Central Park in 1999 in what will be his 14th Cup appearance.
Bookmakers have respected the Mullins-Dettori combination and kept Max Dynamite close to the top of the market after an ideal barrier draw.
$26 : 9. Red Cadeaux (Did not finish)
| Age, sex | 10yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 53 (7 wins, 20 placings) |
| Prize money | $8,108,268 |
| Trainer | Ed Dunlop |
| Jockey | Gerald Mosse |
| Last 5 starts | 5th, 2nd, 11th, 7th, 3rd |
| This track | 5 starts (3 placings) |
| Barrier | 8 |
| This distance | 8 starts (5 placings) |
| Weight | 55kg |
| Odds | $21 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Red Cadeaux may well be trained in England, but he certainly qualifies to be an honourary Aussie now that he is back for his fifth attempt at the Melbourne Cup.
But he is still one short of Shadow King (6th - 1929, 3rd - 1930, 2nd - 1931, 3rd - 1932, 2nd - 1933, 4th - 1935).
Red Cadeaux's first visit to Australia resulted in a defeat by only millimetres to Dunaden in 2011 before he got too far back when eighth to Green Moon in 2012.
He ran as the forgotten horse in 2013 when at $61 he beat all bar Fiorente, and then again last year he was big odds when second to Protectionist.
The big Red has been out of the winner's circle since 2012, but has run some bold races in that time including a second in the Dubai World Cup (2013) and second to Criterion in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney in April.
Since then he has finished last in the Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) behind Snow Sky and third, beaten nine lengths, in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2,600m) at Newbury.
Red Cadeaux's Cup trips have earned him nearly $3 million and helps make him the winner of more prize money than any other British horse in history.
No 10-year-old has won the Melbourne Cup — another record Red Cadeaux is looking to break on Tuesday.
$6 : 10. Trip To Paris (4)
| Age, sex | 5yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 19 (6 wins, 4 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,200,548 |
| Trainer | Ed Dunlop |
| Jockey | Tommy Berry |
| Last 5 starts | 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 2nd |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 14 |
| This distance | 2 starts (1 win, 1 placing) |
| Weight | 55kg |
| Odds | $7 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
Trip To Paris is a stable-mate of Melbourne Cup regular Red Cadeaux, but the five-year-old is certainly not Down Under to make up the numbers.
The Ed Dunlop-trained gelding burst into Cup calculations after a fast-finishing second to Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup just over a fortnight ago.
He came from 12th at the turn and closed to within a half-length of the winner and recorded the fastest closing sectionals of the race.
Few expected Trip To Paris to feature at Caulfield, believing that as a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup over 4,000m he would be better suited at Flemington.
However he showed there was plenty of speed in his legs and punters have made him second favourite for the Cup.
In the Gold Cup Trip To Paris defeated the unlucky Kingfisher, before he suffered a narrow defeat to Big Orange and Quest For More in the Goodwood Cup (3,200m).
But he can be forgiven his 11-length fifth to Max Dynamite in the Lonsdale Cup (3,300m) when he struck a soft track.
The connections of Trip To Paris will be hoping the rain stays away so he can get his preferred firm ground, as evidenced by his bold Caulfield run.
$21 : 11. Who Shot Thebarman (11)
| Age, sex | 7yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 24 (8 wins, 4 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,423,021 |
| Trainer | Chris Waller |
| Jockey | Blake Shinn |
| Last 5 starts | 2nd, 7th, 5th, 8th, 7th |
| This track | 4 starts (2 wins, 1 placing) |
| Barrier | 6 |
| This distance | 4 starts (1 win, 2 placings) |
| Weight | 54.5kg |
| Odds | $19 |
| Breeding | New Zealand |
One horse with an irresistible name for once-a-year punters is certainly Who Shot Thebarman.
This stout staying horse first raced in New Zealand and won last year's Auckland Cup (3,200m) before coming to Australia in a failed Sydney Cup bid.
Transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller, Who Shot Thebarman won twice before he was the best of the locals in last year's Melbourne Cup when third behind Protectionist.
Who Shot Thebarman made a second Sydney Cup (3,200m) attempt in the autumn.
He looked to have the race won after surging past Hartnell, but in the final 100 metres he was overwhelmed by a powerful finishing burst from stable-mate Grand Marshal.
Waller has brought Who Shot Thebarman along slowly this preparation and he ran on well without threatening in races such as the Chelmsford Stakes and Hill Stakes.
Another good run in the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) behind stable-mate Preferment took him into the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) where he was beaten just over five lengths by Mongolian Khan in seventh place.
After that race jockey Blake Shinn reported "he just felt like he wants the big open stretches at Flemington".
$31 : 12. Sky Hunter (22)
| Age, sex | 6yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 11 (6 wins, 2 placings) |
| Prize money | $585,150 |
| Trainer | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| Jockey | William Buick |
| Last 5 starts | 6th, DQ, 1st, 1st, 2nd |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 7 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 54kg |
| Odds | $41 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Global racing operation Godolphin is relying on a two-pronged attack for this year's Melbourne Cup, split up through its Australian and UK arms.
Sky Hunter is prepared by the Dubai and England-based Saeed Bin Suroor, who in 17 years of trying has helped Godolphin finish second twice and third three times.
The Cup remains one of the few major races around the world they have yet to conquer.
Sky Hunter, a son of English Derby winner Motivator, began racing in France and was third in the 2013 French Derby.
He raced just four times for Godolphin in 2014, ending in a win at Group Three level, and began this year on the same note in the City Of Gold (2,400m) in Dubai.
After a few months off Sky Hunter completed his Cup preparation with a close second in the Newbury Arc Trial (2,200m), finishing in front of the highly rated Eagle Top.
Eagle Top had finished a narrow second in the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as well as second to Cup hopeful Snow Sky in the Hardwicke Stakes.
In the week leading up to the Cup Sky Hunter had sustained a bruised heel but has been passed fit to start by the stewards.
$31 : 13. The Offer (8)
| Age, sex | 7yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 27 (8 wins, 5 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,442,379 |
| Trainer | Gai Waterhouse |
| Jockey | Damien Oliver |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 5th, 5th, 4th, 1st |
| This track | 1 start (No placing) |
| Barrier | 13 |
| This distance | 2 starts (1 win) |
| Weight | 54kg |
| Odds | $26 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
The Offer is one of two runners looking to give Gai Waterhouse her second Melbourne Cup after her success with Fiorente in 2013.
A winner of the 2014 Sydney Cup, The Offer was an early favourite for last year's Melbourne Cup before going amiss and having his spring plans aborted.
Waterhouse has plotted a comeback trail for The Offer that has avoided the biggest staying events so far this spring.
Instead she has focused on races including the Wyong Cup (2,080m), Newcastle Cup (2,300m) and City Tattersalls Cup (2,400m) at Randwick in Sydney.
As a result The Offer has been forced to carry as much as 62 kilograms in those events and still finished just behind the placegetters.
He then carried 59kg to score a dogged victory in the Bendigo Cup (2,400m) less than a week ago in preparation for Tuesday's race.
The Offer will appreciate the drop back to 54kg for the Melbourne Cup however he will certainly meet better quality opposition than he has in recent starts.
A drop of rain would certainly be in his favour as he has a great record on wet tracks.
$61 : 14. Grand Marshal (21)
| Age, sex | 6yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 25 (7 wins, 7 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,431,792 |
| Trainer | Chris Waller |
| Jockey | Jim Cassidy |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 13th, 7th, 5th, 11th |
| This track | 1 start (1 win) |
| Barrier | 15 |
| This distance | 1 start (1 win) |
| Weight | 53.5kg |
| Odds | $51 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Grand Marshal, a former British galloper, is one of three runners in the Cup for trainer Chris Waller.
The six-year-old raced just three times in England before making his Australian debut in Sydney in February 2014.
He raced with success in lower grades before ultimately winning the so-called Melbourne Cup consolation run over 2,800 metres on the big day last year.
After a spell Grand Marshal contested black-type races in the Sydney autumn carnival, but it wasn't until he reached 2,400 metres that his staying ability came to the fore.
He finished third in the Chairman's Handicap (2,600m) before he produced a barnstorming effort at long odds to win the Sydney Cup (3,200m).
Grand Marshal was well back on the turn but flew home to overhaul stable-mate Who Shot Thebarman, who he again meets on Tuesday.
Waller tuned Grand Marshal for the Melbourne Cup with an 11th placing, beaten six lengths, behind Mongolian Khan in the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).
Jockey Jim Cassidy, a two-time winner riding in his last Cup before retiring, said the run had Grand Marshal "ticking over right" for his grand final.
$9 : 15. Preferment (20)
| Age, sex | 4yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 (3 wins, 5 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,503,405 |
| Trainer | Chris Waller |
| Jockey | Hugh Bowman |
| Last 5 starts | 8th, 12th, 1st, 1st, 9th |
| This track | 2 starts (2 wins) |
| Barrier | 11 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 53.5kg |
| Odds | $8.50 |
| Breeding | New Zealand |
Preferment is the leading Melbourne Cup hope for the all-conquering stable of champion trainer Chris Waller.
The four-year-old commands an unbeaten record after two starts at Flemington including victory in last year's Victoria Derby (2,500m).
Following his Derby win he was out of the winner's circle until an upset win in the Hill Stakes (2,000m) in September.
That win defied perceptions that Preferment was a dour stayer and he quickly shortened in Cup markets.
He showed that win was no fluke when he defeated a top-class field in the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) and earned himself a shot at the Cox Plate.
Preferment didn't find Moonee Valley to his liking, finishing ninth, but expect a better showing up in distance back at Flemington with a red-hot Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
One note from history is that Preferment will need to become only the second horse since Phar Lap (1930) to win the Cup a year after winning the Victoria Derby.
But a Preferment victory would be a fitting tribute to Zabeel, his three-time Cup-winning sire who died earlier this spring aged 29.
$81 : 16. Quest For More (9)
| Age, sex | 6yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 19 (6 wins, 7 placings) |
| Prize money | $395,340 |
| Trainer | Roger Charlton |
| Jockey | Damian Lane |
| Last 5 starts | 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 16th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 21 |
| This distance | 3 starts (2 wins, 1 placing) |
| Weight | 53.5kg |
| Odds | $81 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
Quest For More has compiled a consistent record in his native England, missing a place just six times in his 19 career starts.
The Roger Charlton-trained gelding also boasts two wins and a second from three starts over the 3,200-metre journey he'll encounter on Tuesday.
He raced four times for two victories in England this year, including the Northumberland Plate (3,200m) in which he defeated fellow Cup runner Max Dynamite by 1-1/4 lengths.
Before coming to Australia, Quest For More finished second in a close finish to the Goodwood Cup (3,200m) behind Big Orange, another rival on Tuesday.
He was first emergency for the Caulfield Cup but missed a start, instead running in the Geelong Cup four days later.
Quest For More raced near the speed but weakened noticeably in the straight and beat just one runner home, beaten eight lengths by Almoonqith.
His Cup jockey Damian Lane has suggested punters can forgive Quest For More, saying the stable had identified a couple of "niggling things" that were troubling the horse but have now been overcome.
This included a hoof issue which caught the attention of stewards, but he has been passed fit to start.
$17 : 17. Almoonqith (18)
| Age, sex | 6yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 21 (5 wins, 4 placings) |
| Prize money | $476,225 |
| Trainer | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| Jockey | Dwayne Dunn |
| Last 5 starts | 5th, 10th, 6th, 7th, 1st |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 10 |
| This distance | 1 start (No placings) |
| Weight | 53kg |
| Odds | $18 |
| Breeding | United States |
Almoonqith was an addition to the Hayes-Dabernig stable earlier this year after doing his early racing in France and Dubai.
He is owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Shadwell Racing, the operation for which Hayes trained his lone Cup winner Jeune in 1994.
Shadwell has been a major supporter of the Lindsay Park team for decades. Hayes's legendary father Colin prepared At Talaq to win the Cup for them in 1986.
After arriving in Australia, Almoonqith produced two solid efforts at Moonee Valley before putting the writing on the wall with fast-closing efforts in the Naturalism Stakes (2,000m) and the Group One Metropolitan (2,400m).
Almoonqith then broke through for his first win Down Under with a dominant victory in the Geelong Cup (2,400m), which prompted bookmakers to slash his price dramatically for the Melbourne Cup.
Hayes says the six-year-old has worked well since and that there is little between him and stable-mate Criterion.
The Geelong Cup has been a good formline for Flemington in recent times, including dual wins by Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011).
$61 : 18. Kingfisher (19)
| Age, sex | 5yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 15 (3 wins, 4 placings) |
| Prize money | $726,780 |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Jockey | Colm O'Donoghue |
| Last 5 starts | 4th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 9 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 53kg |
| Odds | $51 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
Kingfisher is one of two runners targeting the Cup for Irish master Aidan O'Brien, who is making a return to Flemington for the first time since 2008.
A winner of almost 250 Group One races around the world, O'Brien has yet to claim the Cup and has teamed with owner Lloyd Williams to help rectify that.
Like his stable-mate Bondi Beach, Williams bought into Kingfisher after both had successful seasons in Europe.
Kingfisher raced at the top level as a three-year-old but was often used as a pacemaker for his illustrious stable-mate Australia, and ran second to him in last year's Irish Derby (2,400m).
Trained differently this year, Kingfisher won the Saval Beg Stakes (2,800m) in Ireland before finishing an unlucky second to Cup contender Trip To Paris in the Ascot Gold Cup (4,000m).
Since then he has been thrashed twice by his stable-mate Order Of St George, firstly in the Irish St Leger Trial (2,800m) at the Curragh and then the St Leger proper in September.
O'Brien says Kingfisher took a little while to get over his trip to Australia but that he is on track to relish firmer ground at Flemington.
$101 : 19. Prince Of Penzance (1)
| Age, sex | 6yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 23 (6 wins, 8 placings) |
| Prize money | $605,690 |
| Trainer | Darren Weir |
| Jockey | Michelle Payne |
| Last 5 starts | 8th, 5th, 5th, 8th, 2nd |
| This track | 6 starts (1 win, 3 placings) |
| Barrier | 1 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 53kg |
| Odds | $126 |
| Breeding | New Zealand |
Prince Of Penzance has been a consistent galloper for the stable of Victoria's champion trainer Darren Weir.
The six-year-old missed out on a Cup start in 2014 when he was in peak form that brought victory in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) and placings in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,500m) and Zipping Classic (2,400m).
After a nine-month break Prince Of Penzance ran on well when resuming, was sound under a big weight at Ballarat, and then was caught out in a leader-dominated race at Moonee Valley.
He turned in a below-par effort in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m) behind one-time Cup hopeful Amralah where he finished more than seven lengths off the winner.
Weir said he was unsure where the horse was at after that effort, but he would have been pleased to a forward showing using the on-pace bias in the Moonee Valley Cup.
After leading into the straight he was nailed inside the final 150 metres by The United States in a race that shaved a second off the track record.
Weir's best result in the Melbourne Cup is a second with She's Archie in 2003, while Michelle Payne finished 16th in her only Cup ride in 2009.
$21 : 20. Bondi Beach (16)
| Age, sex | 4yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 5 (2 wins, 3 placings) |
| Prize money | $438,897 |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Jockey | Brett Prebble |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd |
| This track | First start |
| Barrier | 18 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 52.5kg |
| Odds | $23 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
Bondi Beach is the baby of this year's Cup.
He will officially race in Australia as a four-year-old, but the Irish-bred is only three in northern hemisphere breeding time.
His trainer, the great Aidan O'Brien, has done this before and brought "three-year-old" Mahler to Melbourne for the Cup and finished a brave third in 2007.
Bondi Beach has only had five career starts, making a successful debut over 2,400 metres at Leopardstown in May.
O'Brien quickly raised the bar and the horse was second at Listed level before defeating eventual Irish St Leger winner Order Of St George in the Curragh Cup (2,800m).
Controversy surrounded Bondi Beach's most recent start, the English St Leger (2,900m), which he lost, then won, then lost.
He was second past the post after a stirring duel with filly Simple Verse, but he suffered interference and stewards handed him the race on protest. However a week later, Simple Verse's connections regained the race on appeal.
Multiple Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams has bought a share in Bondi Beach and has asked Brett Prebble to make the trip from Hong Kong to ride, but he must do it from barrier 18 - the only barrier to never see Cup success.
$101 : 21. Sertorius (12)
| Age, sex | 8yo gelding |
|---|---|
| Starts | 41 (10 wins, 14 placings) |
| Prize money | $1,269,422 |
| Trainer | Jamie Edwards |
| Jockey | Craig Newitt |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 10th, 10th, 6th, 9th |
| This track | 6 starts (1 win, 3 placings) |
| Barrier | 5 |
| This distance | 1 start (1 placing) |
| Weight | 52.5kg |
| Odds | $81 |
| Breeding | Australia |
Sertorius is in the veteran category these days but at his best has been competitive at the top level.
His victories include races such as the Group Two Zipping Classic (2,400m), but his win in April's Easter Cup was his only success in almost two years.
Sertorius's only start at 3,200 metres was for a brave third in the 2014 Sydney Cup won by The Offer.
So far this spring he was 10th at weight-for-age runs in the Memsie Stakes and Underwood Stakes, before he stepped up to 2,400 metres in the Herbert Power Stakes.
He finished six lengths behind one-time Cup contender Amralah that day and then failed to figure in the Geelong Cup behind Almoonqith.
Afterwards, his jockey said Sertorius raced a bit dour and would be suited by the addition of blinkers at his next start.
History is not on his side as he will have to become just the third eight-year-old, and first in almost 80 years, to win the Cup.
Sertorius, the outsider of the field, is the first Cup runner for trainer Jamie Edwards and Derby-winning jockey Craig Newitt has been booked to ride.
$21 : 22. The United States (14)
| Age, sex | 6yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 12 (5 wins, 3 placings) |
| Prize money | $349,022 |
| Trainer | Robert Hickmott |
| Jockey | Joao Moreira |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 6th, 1st |
| This track | 1 start (No placing) |
| Barrier | 3 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 52.5kg |
| Odds | $21 |
| Breeding | Ireland |
The United States rounds out a trio of runners for four-time Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams.
The six-year-old made it into the Cup as the 24th and final horse on the ballot order, thanks to his record-breaking victory in the Moonee Valley Cup just over a week ago.
The win over 2,500 metres in track record time impressed chief handicapper Greg Carpenter enough to earn The United States a 2.5kg penalty and leapfrog several other Melbourne Cup contenders.
Hugh Bowman guided the horse perfectly around the Moonee Valley circuit, only going around one horse and that was to overtake the leader Prince Of Penzance in the closing stages.
It was the first time the former Irish galloper had raced beyond 2,000 metres, and while he has been racing well he will have to lift to another level over 3,200 metres.
To that end The United States will have the services of the "Magic Man" Joao Moreira, who has taken all before him in Hong Kong.
As the likelihood of making the Cup field increased, bookmakers reported solid support for The United States.
A win for Williams, meanwhile, will see him take the record for most Melbourne Cup wins by an owner.
$31 : 23. Excess Knowledge (7)
| Age, sex | 6yo stallion |
|---|---|
| Starts | 18 (5 wins, 7 placings) |
| Prize money | $535,742 |
| Trainer | Gai Waterhouse |
| Jockey | Kerrin McEvoy |
| Last 5 starts | 5th, 7th, 2nd, 2nd, 1st |
| This track | 2 starts (1 win) |
| Barrier | 24 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 51kg |
| Odds | $26 |
| Breeding | Great Britain |
Excess Knowledge, a former English galloper, made his way into the Cup field at the last possible moment, narrowly winning the Lexus Stakes on Saturday to book his berth.
It was a good win considering he was forced to race wide at stages in the 2,500-metre event and fight off a late challenge by in-form mare Zanteca to score.
Chief handicapper Greg Carpenter decided against a penalty for the victory and Excess Knowledge will carry 51kg on Tuesday.
After arriving in Australia last year Gai Waterhouse kept the six-year-old to middle distances, but this spring he has relished the step up to staying trips.
He closed off strongly for second in the Harry White Classic (2,400m) in September before finishing runner-up to one-time Cup fancy Amralah in the Herbert Power Stakes (2,400m).
Excess Knowledge will be at his peak after Saturday's victory but he must step up again against much tougher opposition jumping from the outside barrier.
His jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who was given the choice of rides for the Waterhouse duo, won the Cup as a 20-year-old aboard Brew in 2000.
$41 : 24. Gust Of Wind (6)
| Age, sex | 4yo mare |
|---|---|
| Starts | 9 (3 wins) |
| Prize money | $849,900 |
| Trainer | John Sargent |
| Jockey | Chad Schofield |
| Last 5 starts | 1st, 9th, 8th, 11th, 4th |
| This track | 2 starts (No placings) |
| Barrier | 19 |
| This distance | First start |
| Weight | 51kg |
| Odds | $41 |
| Breeding | New Zealand |
Gust Of Wind is the lone mare in this year's Melbourne Cup and has the featherweight of 51kg.
Trained by Sydney-based New Zealand horseman John Sargent, Gust Of Wind was the dominant winner of the Australian Oaks (2,400m) in the autumn.
That day she trounced another filly you may have heard of - last month's record-breaking Cox Plate winner Winx.
Their paths took different directions this spring, with Gust Of Wind being aimed towards the Cups.
She could have finished closer when 11th in the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) behind Preferment and then was far from disgraced when fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
Gust Of Wind raced near the pace and fought on strongly, with her jockey Chad Schofield saying the placegetters sprinted a bit better than her early in the straight but she was "really solid through the line".
Sargent says Gust Of Wind has recovered well from that run and been working well at Flemington.
Nevertheless, it will be no easy task going up against the boys on Tuesday as the Cup has been won by a female only 16 times in more than 150 years.
Credits
- Reporting: Daniel Franklin
- Illustrations: Lucy Fahey
- Design: Ben Spraggon
- Development: Colin Gourlay
- Editor: Tim Leslie
Prices correct as at 2:45pm (AEDT) Tuesday
Topics: horse-racing, sport, melbourne-3000, flemington-3031, vic, australia
