GODOLPHIN’s grip on Australian racing’s Holy Grail — the $6 million Melbourne Cup — has tightened after the official barrier draw.
The “Blue Army” will have five of the 24 runners in Tuesday’s Cup, including the favourite Hartnell and second elect Oceanographer.
Lexus Stakes winner Oceanographer will jump from barrier 11 — the most successful in Cup history — and Hartnell has drawn alongside in gate 12.
Oceanographer’s trainer Charlie Appleby said: “We’ve got a half decent draw now and that makes it a little easier.”
Another of the Godolphin string, Beautiful Romance will start from barrier 1 — the same alley used last year by 2015 winner Prince Of Penzance.
Hartnell drifted from $4.60-$5 following the draw while Oceanographer was steady at $5.50 and Jameka firmed from $7.50-$7.
MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE: EVERY RUNNER IN FULL DETAIL
Bidding to finally land the Cup after 18 fruitless attempts, Godolphin’s hopes to improve on its three runners-up results with Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene (2009).
Financed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Emir of Dubai, Godolphin is the world’s largest and most prolific racing operation.
But, despite enviable resources and impressive strike rate all over the world, the Melbourne Cup has remained bewilderingly elusive.
That could all change in two days when it saddles Hartnell, Oceanographer, Qewy (15), Secret Number (10) and Beautiful Romance.
Melbourne businessman Lloyd Williams has numerically the best chance of halting the foreign advance with Almandin (17), Bondi Beach (5), Assign (22) and Gallante (2).
Caulfield Cup winner Jameka has drawn ideally in gate three — but has twice been examined by Racing Victoria stewards after shifting a plate during trackwork.
RV chief steward Terry Bailey said Jameka was fine and had trotted without any problem on Saturday.
Trainer Ciaron Maher said: “I’m just rapt her in preparation and condition and she appears to have trained on since the Caulfield Cup.”
Oceanographer’s scorching late-race sectionals in the Lexus Stakes — he clocked 22.10 seconds between the 300m and 100m — not only catapulted him into the field, but also prompted TAB to install the raider as $5 second favourite behind Hartnell ($4.20).
And the performance attracted a 1kg re-handicap from Racing Victoria’s Greg Carpenter, who described Oceanographer’s performance as “impressive”.
Carpenter has penalised only two previous Lexus winners — Maluckyday, who finished second to American in the 2010 Cup, and Signoff, who ran fourth to Fiorente two years ago.
Eight of the past nine Lexus winners have subsequently finished in the Cup’s top 10.
A $151 chance when nominations closed in August, Oceanographer was the centre of the largest bet on the Cup so far when a punter on Thursday outlaid $8000 at $26 — a potential payout of $200,000.
He firmed from $18 on Saturday and his price plummeted deep into single figures with emphatic Lexus success.
Oceanographer and Geelong Cup winner Qewy, who has also been backed to win $200,000 (at 51), are among Godolphin’s powerful spread of talent.
Tommy Berry was banned for 11 meetings for his Derby ride on Swear but the suspension starts the day after Cup Day, allowing him to ride Japan’s Curren Mirotic.
MELBOURNE CUP (3200m)
Flemington, Tuesday 3pm
Group 1, $6.2 million
1 BIG ORANGE (GB) Michael Bell Jamie Spencer (7) 57kg
2 OUR IVANHOWE Lee & Anthony Freedman Dwayne Dunn (6) 57kg
3 CURREN MIROTIC (JPN) Osamu Hirata Tommy Berry (18) 56.5kg
4 BONDI BEACH (IRE) Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore (5) 56kg
5 EXOSPHERIC Lee & Anthony Freedman Damien Oliver (13) 56kg
6 HARTNELL John O’Shea James McDonald (12) 56kg
7 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN Chris Waller Hugh Bowman (20) 56kg
8 WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) William Mullins Frankie Dettori (24) 56kg
9 ALMOONQITH David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Michael Walker (19) 54.5kg
10 GALLANTE Robert Hickmott Blake Shinn(2) 54.5kg
11 GRAND MARSHAL Chris Waller Ben Melham (9) 54.5kg
12 JAMEKA Ciaron Maher Nicholas Hall (3) 54.5kg (pen 2kg)
13 HEARTBREAK CITY (IRE) Tony Martin Joao Moreira (23) 54kg
14 SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD John P Thompson Blake Spriggs (14) 54kg (1.5kg)
15 EXCESS KNOWLEDGE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Vlad Duric (21) 53.5kg
16 BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB) Saeed Bin Suroor Damian Lane (1) 52.5kg
17 ALMANDIN Robert Hickmott Kerrin McEvoy (17) 52kg (1kg)
18 ASSIGN Robert Hickmott Ms Katelyn Mallyon (22) 52kg (1kg)
19 GREY LION Matt Cumani Glen Boss (16) 52kg
20 OCEANOGRAPHER (GB) Charlie Appleby Chad Schofield (11) 52kg (1kg)
21 SECRET NUMBER (GB) Saeed Bin Suroor Stephen Baster (10) 52kg
22 PENTATHLON (NZ) John Wheeler Mark Du Plessis (4) 51.5kg
23 QEWY (GB) Charlie Appleby Craig Williams (15) 51.5kg (0.5kg)
24 ROSE OF VIRGINIA Lee & Shannon Hope Ben E Thompson (a) (8) 51kg
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