Finding the Melbourne Cup winner is always a proud boast, and often financially rewarding, but more than any other race on the calendar it presents opportunities via markets that are not normally available.

One horse that might be a smart play in the 'To Finish Top 10' market is Daqiansweet Junior.

The six-year-old is a $101 chance with bet365 to win the Melbourne but is $5 to be one of the first 10 over the line.

The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding has been building nicely this preparation and is one of the best-performed 3200m horses in the race, last year winning the Adelaide Cup and finishing third in the Sydney Cup before a sixth placing in last year's Melbourne Cup.

This year's Melbourne Cup looks a little stronger at the top end, but Daqiansweet Junior has 51.5kg this year compared with 53kg last year, when the race was run on a Soft 7 track.

That was one of only two minor placings on tracks rated worst than Good for the son of Sweet Orange, who has had 17 starts on Good tracks for seven wins and one second placing.