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There 48 horses still in contention for the Melbourne Cup after third declarations.
A total of 48 horses remains in the hunt for the Melbourne Cup after third declarations closed on Tuesday.
Included in that number are six European gallopers of which five – Deauville Legend, Loft, Without A Fight, Hoo Ya Mal and Camorra – are due to arrive in Melbourne on Tuesday night to commence their quarantine at Werribee.
Those five horses are safely in the field for the 3200m on November 1 while the sixth, Rodrigo Diaz, arrived on September 20 and is currently number 30 in the Order of Entry.
Rodrigo Diaz may have to win the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 19 in order to gain a rehandicap and creep up the list.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable has seven horses still in contention including topweight Gold Trip who runs in Saturday's Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
Also safely in the field limit of 24 for the Melbourne Cup are Le Don De Vie, Persan and Grand Promenade while Caulfield Cup favourite Smokin' Romans sits just outside the cut-off as number 26.
Stablemates Interpretation (31st) and High Emocean (46th) round out the Maher and Eustace representation.
The 2019 Cup winner Vow And Declare needs to finish in the top eight in Saturday's Caulfield Cup to pass a ballot clause as does Inspirational Girl and Numerian.
Lunar Flare and Point Nepean are safely in the field courtesy of ballat exemptions for their respective wins in The Bart Cummings and Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
Deauville Legend and Loft share favouritism for the Melbourne Cup with TAB at $7 ahead of Alegron, Camorra, Duais, Gold Trip and Without A Fight all at $15.
Fourth acceptances for the Melbourne Cup close on October 24 with the final field and barriers to be announced on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, October 29.
