Australia’s only home-grown horse in Tuesday’s (4 November) G1 Melbourne Cup is poised to fend off an unprecedented foreign legion of international raiders and imports in the gruelling 3200m race at Flemington.
Father and son training partners Tony & Calvin McEvoy are confident their five-year-old gelding Half Yours can back-up his last start win in the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and record historic victories in the country’s two biggest cups.
Jockey Jamie Melham, who rode Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup, is bidding to emulate the feat of Michelle Payne, who rode 100/1 shot Prince of Penzance in 2015 to become the only female to ride a Melbourne Cup winner. Melham is the only female to ride a Caulfield Cup winner.
“I’ve got that major win. Now, I’ve got to try harder to win the Melbourne Cup,” she said.
Among the array of world-class jockeys, Melham will pit her skills against her husband Ben Melham, who will ride outsider Smokin’ Romans, one of three runners for Ciaron Maher in the 24-horse field.
After drawing barrier eight and with more rain forecast, Tony McEvoy said everything was falling into place for Half Yours in the AU$10 million (approx. HK$51.2 million) race.
“The horse seems fabulous and what a joy for us now to have the beautiful gate where Jamie can just switch him off and relax and enjoy the race,” he said.
“He’s a proven performer on soft ground. He loves it. We’re praying for a wet track,” he said.
Former Irish jockey Robbie Dolan, who shot to fame last year when he rode 90/1 chance Knight’s Choice to victory, will ride Maher’s Royal Supremacy from barrier 21.
“He’s a good chance, but they’re all a chance. Anything in the race is a chance,” Dolan said.
Chris Waller has the most horses in the race with five, and the market suggests that Valiant King, Buckaroo and Rivers Of Stars are all top three chances.
His assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, said he could mount a case for their three fancies but also praised outsiders Land Legend and More Felons.
One of the leading international hopes, Al Riffa, has the top weight of 130lb and drew barrier 19 for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien and top local jockey Mark Zahra. O’Brien also has Goodie Two Shoes.
The USA’s first Melbourne Cup runner, Parchment Party, who won his way into the race after claiming the G3 Belmont Gold Cup (2800m) at Saratoga, New York, will be ridden by legendary American jockey John Velazquez.
The task for England’s Simon & Ed Crisford isn’t easy after Meydaan drew barrier 22, and they’ll be relying on the brilliance of James McDonald.
French galloper Presage Nocturne is among the leading contenders, while the French-bred Absurde is back for his third Melbourne Cup for Ireland’s Willie Mullins.
Germany (Flatten the Curve) and Japan (Chevalier Rose) are also represented.
The Melbourne Cup is carded as S4-4 and will be run at 12.00pm (Hong Kong time) on Tuesday, 4 November.
