James McDonald will ride Trustyourinstinct in the Melbourne Cup after Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien confirmed the champion jockey for one of the leading international chances in the race.
McDonald had been linked to the six-year-old but held off committing until after Aeliana ran in the Cox Plate, Racenet reported on Sunday evening.
Aeliana finished third behind Cosmic Crusader at Flemington on Saturday, and Chris Waller has since said the mare is very unlikely to run in the 3200m race.
Read more: Aeliana Very Unlikely for Melbourne Cup, Says Chris Waller
Trustyourinstinct, a Curragh Cup winner owned by JP McManus, will carry the owner’s famous green and gold hooped silks. Racing Post described him as O’Brien’s leading Melbourne Cup hope and second favourite for the race.
O’Brien’s jockey team set
Trustyourinstinct is one of five O’Brien-trained raiders in the Cup, according to Racenet. Craig Williams committed early to James J Braddock, while Dylan Browne McMonagle rides Defiantly, Ryan Moore partners Sons And Lovers and Wayne Lordan rides last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes.
O’Brien has already won the Melbourne Cup twice, with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.
Pike picks up Derby ride
Cox Plate-winning jockey William Pike has picked up the ride on Cignetti, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday. Pike rides the Grahame Begg-trained Zakouma in the Melbourne Cup.
Read more: Melbourne Cup Winners: Every Winner Since 1861 and Race Records
Third declarations for the Melbourne Cup close at 10am on Monday 26 October. The final field will be confirmed at about 4:30pm on Saturday 31 October, with the barrier draw at 5:30pm, before the race is run at 3pm on Tuesday 3 November, Fox Sports reported.
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