Reigning Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham has picked up the ride on Future History for Tuesday’s Cup, but the outsider still needs scratchings to make the field.
Future History, trained by Gregory Hickman, is 26th in the order of entry and is relying on attrition to get a start, Racenet reported on Thursday morning. Only 24 horses can run in the Melbourne Cup.
Racenet said Melham has had a frustrating build-up to the Cup, with several lightweight options missing the cut.
Back-to-back bid hangs on the field
Melham won the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double on Half Yours last year. Half Yours is not in this year’s race after dropping out at the third acceptance stage.
Future History was listed at 53.5kg in the order of entry released after third acceptances on 26 October. Final acceptances for the Cup close at 4.30pm on Saturday, 31 October, and the field can still change before then.
Read more: Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances: 39 Remain as Half Yours Drops Out
Derby Day in the broadcast box
Melham will not ride on Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday. She lost her appeal against a four-meeting careless riding suspension from Mahroona’s ride in the Group 2 Sydney Stakes on Everest Day, Just Horse Racing reported, and husband Ben Melham takes the ride on Satono Glow in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The ban ends after the Derby Day meeting, so she is free to ride on Cup Day. Racenet reported she will be in the broadcast box on Saturday.
Read more: Jamie Melham Suspended, to Miss Satono Glow Ride on Derby Day
A first Cup runner for Hickman
Future History ran 15th in the 2023 Melbourne Cup for a previous stable. Hickman, 66, took over the gelding earlier this year and is chasing his first Melbourne Cup runner, Just Horse Racing reported last week.
“You only get one chance of having a crack at the Melbourne Cup,” Hickman told Just Horse Racing.
“We’re not expecting the world. He ran 15th at his previous go, and if he can run top 10, job done, and if he can win, the job’s been done even better.”
The Melbourne Cup is run over 3200m at Flemington on Tuesday, 3 November.
More News
