Defending champion Half Yours is officially out of the Melbourne Cup, one of 19 horses to drop out as the field was cut to 39 at third acceptances on Monday.
Third declarations closed at 10am on Monday 26 October, and the Victoria Racing Club confirmed 39 horses remain in contention for the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November. Twelve of them are trained overseas. Last year 40 horses stood their ground at the same stage.
Half Yours’ absence was expected. Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy confirmed on Saturday that last year’s Cups winner would head for a spell after being caught up in the Caulfield Cup fall, in which the Chris Waller-trained Ohope Wins was euthanised. “He’s incredibly well Bruce. He’s very lucky, but the horse is sound, he’s healthy and happy,” McEvoy told Bruce McAvaney on Seven, as reported by Punters. “He heads to the paddock Monday as good as he can be.”
Who dropped out
Along with Half Yours, the horses no longer on the official third acceptance list include Aeliana, Birdman, Land Legend, Deakin, Starford, Klondike, Wootton Verni, Bella Montagna, Aethelwulf, Athabascan, Green Spaces, Newlook, Piggyback, Sam Hawkens, Sapphire Siren, Thebudgiesmugla and Treasurethe Moment.
Waller had already flagged that multiple Group 1 winner Aeliana was very unlikely to run in the Cup.
Read more: Aeliana Very Unlikely for Melbourne Cup, Says Chris Waller
Maher and O’Brien lead the way
Ciaron Maher has 10 of the 39 remaining entries. They include Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law, who the VRC said has shot to the top of the betting, and Juja Kibo, who won the last golden ticket in Saturday’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Last year’s placegetter Middle Earth and Caulfield Cup placegetter Saint George are also in the Maher team.
Two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Joseph O’Brien has eight horses left, including Defiantly, James J Braddock, 2025 placegetter Goodie Two Shoes and Curragh Cup winner Trustyourinstinct, who James McDonald has been confirmed to ride.
Read more: James McDonald to Ride Trustyourinstinct in Melbourne Cup
Waller still has five chances: Asterix, Pinhole, Soul Of Spain, Soulcombe and Valiant King.
Bendigo Cup a key test
With all 10 golden tickets now won, the VRC said Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) will be pivotal for The Euphrates, So You Are and Litzdeel, who are all sitting on the brink of the 24-horse field.
The final field will be confirmed at about 4:30pm on Saturday 31 October, after Victoria Derby Day, with the barrier draw at 5:30pm. Final acceptance costs $55,000. The Melbourne Cup starts at 3pm AEDT on Tuesday 3 November.
Melbourne Cup third acceptors (39)
Asterix, Defiantly, Enfjaar, Future History, Goodie Two Shoes, Hopewell Rock, James J Braddock, Jennivamoose, Juja Kibo, King Pedro, Kings Valley, Kizlyar, Knight’s Choice, Litzdeel, Manzor Blue, Middle Earth, Mr Monaco, Omni Man, Onesmoothoperator, Pinhole, Point Of Law, Royal Supremacy, Saint George, Shockletz, Small Fry, So You Are, Sons And Lovers, Soul Of Spain, Soulcombe, Stinger Glass, Strictly Business, The Euphrates, Torranzino, Trustyourinstinct, Valiant King, Vauban, Wine Dark Sea, Zahrann, Zakouma
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