Essential trainer insight and pointers for the Lexus Melbourne Cup

4.00 Flemington, Tuesday morning
Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap) | 2m |3yo+

Ten British and Irish-trained runners and a leading Japanese hope comprise a strong overseas team from Europe and Asia for Australia’s highest-profile race worth A$8m (£4.3m/€4.8m).

European-trained three-year-olds, Rekindling and Cross Counter, have landed the last two renewals and forced a weight change for northern hemisphere three-year-olds, who carry 2lb more this year.

The two three-year-olds in the 24-runner field have leading chances – favourite Constantinople and St Leger fifth Il Paradiso – while Cross Counter bids to become the fifth horse in the race’s 158-year history to record back-to-back wins. The Godolphin runner was victorious on soft ground 12 months ago and showers on Monday turned the going soft (from good to soft) at Flemington.

Damien Oliver, who partners Ebor scorer Mustajeer, and Kerrin McEvoy, rider of Finche, bid for a record-equalling fourth success in the Flemington feature.

Appleby hopeful of Cross repeat

Last year’s hero Cross Counter has to defy the second highest weight rise for a defending champion but trainer Charlie Appleby feels he brings the best form from Europe among the four-year-olds and older.

Cross Counter carries 9st 1lb, compared to 8st last year, but has run well in three starts in top-level company following a victory in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on his return in March.

William Buick’s mount was beaten less than two lengths when fourth behind Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, finished two lengths behind the same rival when third in the Goodwood Cup, and was a four-length fourth in the Irish St Leger.

Appleby said: "I feel he brings the best European form of the four-year-olds and upwards from this year. If he produces that level he should be very competitive.

"His preparation has gone well and the conditions will suit him with the rain set to make the ground on the slower side of good. He’s progressed physically from three to four so, although he has more weight, he’s a stronger horse."

O’Brien takes aim with four runners

Fresh from a first Breeders’ Cup success with Iridessa, Joseph O’Brien saddles four runners in a race he landed a breakthrough victory in with Rekindling two years ago.

Three of O’Brien’s contenders are owned by Lloyd Williams, the most successful owner in the race with six victories, with Frankie Dettori riding Master Of Reality, James McDonald aboard Latrobe and Hugh Bowman on Twilight Payment.

Downdraft runs in the colours of OTI Racing and secured his spot with an impressive victory in the Hotham Stakes on Saturday, a race from which two horses have followed up three days later since the turn of the millennium.

Downdraft: back in action three days after his Lexus Hotham Stakes winCredit: Racing Photos

O’Brien said: "Master Of Reality is in good shape and his preparation has gone well. He has what seems a good draw [stall one] but we wanted to be wide with him as he needs a bit of room to get into his rhythm.

"We had to run Downdraft on Saturday to confirm his place but running three days before this is not ideal and he has a high draw [stall 15].

"Latrobe’s preparation has gone to plan but it might be tough from stall 22, while Twilight Payment has been training well and was not suited by a messy race at the Curragh last time."

Fellowes: Prince peaking at right time

Prince Of Arran left it late to secure a start in the race that stops the nation last year with victory in the Hotham Stakes. It has been considerably more straightforward this time.

Charlie Fellowes’s globetrotter was narrowly denied in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield but went one better in the Geelong Cup last month.

The six-year-old ran nine times last year before contesting the Melbourne Cup, including trips to Dubai and the US, but arrives fresher on the back of a spring break and light domestic campaign.

Prince Of Arran: held the late challenge of True Self (left) to win the bet365 Geelong CupCredit: Racing Photos

Fellowes said: “He’s had a very different preparation to last year and seems to be peaking at the right time. He thrives on Australian racing and loves the flat tracks and going around a bend.

"We’ve had two weeks to freshen him up, rather than three days last year, and have him in as good a place as we could."

Form stacks up for Raymond

It will be a momentous moment for Middleham Park Racing whatever the outcome as the owners have their first runner in Australia with Ebor fourth Raymond Tusk.

The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old, part-owned by Kulbir Sohi, was unlucky not to finish closer in the £1m handicap at York and connections subsequently resisted several offers from Australia for the Group 2 winner.

Richard Hannon: Raymond Tusk will be his first runner in the raceCredit: Edward whitaker

Ten individual owners plus family and friends ensures a group of 28 connections from Middleham Park will be cheering on the Jamie Spencer-ridden Raymond Tusk at Flemington.

Tom Palin, syndicate manager, said: "You had to be impressed by his Ebor run and his form behind Dee Ex Bee at Ascot is among the strongest in the race.

"The team couldn’t be happier with him. He looks exceptionally well and could be fairly treated."

Trip test for two of Ballydoyle trio

Aidan O’Brien saddles three runners in a bid for a first triumph with Magic Wand and Hunting Horn trying two miles for the first time.

Ryan Moore rides Cox Plate fourth Magic Wand, six times a runner-up in 14 top-level starts and drawn in the outside stall, while Seamie Heffernan partners recent Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Hunting Horn.

Cheekpieces are taken off Magic Wand and blinkers are applied to Il Paradiso, a 12-length Curragh handicap winner and close third behind Stradivarius in the Lonsdale Cup when tried at this trip.

Wayne Lordan, fresh from his Breeders' Cup success on Iridessa, rides Il Paradiso.

Hunting Horn: the mount of Seamie HeffernanCredit: Racing Photos

TJ Comerford, travelling head groom for O’Brien, said: "Magic Wand is one of the classiest horses we’ve brought here and could be quite well handicapped. The draw [stall 24] isn't too much of an issue but the question mark is the trip.

"Hunting Horn looks fantastic. He has to prove his stamina but the big field and galloping nature of the track could suit him.

"Il Paradiso has worked really well in blinkers and fits the recent trends. He’s off a really nice weight."

O’Brien links to leading home hopes

The Ballydoyle links do not end there with ex-O’Brien-trained stayers Constantinople and Southern France fancied to make an impression for new trainers.

Constantinople, runner-up to St Leger winner Logician in the Great Voltigeur on his last run in Europe, heads the betting following a promising fourth in the Caulfield Cup on his first start for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

That combination also runs outsiders Rostropovich – another former Ballydoyle inmate – and Neufbosc.

David Hayes, saddling his last runners in the race before returning to train in Hong Kong, said: "Constantinople has similar form lines to Cross Counter and ran a good race at Caulfield.

"He’s the right age, a lovely big horse and settled in really well over here."

Southern France: 'He has the right credentials,' says joint trainer Ciaron MaherCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Southern France will make his debut for the training partnership of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and finished one place ahead of Cross Counter when third in the Irish St Leger on his final start for O’Brien.

Maher said: "He has the right credentials, strong form and a nice weight. He needs a bit of galloping room so stall 14 is fine."

Lane looking to land grand slam

Damian Lane spent a successful two-month stint in Japan in the summer and it has paid notable dividends.

Lane could become the first jockey to land the grand slam – the Golden Slipper, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup – and has won the first two highlight Spring Carnival contests on Japanese-trained horses.

He rides Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace, who steps up to two miles for the first time.

Trainer Hisashi Shimizu said: "He’s been in good form since the Caulfield Cup. He’s always had lots of potential and continues to improve.

"I’m hopeful he can prove just as effective over this trip."

What they say

Damien Oliver, rider of Mustajeer
I'm reasonably confident. He'll be much better suited to Flemington than Caulfield and the Ebor is a race that’s a proven formula to go on and run well in the Melbourne Cup.

Paul Preusker, trainer of Surprise Baby
His preparation has gone superbly. It’s a tough draw [stall 20] but we’ll have to make the best of it. Any more rain would be in his favour.

Craig Williams, rider of Vow And Declare
He’s really exciting. He ran a great race in the Caulfield Cup and this track and trip is in his favour.

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