Pinstickers' guide: what to expect from the home team in the Melbourne Cup

It may be the race that stops the nation, but with a British one-two-three last year following an Irish clean sweep of the podium places the year before it has been a while since the home team put up much of a fight.

This year could be different with three of the first four in the betting – and half of the 24-strong field – representing the host nation. Here is our all-you-need-to-know guide to the Australasian challenge.

Constantinople (draw: 7)
General price: 13-2
Trainer: David Hayes and Tom Dabernig

A talented but slightly frustrating three-year-old, Constantinople will be familiar to British racing fans after a string of seconds in the King George V Stakes, Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur when trained by Aidan O'Brien. He made a promising start to his Australian career when running on strongly after suffering traffic problems in the Caulfield Cup, with only Mer De Glace, Vow And Declare and Mirage Dancer ahead of him. It was the perfect trial but he will need to apply himself properly to win.
Five-star rating: ****

Constantinople pictured finishing second to Logician in the Great Voltigeur at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

Finche (4)
9-1
Chris Waller

A Group 2 winner as a three-year-old in France, this son of Frankel left Andre Fabre in August 2018 and hasn't looked back since. Fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup after finishing third in the Geelong Cup, he has looked better than ever this campaign, winning the Group 3 Kingston Town and only going down by a short head in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 1m2f at the track. He was just a place behind Constantinople in the Caulfield Cup last time out and the return to this trip should suit.
Five-star rating: ****

Vow And Declare (21)
11-1
Danny O'Brien

Nearly pulled off a shock when a 25-1 second in the Group 1 Queensland Derby back in June and has all the makings of a top Cup contender. A staying-on fourth in the Turnbull behind Kings Will Dream, Finche and Hartnell, he backed up that effort with second in the Caulfield Cup to Mer De Glace. The son of Declaration Of War appears to be peaking at the perfect time and should thrive over this longer trip.
Five-star rating: *****

Surprise Baby (20)
14-1
Paul Preusker

A son of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Surprise Baby produced a good effort to be fourth in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley in September, with the ex Aidan O'Brien-trained Homesman in the top spot and former Hugo Palmer runner Best Of Days in third. He won the Group 3 Bart Cummings Handicap last time but needs more to secure glory here.
Five-star rating: ***

Mustajeer: gallops to post under Damien Oliver before the Caulfield CupCredit: Racing Photos

Mustajeer (6)
16-1
Kris Lees

Jockey Damien Oliver will be bidding to make it four Melbourne Cups aboard this year's Ebor winner. Perfectly produced for that race, he was another to catch the eye on Australian debut in the Caulfield Cup. Lacking the immediate change of pace of a few of the younger legs, he stayed on nicely to grab sixth and should be capable of outrunning his odds in the big one.
Five-star rating: ****

Southern France (14)
20-1
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace

Progressive last season, Southern France was second in the 2m Queen's Vase and seventh in the 2m2f Cesarewitch under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien. He made his final race for the trainer with a victory in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial beating Downdraft by two lengths, with Master Of Reality in third. He had the beating of Cross Counter, Master Of Reality, Latrobe and Twilight Payment in a falsely run Irish St Leger last time and makes his first start in Australia now.
Five-star rating: ***

Mirage Dancer: finished a good third in the Caulfield Cup on his Australian debutCredit: Getty Images

Mirage Dancer (13)
33-1
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young

A solid Group-level performer in Britain for Sir Michael Stoute, Mirage Dancer was third in this year's Hardwicke at Royal Ascot before finishing second in the Princess Of Wales's and Glorious Stakes. A strong galloper, he benefited from a prominent position to finish third in the Caulfield Cup, but looks vulnerable against this opposition.
Five-star rating: ***

Steel Prince (16)
50-1
Anthony Freedman

Won a rated race for Patrick Prendergast in Ireland as a three-year-old. Scraped home to beat Surprise Baby by a nose in a Listed race in May and has had an easy time of things since. Only seventh to Prince Of Arran in the Geelong Cup with True Self, Red Cardinal and Red Galileo ahead. Needs more.
Five-star rating: **

Rostropovich (12)
50-1
David Hayes and Tom Dabernig

Another formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, he enjoyed a fine summer last year when second in the King Edward VII Stakes and Irish Derby. Fifth to Winx in last year's Cox Plate, he filled the same position in last year's Melbourne Cup, his run flattening out in the closing stages. Ran nicely when seventh in the Makybe Diva Stakes behind Gatting in September but his form has dipped since.
Five-star rating: **

Rostropovich (left) pictured finishing second in last year's Irish Derby - he was fifth in last year's Melbourne CupCredit: Patrick McCann

Youngstar (9)
50-1
Chris Waller

Sixth last year after finishing second to Winx in the Turnbull and seventh to Best Solution in the Caulfield Cup, Youngstar's claims appear to have decreased this time around. She has struggled in both the Winx Stakes and Optic White at the top level and, although proven in these conditions, should find it more difficult.
Five-star rating: **

Neufbosc (23)
100-1
David Hayes and Tom Dabernig

A Group 3 winner and second to Kew Gardens in the 2018 Grand Prix de Paris, Neufbosc has been running respectably in Australia without producing a knockout performance. Sent off 10-1, he was beaten 30 lengths in the Group 1 Metropolitan last month but faired better when ninth to Prince Of Arran in the Geelong Cup. He will need to find a lot of improvement.
Five-star rating: **

Sound (10)
100-1
Michael Moroney

Finished 18th last year, Sound has been running in all of the high-profile trials and his efforts suggest he will fill a similar place again. His seventh in the Turnbull was a decent effort, where he had Rostropovich in behind, but he could only keep on at the one-pace in the Caulfield Cup last time. It is hard to make a case.
Five-star rating: *

The Chosen One: defeated Prince Of Arran in the Herbert PowerCredit: Racing Photos

The Chosen One (18)
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman
100-1

New Zealand-trained and had the beating of Prince Of Arran in the Herbert Power last month. Has since finished ninth in in the Caulfield Cup and fifth in the Hotham Stakes. Since 1882, New Zealand-bred horses have won 40 Melbourne Cups, and he appeals most of the rank outsiders.
Five-star rating: **

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