Melbourne Cup order of entry: Valiant King withdrawn, full list of entries, Kalapour gets last spot in the race
The field for the Melbourne Cup is all but set after Damien Oliver steered Kalapour to victory in the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
The result means the Kris Lees-trained stayer has clinched the last spot available in the race, with connections having until 4.30pm to decide whether or not to run.
“I’m not sure what the plan is with him but he’s had a pretty easy run today if they wanted to go there (Melbourne Cup),” the retiring Oliver said after the race.
“The horse is in great condition, he’s a really healthy animal and he’s just a gentleman of a horse.”
The field for the race that stops the nation is taking shape after Valiant King was been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup on veterinary advice.
Racing Victoria on Friday night confirmed the decision, which part-owner Ozzie Kheir flagged earlier in the day.
Kheir said connections would take no risks and err on the side of caution with Valiant King, who trotted up poorly on Friday before private and RV vets, punters.com.au reports.
As a result of the withdrawal, Interpretation, also part-owned by Kheir coincidently, was promoted to 23rd in the Melbourne Cup order of entry and assured a place in the final field.
All other runners, including Sheraz who presented with heat on Thursday, have been cleared to accept for the Cup.
Absurde, Breakup, Vauban, Lastotchka, Okita Soushi and More Felons were all cleared on Friday.
A second pre-race veterinary inspection of all horses in the final field will be conducted by a panel of RV veterinarians on Monday.
The winner of Saturday’s Archer Stakes can force their way into the Cup.
Five of the seven runners in the Archer — Ladies Man ($7), Athabascan ($2.40), United Nations ($5.50), Kalapour ($5.50) and Mostly Cloudy ($5) — can qualify for the Cup with victory.
Beau Mertens and Mark Du Plessis will ride the Chris Waller-trained runners, Sheraz and Magical Lagoon, but nothing has been confirmed.
The final field of 24 runners will be declared on Saturday afternoon ahead of the barrier draw from 5.30pm.
Here is the updated order of entry for the great race, as of Friday night.
Ballot order — Horse — Trainer — Weight — Jockey
1= WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 56.5kg M.Zahra
1= ABSURDE (FR) Willie Mullins 53kg Z.Purton
1= FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg H.Doyle
4 GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg J.McDonald
5 ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney 56.5kg D.Oliver
6 BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka 55kg K.Matsuyama
7 VAUBAN (FR) Willie Mullins 55kg R.Moore
8 SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller 53.5kg J.Moreira
9 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien 53kg B.Egan
10 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg J.Allen
11 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg TBC
12 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley 51kg TBC
13 LASTOTCHKA (FR) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 51kg C.Williams
14 CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees 52kg M.Dee
15 SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 51.5kg TBC
16 DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) Phillip Stokes 51.5kg D.Stackhouse
17 ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 51.5kg K.McEvoy
18 OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg D.Gibbons
19 MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg R.King
20 SERPENTINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg J.McNeil
21 MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller 50.5kg J.Kah
22 TRUE MARVEL (FR) Matthew Smith 50kg B.Thompson
23 INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg T.Nugent
24 LADIES MAN (NZ) Allan Sharrock 50kg D.Yendall
25 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea 50kg TBC
26 UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg
27 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees 50kg
NOT PASSED FIRST ELIMINATION CLAUSE
28 MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg
This story first appeared on Punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission.
