Runner-by-runner Melbourne Cup guide

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. The 2014 Melbourne Cup was won by PROTECTIONIST (Ger.) trained by Andreas Wohler and ridden by Jockey Ryan Moore. RED CADEAUX (GB) finished 2nd with WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) in third.

The first Melbourne Cup runner for legendary English trainer Sir Michael Stoute since Distinction in 2005 and looks over the odds off a solid fifth placing in the Caulfield Cup, when Damien Oliver would have liked to be out and rolling a little earlier. English form at 2400m often measures up at 3200m in Australia and will be reunited with Ryan Moore – last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning rider – whose last ride on Snow Sky resulted in victory in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m). – Brad Bishop

Well-travelled and high class galloper, who has been competitive with some of the best 2000m-2400m form in the world in the past 12 months. Returned to Australia a winner in the Caulfield Stakes in impressive fashion, charging from the rear of the field. He then ran a very meritorious second in a very quick Cox Plate at his most recent run. Despite finishing nearly five lengths from Winx, his time in that race would have won any of the 16 previous Cox Plates. Gets a good barrier which should give Michael Walker options on where he settles in the run. – Bren O’Brien

Set to start one of the shortest-priced favourites in the modern Melbourne Cup after an eye-catching Caulfield Cup run, when he finished sixth after not getting clear running until the 150m mark. Is proven at 3200m, having finished second in the Group 1 Tenno Sho earlier this year, and should relish the big spaces of Flemington. Barrier 12 looks ideal. – Brad Bishop

A well-performed stayer in Germany, he was a high price and high profile purchase, landing at the stables of the man who has won this race on five previous occasions, Lee Freedman. Had one run in Adelaide in the autumn before being tucked away with this race as his main agenda. He returned in the Naturalism at Caulfield in September with a ninth, although beaten just 2.4 lengths. He then stepped out at Flemington, where he took significant improvement to finish second in the Bart Cummings. His Caulfield Cup run was excellent, as he had to surge around the field at the 600m and was left out in front with the eventual winner Mongolian Khan, having endured a tougher run. He failed to match it with that horse, finishing third, but he would have benefitted greatly from the run. Faces a challenge from barrier 22 and any rain would be a bonus. Bren O’Brien

Disappointed last start in the Lonsdale Cup, which was won by Cup rival Max Dynamite, but has to be respected on his previous effort, which was a Goodwood Cup win over other Cup rivals Quest For More and Trip To Paris, who finished a close second in the Caulfield Cup. Boasts a solid strike-rate of five wins from 13 starts and is a first-up winner. Top English jockey Jamie Spencer takes the ride, but has the job ahead from barrier 23. – Brad Bishop

Came to Australia with big raps and lived up to them in his first campaign with a 2400m Group 1 WFA win in The BMW, defeating highly credentialed Japanese galloper To The World. Started odds-on favourite in the Sydney Cup, but could only manage fourth having been ridden unsuitably. This campaign has all been targeted at this race. He finished fourth over 1600m at Randwick, then sixth in a slowly run Turnbull Stakes before a strong finishing fifth, albeit a long way from the winner, in the Cox Plate. He certainly has the class to be competitive, and jockey James McDonald has some options as to where he wants to slot in from barrier 17. - Bren O’Brien

The lesser chance of Japan’s two runners according to markets, but plenty of merit in his Caulfield Cup effort when, although 10th, he covered ground out wide. Was only 1.5 lengths astern Fame Game in the Tenno Sho. Not too well served at the barrier draw on face value, but Japanese horses often appreciate being given galloping room and Craig Williams takes the ride. – Brad Bishop

One of the intriguing horses of this year’s Cup, this former French, now Irish trained galloper mixes it up on the flat and over jumps. Ran seventh in a French Derby as a three-year old before joining the Willie Mullins yard, immediately winning a maiden hurdle and then finishing fourth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. A couple of sub-par hurdle runs saw him return to the flat where he finished second to Quest For More in the Northumberland Plate in June. The Melbourne Cup came on the radar after he dominated a quality field to win the Lonsdale Cup running away by 4.5 lengths. By all reports, he has thrived at Werribee. Gets a good gate and one of the best jockeys of all time in Frankie Dettori on his back. - Bren O’Brien

Crowd favourite who is lining up for a fifth crack at the race. His previous efforts have resulted in second placings in 2011, 2013 and 2014, while the 2012 eighth placing was better than it appeared given he got back in a slowly-run race. Drops 2kg on last year’s effort, when beaten four lengths by Protectionist. Again goes into the race without a lead-up run, which has been the formula Ed Dunlop has used the past four years. Is 10 years old now, however, and no horse older than eight has ever won the Melbourne Cup. – Brad Bishop

Started this European season with a three wins in his first four starts, including a success in the Chester Cup (on a soft track) over 3700m. Took that form to Royal Ascot where he caused an upset in the Ascot Gold Cup, outstaying his rivals to win one of Europe’s great staying races comfortably over fellow Cup hopeful Kingfisher. He was then very competitive in the Goodwood Cup, finishing close up third behind Big Orange and Quest For More before struggling in the Lonsdale Cup. Perhaps surprisingly went to the Caulfield Cup, where he put in a stellar effort to finish a close second behind Mongolian Khan. He settled back along the rail and powered home late in a performance which flashed red for this assignment. Has drawn barrier 14, which should suit. - Bren O’Brien

Last year’s third placegetter who is going at least as well as last year, but he needs to be for what appears a much stronger Melbourne Cup. Solid effort in the Caulfield Cup, when closed off well down the outside for seventh placing behind Mongolian Khan, but much better suited at Flemington and over 3200m. Drawn well in gate six and his rider, Blake Shinn, knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup, having tasted success aboard Viewed in 2008. – Brad Bishop

Came into Melbourne Cup calculations relatively late having had just two starts in 2015, the first of which saw him win the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold in early March and the second was on September 19 at Newbury in the Legacy Cup, where he finished second over 2200m. The best reference from that race is he beat home Eagle Top who was second to Snow Sky in the Hardwicke Stakes. Goes into this race having only run over more than 2400m once, when well-beaten over 2700m 18 months ago. It’s an unusual preparation for a Melbourne Cup candidate. Does love a wet track. - Bren O’Brien

The early favourite for last year’s Melbourne Cup, who didn’t contest that race but put himself firmly back in the picture for this year’s race with a strong Bendigo Cup week last Wednesday. Tuesday’s race is infinitely stronger than that, but he is proven at the two miles – having won last year’s Sydney Cup – and if there does happen to be a downpour he is one horse you know will relish the soft track. Big bonus for Gai Waterhouse and connections being able to snap up the services of three-time winner Damien Oliver after his mount, Amralah, was withdrawn on Saturday. – Brad Bishop

Chris Waller has taken his time with this European import and was rewarded for his patience when he claimed the Sydney Cup over this distance earlier this year, charging late to claim the prize. Won on this day last year in the 2800m race and has taken substantial improvement since. He has improved with every run this campaign and his Caulfield Cup 11th is better than it looks on paper. He laid in late, costing himself a couple of spots. This has been his aim all along and with his champion jockey Jim Cassidy set to retire at the end of the week, it would be a great way to send him off. - Bren O’Brien

The best local hope according to many good judges and the market. Brings in form very similar to that of 2012 Cup winner Green Moon, who won the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington before an unplaced, but solid, run in the Cox Plate. Attractively weighted at 53.5kg, has drawn well (11) and the Chris Waller/Hugh Bowman combination cannot be a disadvantage. Back at Cup Week 12 months’ after winning the Victoria Derby and the only other son of Zabeel to win a Victoria Derby (Efficient) returned as a four-year-old to win the Melbourne Cup. – Brad Bishop

Quality English stayer who claimed the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June defeating Cup rival Max Dynamite impressively. He then headed to the Goodwood Cup where he was only narrowly beaten by Big Orange and beat home Trip To Paris. Plans were immediately made for a Melbourne trip, but he missed a run in the Caulfield Cup as a first emergency for that race. Went to Geelong Cup instead and that proved a disaster as he was trapped wide and dropped out to finish 15th. Do you trust his European form, which is up with the best that are here, or the Geelong Cup performance where he looked out of sorts? - Bren O’Brien

Stormed into contention with a dominant win in the Geelong Cup, a race that has produced Melbourne Cup winners Media Puzzle, Americain and Dunaden since 2002. Comfortably held Dandino that day and Dandino had been competitive with some of Australia’s best, including leading Cup fancy Preferment, in the Group 1 lead ups. Barrier 10 looks perfect and Dwayne Dunn, who has won a Caulfield Cup carrying Sheikh Hamdam bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s colours takes the ride. – Brad Bishop

Locally owned but internationally trained, Kingfisher mixed it with the best of his class as a three-year-old, running 10th in an Epsom Derby and second in an Irish Derby. Proved he had come on as a four-year-old with a win at Leopardstown and then a second in the Ascot Gold Cup to Trip To Paris. He was subsequently beaten a long way in both the Irish St Leger trial and the St Leger itself before heading to Australia where he has made strong progress after what was reportedly a tough plane trip. His best form is up to this, but his recent form isn’t. - Bren O’Brien

The sole representative for last season’s Australian premiership-winning trainer Darren Weir, who will be ridden by the lone female with a ride in the race, Michelle Payne. Was good in the Moonee Valley Cup, when a half-length second to The United States in track-record time, but Tuesday’s race is another step up again. At least gets the chance to enjoy a cosy run after drawing the inside barrier. – Brad Bishop

A very talented Northern Hemisphere three-year-old who comes into this race at just his sixth start. Debuted with a win in May and by late June had won the Group Three Curragh Cup (2800m) over stablemate and subsequent Irish St Leger winner Order of St George. After a second over 2400m at York, he stepped up to the English St Leger and while he was beaten narrowly on the track, he gained the race in the stewards room. However, that decision was later overturned. Comes into this with a high rating, just 52.5kg and a Cup winning jockey in Brett Prebble on his back. - Bren O’Brien

The lone Australian-bred representative in this year’s race, but will go around the outsider of the field at $201 off the back of a ninth placing in the Geelong Cup. Has drawn the barrier (five) that produced back-to-back Cup winners in 2013 and 2014, but connections would consider it a win if he can finish in the top 10. – Brad Bishop

Won three of his four races for Aidan O’Brien in Ireland before being brought by Lloyd Williams a couple of years ago. Lloyd was typically patient, giving him just one run a campaign in his first three starts in Australia. That plan has born fruit this campaign, as he won first-up at Moonee Valley and was narrowly beaten his next two starts. The jury was out after an indifferent MV run in the JRA Cup, but a superb ride in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup from Hugh Bowman saw him with that race in record time and put him in contention for this assignment. The world’s hottest jockey Joao Moreira takes the ride from an inside barrier. - Bren O’Brien

Gai’s second runner, who sealed his spot with victory in Saturday Lexus Stakes (2500m), which offers a ballot exemption from the Melbourne Cup. Has to be a question mark over that form with the runner-up, Zanteca, coming off a benchmark 78 at Geelong, but Lexus winners have a history of running well in the Melbourne Cup. Outside gate only adds to the task, but connections can rest safe in the knowledge that the man aboard – Kerrin McEvoy – has won a Melbourne Cup from the outside barrier. Coincidentally, McEvoy’s Cup winner (Brew) also won the Cup three days after claiming the Lexus. – Brad Bishop

The lone mare in the race, she launched her career with a spectacular win at Scone in February, then going on to win the ATC Oaks at a long price defeating subsequent Cox Plate winner Winx. With this race in mind, trainer John Sargent plotted his way though WFA/SWP races early this campaign, where she sat back and made steady ground. She was ridden more aggressively in the Caulfield Cup, which probably didn’t suit, but regardless she fought on very well for fourth to show she is spot-on for this race. Her jockey Chad Schofield will be better off having ridden her in that race and he’ll need to be good to get her cover from barrier 19. - Bren O’Brien