The 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup will be run at Flemington on Tuesday.
The race that stops a nation is run over 3200m at handicap level and is worth $7.75 million with $4.4m going to winning connections.
Last year, Verry Elleegant won the Cup following recent wins by Twilight Payment (2020), Vow And Declare (2019), Cross Counter (2018) and Rekindling (2017).
See our runner-by-runner guide to the 2022 Melbourne Cup below:
1 - GOLD TRIP
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Barrier: 14
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Weight: 57.5kg
- Former international runner that has just one win to his name from 15 starts.
- First horse to contest Melbourne’s three spring majors (Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup) since Humidor in 2017.
- Jockey change back to Mark Zahra who rode him into an unlucky second in the Caulfield Cup.
- Has only won once so perhaps could be unfairly weighted.
2 - DUAIS
Trainer: Edward Cummings
Barrier: 10
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Weight: 55.5kg
- Hit the line hard in the Caulfield Cup.
- Worked well at Flemington last Tuesday at Breakfast with the Stars.
- The Cummings name is so synonymous with the race that stops a nation.
- Runs well on soft tracks but has failed four times on a heavy deck.
3 - KNIGHTS ORDER
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Barrier: 24
Jockey: Tim Clark
Weight: 55.5kg
- The last galloper to win from the outside barrier in the Cup was brew in 2000.
- Has a Brisbane and Sydney Cup to his name, can he come east and win this year’s Melbourne Cup?
- Twilight Payment was the last eight-year-old to win and he did it leading.
- Loves a rain-affected track.
- Went too slow last start but kept running through the line in the Caulfield Cup.
4 - MONTEFILIA
Trainer: David Payne
Barrier: 11
Jockey: Jason Collett
Weight: 55.5kg
- Huge run last start in the Caulfield Cup when fourth.
- Saddle cloth no.4 has the most runs in Melbourne Cup history, Verry Elleegant wore number four last year.
- Has not raced beyond 2500m when she ran third in the Oaks at Flemington in 2020.
- Loves the sting out of the track.
5 - NUMERIAN
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Barrier: 7
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Weight: 55.5kg
- Annabel Neasham's first runner in the Melbourne Cup.
- Ran fairly well when fifth in the Caulfield Cup but faded late.
- 3200m a query, but drawn nicely.
6 - WITHOUT A FIGHT
Trainers: Simon & Ed Crisford
Barrier: 18
Jockey: William Buick
Weight: 55.5kg
- Has flown under the radar compared to other imports.
- Two dominant wins at York over 2787m, you get the feel he’ll lap up the 3200m.
- Has placed in his last four runs and previously ran second to superstar galloper Hukum. If he brings that form he should go close.
- Query on the heavy ground but does handle the soft.
7 - CAMORRA
Trainers: Ben & JD Hayes
Barrier: 17
Jockey: Ben Melham
Weight: 55kg
- Jockey Ben Melham is chasing Melbourne Cup glory after going so close in the past, finishing second on Johannes Vermeer in 2017.
- Races first-up after travelling to Australia from the UK.
- Has mixed his form back home but should at least get the 3200m.
8 - DEAUVILLE LEGEND
Trainer: James Ferguson
Barrier: 9
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Weight:
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is chasing his fourth Cup and if he wins he’ll equal Bobbie Lewis and Harry White’s record.
- Is now very short in the market.
- Has drawn nicely in barrier 9.
- Unproven on rain-affected tracks.
- Has been given a fairly hefty weight for a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old.
9 - STOCKMAN
Trainer: Joe Pride
Barrier: 2
Jockey: Sam Clipperton
Weight: 54kg
- On the quick back-up from Saturday where he ran euighth in the Rosehill Cup in Sydney.
- Channelling the genius Bart Cummings’ tactics with the sharp back-up.
- Conenctions would be dancing for the rain to come.
10 - VOW AND DECLARE
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Barrier: 4
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Weight: 54kg
- Won the 2019 Melbourne Cup.
- Hasn’t won since that day but has been running super without luck.
- Jockey Blake Shinn has been in fairly solid form of late.
- You know he;ll get the distance, but will he be good enough three years on from his last victory?
11 - YOUNG WERTHER
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Barrier: 21
Jockey: Damian Lane
Weight: 54kg
- Finished off well in the Cox Plate.
- Hasn’t won since his maiden win at Geelong which came in September 2020.
- Has drawn poorly in 21.
- Loves Flemington but doesn’t love the heavy ground.
12 - HOO YA MAL
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Barrier: 15
Jockey: Craig Williams
Weight: 53.5kg
- Has Epsom Derby form, running second to Desert Crown.
- Drawn a bit awkwardly in 15.
- Another international somewhat flying under the radar.
- Gai trained the 2013 Cup winner Fiorente.
13 - SERPENTINE
Trainer: Robert Hickmott
Barrier: 23
Jockey: John Allen
Weight: 53.5kg
- Stuck ok on Saturday in the Archer after looking like he was beaten. Easily his best run in Australia.
- Hasn’t won since July 2020. Had only beaten home seven runners home total from four races in Aus before running second to Surefire.
- Owned by Cup lovers Lloyd and Nick Williams. Is their sole hope after Point Nepean was scratched.
14 - DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR
Trainer: Phillip Stokes
Barrier: 13
Jockey: Daniel Moor
Weight: 53kg
- Incrementally been stepping up in distance this prep.
- Jockey Daniel Moor is one from one on him.
- Is effective at 3200m with one win at Morphettville and a third at Randwick on a heavy track.
- Former race caller Bryan Martin’s first Cup runner as an owner.
15 - GRAND PROMENADE
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Barrer: 1
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Weight: 53kg
- Ran sixth in the race last year.
- Harry Coffey has ridden him to three places from four starts.
- Inside draw which helps for a go-forward horse.
- Has performed well on soft tracks but is without a place in two heavy track runs.
16 - ARAPAHO
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Barrier: 19
Jockey: Rachel King
Weight: 52.5kg
- Has been in solid form in Sydney, finishing no further back than 5.6 lengths in his last 10 runs.
- Rachel King is two wins and three placings from six starts on the gelding.
- Has not been beyond 2600m and is drawn wide.
- Is effective on both soft and heavy tracks.
17 - EMISSARY
Trainer: Mike Moroney
Barrier: 3
Jockey: Pat Moloney
Weight: 51.5kg
- A couple of nice wins this prep, using a powerful turn of foot.
- Last-start Geelong Cup winner.
- Pat Moloney’s first ride on him but rides regularly for the stable.
- Never raced in better than G3 company.
18 - LUNAR FLARE
Trainer: Grahame Begg
Barrier: 12
Jockey: Mick Dee
Weight: 51.5kg
- Has found form in the lead-up, winning at Flemington over 2510m two starts back.
- Mick Dee has four wins and three placings on her from 13 starts. He has won the Caulfield Cup and Derby this spring.
- First Cup runner for Graham Begg, provided she is passed to fit to run from the heel issue she has.
19 - SMOKIN’ ROMANS
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Barrier: 16
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Weight: 51.5kg
- Beaten Caulfield Cup favourite after a convincing Turnbull Stakes win.
- Jamie Kah has two wins from four starts on him.
- His G1 win came at Flemington two starts back over 2000m.
- Could roll forward from wide barrier.
20 - TRALEE ROSE
Trainer: Symon Wilde
Barrier: 22
Jockey: Dean Yendall
Weight: 51.5kg
- Races well at Flemington. Two wins and two placings from five starts.
- Ran ninth in this race last year but her preparation was much better then.
- Dean Yendall rode her for the first time in the Caulfield Cup when she finished 13th.
21 - POINT NEPEAN (Scratched)
22 - HIGH EMOCEAN
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Barrier: 8
Jockey: Teo Nugent
Weight: 50kg
- Has enjoyed a fairly solid and competitive preparation.
- A couple of wins including one at Flemington over 2500m and in the Bendigo Cup last start.
- Teo Nugent has one win and two placings from four starts. It is his second Cup run after partnering with Floating Artist for fourth last year.
23 - INTERPRETATION
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Barrier: 6
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Weight: 50kg
- International who now calls Australia home, having had four runs on our soil.
- It is Craig Newitt’s 11th ride in the Cup and he is chasing a finish better than fifth.
- The horse has had eight different riders in his 10 career starts.
- Winning ownership group from last year with Verry Elleegant.
24 - REALM OF FLOWERS
Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman
Barrier: 5
Jockey: Damien Thornton
Weight: 50kg
- Scratched from the Archer on Saturday after connections knew they would get a run in the Cup.
- Damien Thornton rode for the first time in the Cup last year finishing last, but is confident he has a much better chance this year.
- She will definitely get the distance as evidenced by her two runs at 3200m in the past.
- Will prefer it wet.
SLEVO'S TOP 5 SELECTIONS
Deauville Legend
Without A Fight
Realm Of Flowers
Montefilia
Hoo Ya Mal
HUGH'S TOP 5 SELECTIONS
Montefilia
Without A Fight
Deauville Legend
Gold Trip
Hoo Ya Mal
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