Punters clear on five horses who can't win the Melbourne Cup
THE verdict is in and here are the five horses punters have declared cannot win this afternoon's $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
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THE verdict is in and here are the five horses punters have declared cannot win this afternoon's $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Punters have spurned the traditional lead-up race - the Lexus Stakes - as a formguide for the Cup, after Saturday's winner Ruscello has been friendless in betting.
They have also turned their backs on European stayers Dunaden and Red Cadeaux, who fought out the closest-ever Melbourne Cup finish with they ran the quinella in 2011.
Ruscello, who is following the same path as 2009 Lexus Stakes-Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, is $61 in betting, despite carrying just 50kg and having Cox Plate-winning jockey Chad Schofield aboard. That is likely due to his form in moderate UK races before his first-up Australian win over 2500m.
The big surprise is 2011 winner Dunaden ($61) and runner-up Red Cadeaux ($51), who will carry 58.5kg and 57.5kg respectively. Dunaden was 14th in last year's Cup after his dominant Caulfield Cup win, while Red Cadeaux was eighth this time last year.
Sydney Cup winner Mourayan is proven at the 3200m distance and finished seventh in last year's Melbourne Cup, but he is the rank outsider in the field at $126, despite being from the powerful Lloyd Williams stable.
The other runner garnering little interest is the Peter Moody-trained Ibicenco. The Geelong Cup has provided the winner of the Melbourne Cup in two of the past three years - Americain in 2010 and Dunaden in 2011 - but this year's race has been dismissed as a guide.
Five runners punters aren't backing:
1 Ruscello ($61)
2 Ibicenco ($51)
3 Mourayan ($126)
4 Dunaden ($41)
5 Red Cadeaux ($51)
On the flip side, all-conquering Sydney trainer Chris Waller has found support with his pair Hawkspur ($15) and Foreteller ($26) are both attracting interest.
"Jimmy Cassidy is the man of the moment and punters are confident he can overcome barrier 18 with Hawkspur," the TAB's Matt Jenkins said.
"Foreteller is a query at the journey, but is a class runner and if he stays will be fighting out the finish."
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