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Melbourne Cup 2019: Favourites draw well for Group 1 feature at Flemington

It was good news for the big guns at the Melbourne Cup barrier draw but the locals' chances of staving off another international win might have taken a blow. SEE WHERE EACH HORSE DREW

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November 2, 2019 - 7:13PM
Melbourne Cup 2019: Odds-on favourites to win

Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace has been backed to repeat his heroics in the the Melbourne Cup after faring well at the all-important barrier draw.

Racing officials tonight revealed the full list of 24 starters for this year’s race, with the barrier draw following the Derby Day program at Flemington Racecourse.

SEE HOW IT UNFOLDED IN THE WINDOW BELOW

Mer De Glace, to be ridden by the country's hottest jockey Damian Lane, firmed into $7 with betting agencies after drawing barrier 2 for Tuesday's 3200m staying test.

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Lane has already captured wins this spring in the Caulfield Cup - aboard the Japanese stayer - and Cox Plate on another Japanese raider, Lys Gracieux.

Constantinople, trained by David Hayes, is an $8 second pick, with Finche third-pick at $9.

Surprise Baby drew barrier 20 while the Danny O'Brien-trained Vow And Declare drew alongside in barrier 21.

Updates

LAUREN WOOD reports…

Surprise Baby trainer Paul Preusker said he was pleased with barrier 20, admitting he "wasn't too stressed" about the affair.

"I think this year (the barrier) might not be as crucial as other years," Preusker said.

"They might run it along hopefully so 20 might not end up 20.

"We'll deal with it, we've got the right man on board and we'll sort it out.

"I can't wait to get there, we've got two days to go and we'll keep him safe, he's got no more work to do so the odds are in my favour of getting there."

He jumped in the car straight after the draw to head back to his Horsham base, where he said the gelding was in sound condition.

Another who faced some travel to be at Flemington was British jockey James Doyle.

He made the trip to Melbourne specifically for the race, only to be replaced on last year's winner Cross Counter by William Buick, who had been lined up for Ispolini which was scratched mid-week.

"I might come and watch, we'll see," Doyle said.

"Of course (I'm disappointed). That was the main reason for the trip. These things happen.

"That's racing, isn't it? I've ridden for 14 years now, so I've had plenty of ups and downs. I'm yet to ride in a Melbourne Cup, but hopefully one day. Maybe next year."

Doyle – who missed his first ride on Derby Day due to traffic – said he would likely stick around for Tuesday but wasn't holding his breath on picking up an 11th-hour mount.

"A lot of them have light weights and my lightest weight is 56, so that rules me out," he said.

"We might pop out (to Flemington) – if the traffic's like it was today, I think I'll swerve it."

* Read Lauren Wood's feature on Surprise Baby in your Sunday Herald Sun or read it online at Super Racing.

Surprise Baby trainer: I'm not stressed

LAUREN WOOD reports…

Surprise Baby trainer Paul Preusker said he was pleased with barrier 20, admitting he "wasn't too stressed" about the affair.

"I think this year (the barrier) might not be as crucial as other years," Preusker said.

"They might run it along hopefully so 20 might not end up 20.

"We'll deal with it, we've got the right man on board and we'll sort it out.

"I can't wait to get there, we've got two days to go and we'll keep him safe, he's got no more work to do so the odds are in my favour of getting there."

He jumped in the car straight after the draw to head back to his Horsham base, where he said the gelding was in sound condition.

Another who faced some travel to be at Flemington was British jockey James Doyle.

He made the trip to Melbourne specifically for the race, only to be replaced on last year's winner Cross Counter by William Buick, who had been lined up for Ispolini which was scratched mid-week.

"I might come and watch, we'll see," Doyle said.

"Of course (I'm disappointed). That was the main reason for the trip. These things happen.

"That's racing, isn't it? I've ridden for 14 years now, so I've had plenty of ups and downs. I'm yet to ride in a Melbourne Cup, but hopefully one day. Maybe next year."

Doyle – who missed his first ride on Derby Day due to traffic – said he would likely stick around for Tuesday but wasn't holding his breath on picking up an 11th-hour mount.

"A lot of them have light weights and my lightest weight is 56, so that rules me out," he said.

"We might pop out (to Flemington) – if the traffic's like it was today, I think I'll swerve it."

* Read Lauren Wood's feature on Surprise Baby in your Sunday Herald Sun or read it online at Super Racing.

LAUREN WOOD reports …

Trainer Charlie Fellowes described Prince Of Arran's draw of gate 8 as "the perfect draw". 

"If I could have picked somewhere, it would have been between five and 10," he said. 

"Hopefully we roll forward a little bit and get a bit of cover and get to the rail if we can … get a wide trip, hopefully. 

"It should be relatively straightforward."

Fellowes employed his wife Victoria to select the barrier after what he admitted had been a run of bad luck with other nominees – including himself.

"In Hong Kong, I did the draw and I drew 14 of 14," the Brit laughed. 

"In this race last year the racing manager drew 20 of 24. So we were like 'she could do it'. She's obviously good luck and she nailed it."

He watched the Geelong Cup winner gallop in the rain yesterday morning and said he looked better than last year. 

"He looks really well, in a good place and we've had a nigh-on perfect preparation," he said. 

"This year, we've got a fresher horse who won a better prep race … he seems to be coming good at the right time."

'Perfect draw' for Prince Of Arran

LAUREN WOOD reports …

Trainer Charlie Fellowes described Prince Of Arran's draw of gate 8 as "the perfect draw". 

"If I could have picked somewhere, it would have been between five and 10," he said. 

"Hopefully we roll forward a little bit and get a bit of cover and get to the rail if we can … get a wide trip, hopefully. 

"It should be relatively straightforward."

Fellowes employed his wife Victoria to select the barrier after what he admitted had been a run of bad luck with other nominees – including himself.

"In Hong Kong, I did the draw and I drew 14 of 14," the Brit laughed. 

"In this race last year the racing manager drew 20 of 24. So we were like 'she could do it'. She's obviously good luck and she nailed it."

He watched the Geelong Cup winner gallop in the rain yesterday morning and said he looked better than last year. 

"He looks really well, in a good place and we've had a nigh-on perfect preparation," he said. 

"This year, we've got a fresher horse who won a better prep race … he seems to be coming good at the right time."

Caulfield Cup winner MER DE GLACE is the new Melbourne Cup favourite after a favourable draw this evening. He's tightened into $7.

CONSTANTINOPLE is an $8 chance.

Local hope SURPRISE BABY (trainer Paul Preusker below) is a $15 chance but will have to overcome a wide draw.

Melbourne Cup market moves: post barrier draw

Caulfield Cup winner MER DE GLACE is the new Melbourne Cup favourite after a favourable draw this evening. He's tightened into $7.

CONSTANTINOPLE is an $8 chance.

Local hope SURPRISE BABY (trainer Paul Preusker below) is a $15 chance but will have to overcome a wide draw.

OK, we're about to get started.

I'll add the field in below and add barriers as we go.

See all the numbers below…

1. CROSS COUNTER (GB) — 57.5KG – BARRIER 5

2. MER DE GLACE (JPN) — 56KG – BARRIER 2

3. MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 1

4. MIRAGE DANCER (GB) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 13

5. SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 14

6. HUNTING HORN (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 11

7. LATROBE (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 22

8. MUSTAJEER (GBR) — 55KG – BARRIER 6

9. ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 12

10. TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 19

11. FINCHE (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 4

12. PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 8

13. RAYMOND TUSK (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 3

14. DOWNDRAFT (IRE) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 15

15. MAGIC WAND (IRE) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 24

16. NEUFBOSC (FR) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 23

17. SOUND (GER) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 10

18. SURPRISE BABY — 53.5KG – BARRIER 20

19. CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) — 52.5KG – BARRIER 7

20. IL PARADISO (IRE) — 52.5KG – BARRIER 17

21. STEEL PRINCE — 52.5KG – BARRIER 16

22. THE CHOSEN ONE — 52KG – BARRIER 18

23. VOW AND DECLARE — 52KG – BARRIER 21

24. YOUNGSTAR — 52KG – BARRIER 9

BARRIER DRAW - HERE WE GO

OK, we're about to get started.

I'll add the field in below and add barriers as we go.

See all the numbers below…

1. CROSS COUNTER (GB) — 57.5KG – BARRIER 5

2. MER DE GLACE (JPN) — 56KG – BARRIER 2

3. MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 1

4. MIRAGE DANCER (GB) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 13

5. SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) — 55.5KG – BARRIER 14

6. HUNTING HORN (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 11

7. LATROBE (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 22

8. MUSTAJEER (GBR) — 55KG – BARRIER 6

9. ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 12

10. TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) — 55KG – BARRIER 19

11. FINCHE (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 4

12. PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 8

13. RAYMOND TUSK (GB) — 54KG – BARRIER 3

14. DOWNDRAFT (IRE) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 15

15. MAGIC WAND (IRE) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 24

16. NEUFBOSC (FR) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 23

17. SOUND (GER) — 53.5KG – BARRIER 10

18. SURPRISE BABY — 53.5KG – BARRIER 20

19. CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) — 52.5KG – BARRIER 7

20. IL PARADISO (IRE) — 52.5KG – BARRIER 17

21. STEEL PRINCE — 52.5KG – BARRIER 16

22. THE CHOSEN ONE — 52KG – BARRIER 18

23. VOW AND DECLARE — 52KG – BARRIER 21

24. YOUNGSTAR — 52KG – BARRIER 9

Just moments away from the barrier draw getting underway guys.

Some Cup fancies are certain to shorten or blow out in betting as a result of the next few minutes.

Most connections will be hoping to 'draw' a low number, ie closer to the fence.

It's a long, straight run to start the Cup – therefore giving jockeys plenty of time to find a good position – but they'd much prefer to be able to stay in a straight line and not have to weave their way in.

Trainers, owners and other connections are gathering in the mounting yard at Flemington for this evening's draw.

Barrier draw - what are connections hoping for?

Just moments away from the barrier draw getting underway guys.

Some Cup fancies are certain to shorten or blow out in betting as a result of the next few minutes.

Most connections will be hoping to 'draw' a low number, ie closer to the fence.

It's a long, straight run to start the Cup – therefore giving jockeys plenty of time to find a good position – but they'd much prefer to be able to stay in a straight line and not have to weave their way in.

Trainers, owners and other connections are gathering in the mounting yard at Flemington for this evening's draw.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/melbourne-cup-barrier-draw-where-will-your-runner-jump-from/live-coverage/bdca48d9c998a7979eb060e6a0186aa8