Likely field for 2021 Melbourne Cup

Some high-profile foreign raiders are likely to miss out on a spot in the field for the 2021 Melbourne Cup with the field taking shape.

Predicting the final make-up of the Melbourne Cup field is far from an exact science but the picture is getting a lot clearer as we close in on the first Tuesday in November.

Fourth acceptances on Monday saw the pool of Cup contenders whittled down to 35 and that number has decreased again with international raider Away He Goes ruled out through injury and Derby favourite Forgot You bound for the paddock after Saturday’s Group One feature.

Amade just needed to place in Wednesday’s G3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) to pass the first ballot clause and book a berth in the Cup, but the Stokes-trained import did his best Chautauqua impersonation and stayed in the gates, eventually deciding he’d take part before being beaten just 3.5 lengths by Wentwood.

John Allen riding Grand Promenade earlier this month. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.

As reported by punters.com.au, the final piece of the puzzle will fall into place on Saturday with the running of the ‘win and you’re in’ G3 Lexus Stakes (2500m), which offers Melbourne Cup ballot exemption to the victor.

The unknown quantity is natural attrition, which invariably claims a scalp or two in the lead-up to the Cup, but it’s impossible to anticipate that - the raceday scratching of Zaaki from the Cox Plate is a timely reminder of just how fickle fortunes can be in the racing caper.

Until they’re actually off and running on Tuesday there are no guarantees on which horses will tackle the gruelling two miles, but this is how the Cup field is shaping up based on the current Order of Entry.

Likely Melbourne Cup field 2021 (horse and trainer)

1 — INCENTIVISE, Peter G Moody

2 — GRAND PROMENADE (GB), Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

3 — VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ), Chris Waller

4 — TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE), Joseph O’Brien

5 — SPANISH MISSION (USA), Andrew Balding

6 — EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ), Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

7 — JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ), Denis Pagan

8 — THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ), Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman

9 — SELINO (GB), Chris Waller

10 — MIAMI BOUND (NZ), Danny O’Brien

11 — SHE’S IDEEL, Bjorn Baker

12 — OCEAN BILLY (NZ), Chris Waller

13 — DELPHI (IRE), Anthony & Sam Freedman

14 — PERSAN, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

15 — KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE), Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

16 — TRALEE ROSE (NZ), Symon Wilde

17 — CARIF, Peter & Paul Snowden

18 — PONDUS (GB), Robert Hickmott

19 — MASTER OF WINE (GER), Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes

20 — PORT GUILLAUME (FR), Ben & JD Hayes

21 — FUTURE SCORE (IRE), Matt Cumani

22 — FUN FACT, Bjorn Baker

23 — SIR LUCAN (IRE), Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

24 — GREAT HOUSE (IRE), Chris Waller

Fringe horses

25 — FLOATING ARTIST (GB), Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

26 — HASTA LA WAR, Sue Murphy

27 — AMADE (IRE), Phillip Stokes

28 — CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE), Aaron Purcell

29 — EMISSARY (GB), Michael Moroney

30 — KING’S CHARISMA (IRE), Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

31 — MANKAYAN (IRE), Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

32 — TOORADIN, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace

This article first appeared on punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission