Melbourne Cup order of entry: Horse, jockey rocked by ‘horror’ blow

A jockey’s rotten luck got even worse as the Melbourne Cup copped a fresh blow, with news an overseas challenger had been hurt.

Irish import Away He Goes has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup with a tendon injury, continuing a miserable recent run for jockey James McDonald, who was slated to ride the horse on Tuesday.

The news comes after McDonald missed the Cox Plate when favourite Zaaki was scratched because of an “elevated temperature”.

Sports broadcaster John Casey lamented McDonald’s “horror run” on Twitter.

When fourth acceptances were taken for the Melbourne Cup on Monday, there were 35 horses still in the running for the race that stops a nation — but that has dropped to 34 with the withdrawal of Away He Goes, who was paying $15 for the win before dropping out.

Punters.com.au reports Incentivise, the new star of Australian racing, sits at the top of the ballot order and will carry 57kg after receiving a 1.5kg penalty for his 3.5L win in the Caulfield Cup.

He is currently the $2.30 favourite in TAB’s all-in market.

Incentivise is set to be one of three runners who will carry 57kg in the race, along with star import Spanish Mission ($6) and Cox Plate third placegetter Verry Elleegant.

The trio will carry 1kg less than reigning champion Twilight Payment, who shares the third line of betting with Verry Elleegant at $13.

Triple G1 placegetter Young Werther was perhaps the biggest omission from Monday’s acceptances list, after a CT scan revealed an “area of concern” for the four-year-old.

The attrition rate has seen Team Williams import Pondus guaranteed a spot in the field, with Sydney-based hoop Rachel King confirmed to ride the Sea The Moon gelding at 52.5kg.

Away He Goes during trackwork at Werribee Racecourse on October 22, 2021 in Werribee, Australia. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Pondus was fourth in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Saturday, with the unlucky runner-up Floating Artist currently three places outside of a spot in the field.

The coveted 24th spot is currently held by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import Sir Lucan ($17).

The Camelot entire, who won the Listed Yeats Stakes (2615m) at Navan in May, was last seen finishing down the track in the G1 St Leger (2922m) at Doncaster, won by Hurricane Lane.

Forgot You, the Savabeel colt trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, is currently allotted 49kg and sits last in the order of entry.

The three-year-old won the G2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Saturday and is the favourite for this weekend’s Victoria Derby.

Connections have indicated they would consider backing up the son of Savabeel into the Cup if he was to win the Derby.

He is a $51 chance in TAB’s Melbourne Cup market.

A full field for the Melbourne Cup consists of 24 horses. The final field will be confirmed later this week.

Brett Prebble saluted with Incentivise in the Caulfield Cup. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Full Melbourne Cup order of entry

Horse - trainer - ballot - weight

1. INCENTIVISE - Peter G Moody - 1 - 57kg

2. GRAND PROMENADE (GB) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 2 - 52kg

3. VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) - Chris Waller - 3 - 57kg

4. TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) - Joseph O’Brien - 4 - 58kg

5. SPANISH MISSION (USA) - Andrew Balding - 5 - 57kg

6. EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 6 - 54kg

7. JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) - Denis Pagan - 7 - 53kg

8. AWAY HE GOES (IRE) - Ismail Mohammed - 8 - 54.5kg: WITHDRAWN BECAUSE OF INJURY

9. THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) - Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman - 9 - 54kg

10. SELINO (GB) - Chris Waller - 10 - 53.5kg

11. MIAMI BOUND (NZ) - Danny O’Brien - 11 - 52kg

12. SHE’S IDEEL - Bjorn Baker - 12 - 52kg

13. OCEAN BILLY (NZ) - Chris Waller - 13 - 53.5kg

14. DELPHI (IRE) - Anthony & Sam Freedman - 14 - 53.5kg

15. PERSAN - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 15 - 53kg

16. KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - 16 - 53kg

17. TRALEE ROSE (NZ) - Symon Wilde - 17 - 51kg

18. CARIF - Peter & Paul Snowden - 18 - 52.5kg

19. PONDUS - Robert Hickmott - 19 - 52.5kg

20. MASTER OF WINE (GER) - Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes - 20 - 52.5kg

21. PORT GUILLAUME (FR) - Ben & JD Hayes - 21 - 52kg

22. FUTURE SCORE (IRE) - Matt Cumani - 22 - 51.5kg

23. FUN FACT - Bjorn Baker - 23 - 51.5kg

24. SIR LUCAN (IRE) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - 24 - 50kg

25. MOSH MUSIC - Archie Alexander - 25 - 50kg

26. GREAT HOUSE (IRE) - Chris Waller - 26 - 50kg

27. FLOATING ARTIST (GB) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 27 - 50kg

28. HASTA LA WAR - Sue Murphy - 28 - 50kg

29. AMADE (IRE) - Phillip Stokes - 29 - 52.5kg

30. CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) - Aaron Purcell - 30= - 50kg

31. EMISSARY (GB) - Michael Moroney - 30= - 50kg

32. KING’S CHARISMA (IRE) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 30= - 50kg

33. MANKAYAN (IRE) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 30= - 50kg

34. TOORADIN - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 30= - 50kg

35. FORGOT YOU (NZ) - Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young - 30= - 49kg

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