Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray chase Melbourne Cup fairytale with The Map

South Australia will have its first Melbourne Cup runner in 15 years and trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray have done all they can to ensure The Map is primed to peak.

For the first time in 15 years a South Australian-trained horse will run in the Melbourne Cup, and Murray Bridge trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray have done all they can to ensure The Map is primed to peak in Tuesday’s $8.5m classic.

Alcopop was the state’s last representative in 2009, finishing sixth for Victor Harbor trainer Jake Stephens, an admirable result in any given edition of the Melbourne Cup.

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Clarken and MacGillivray have been on their own Cup journey in 2024, and while they laud what Stephens achieved, they have backed in their own blueprint for a tilt at the Cup dream.

“We know Jake well, and what he achieved was absolutely amazing, you can see how difficult it is to get a horse into the Melbourne Cup,” MacGillivray said.

“We’re just grabbing the opportunity with both hands, doing our best, we know The Map will too and hopefully make South Australia proud.

“You’ve got to back yourself in and do it your own way, if you stuff it up then you can’t blame anyone else.”

"It's another one for South Australia!"

The Map makes it a race-to-race double for the crow eaters at Flemington 👏@jamieleekah07pic.twitter.com/JWf6isq8Zu

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 7, 2023

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Four lead-up runs have seen The Map build soundly towards the Cup, and while she hasn’t dazzled in any of those performances, a favourable rise to two miles in the Cup could see her run the race of her life when it matters most.

Clarken and MacGillivray are hopeful that’s the case, and the six-year-old mare has come through her last-start sixth in the Geelong Cup in fine fettle.

“She’s come through it really well,” MacGillivray said.

“We’d say it was the perfect run, without getting the perfect run, if that makes sense? She didn’t get a tough run, (but) she never really got clear air, she was really doing her best work on the line and as we know the further she goes, the better she gets.”

There’s no disputing that, The Map has raced once over 3200m, when beaten a whisker in this year’s Adelaide Cup. The mare is unbeaten in two starts over 2800m at Flemington, dominating The Macca’s Run on Cup Day last year before winning the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in May.

The two-mile trip is of concern for some runners, but evidence suggests that The Map will relish it.

“She’s spot on we think. She’s feeling very strong to ride, she’s very calm but very strong. We’re looking forward to it,” she said.

Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray celebrate after The Map won the JRA Plate at Morphettville in February. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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With the mare required to undergo the stringent vetting protocols as a Cup runner, Clarken and MacGillivray were buoyed that they could bring the mare home to SA in between the Geelong and Melbourne Cup, rather than having to set up camp in Victoria.

“It was actually a huge relief for us, she could come home, we knew she would relax, she’s eating and drinking well,” she said.

“We didn’t have to worry about working her on different tracks, where we didn’t exactly know how much work to give her.

“We’ve been able to keep pretty much everything the same – it’s been a great help to us.”

The Map has had a different jockey in each of her last five starts, and there will be another new hoop aboard on Tuesday, with Group 1-winning jockey Rachel King in the saddle.

“She was our first pick after Jamie (Kah), way back when we were trying to think who would be a suitable rider,” MacGillivray said.

“She’s got all the attributes to ride her, and probably the most important thing is she rides 50kg easily. The Map doesn’t really like those tiny, tiny little saddles that some of the boys have to bring out.

“We’re hoping The Map can feel more comfortable when the saddle first goes on and when she goes out into the mounting yard when the horses are tense and excited.”

The Map winning on Melbourne Cup Day last year. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

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The Map will jump from gate 23 on Tuesday, but MacGillivray isn’t concerned about the wide draw.

“I was more than happy (with the barrier), I said as long as I don’t get one or 24 I was OK,” she said.

The fairytale is that The Map wins on Tuesday, the Melbourne Cup is a life-changer, many have headed into the race with little fanfare, and minutes later emerged as a champion.

Getting a horse into the race that stops a nation however, is a remarkable achievement itself, the lion’s share of trainers go there whole career without competing in a race such as the Melbourne Cup.

It’s a feat not lost on Clarken or MacGillivray.

“We love what we do. We’ve always felt that if we get horses with ability to go to the next level we do a good job. We are really proud of ourselves,” she said.

“It’s exciting and lovely that the state’s behind us, we’ll do our best.”

The Map is a $51 chance with Sportsbet fixed odds for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.