Melbourne Cup 2020 barrier draw: Cup favourite Tiger Moth may need luck of Irish from wide draw as field finalised

The barrier draw has reshaped Melbourne Cup betting, with Irish raider no longer the standalone favourite in the final field.

Tiger Moth ridden by William Supple at Werribee Racecourse on October 27. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

The release of the barrier draw for the 2020 Melbourne Cup has caused a significant reshuffle of betting markets with Irish raider Tiger Moth now sharing favouritism for Tuesday’s race.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old eased from outright favouritism after drawing wide in Barrier 23 for the $8 million handicap run over 3200 metres. Only Ashrun will start outside the equal-favourite.

Kerrin McEvoy rode Brew to success in 2000, Almandin in 2016 and Cross Counter two years ago in Australia’s most famous race.

But the champion jockey will need to produce another brilliant ride to land a fourth Melbourne Cup on the lightly-raced hopeful, which will be lining up for only its fifth start.

Tiger Moth shares favouritism with Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, which will jump from Barrier 14 for Glen Boss at Flemington.

Top weight Anthony Van Dyke, which will jump from Barrier 3 with Hugh Bowman riding, firmed a point to join Tiger Moth and Sir Dragonet at the head of the market.

Bowman has never ridden a Melbourne Cup winner. But he said the barrier had given the fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained galloper a strong chance of finding a good position in the run.

The five-year-old stallion, which ran second in the Caulfield Cup behind Verry Elleegant, has won six races from 18 starts and has a proven international record.

“I will be happier if we win, but I am certainly pleased with the draw. It (gives) him a chance to find a nice position without working too hard to find it,” Bowman told Channel 10.

Sir Dragonet shares favouritism with Tiger Moth and Anthony Van Dyke. Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“He is in great order after the Caulfield Cup and I know the team are very excited about how he has progressed since that run.”

Bowman had a famous partnership with superstar mare Winx. But he said the Melbourne Cup is the race every Australian jockey dreams of winning.

“I don’t think I can put (what it would mean) into words,” he said.

“I remember growing up as a child dreaming of winning the race. If it is meant to be, I will be happy, but if it does not, I won’t.”

The Horsham-trained Surprise Baby is considered the best chance of repelling the international charge and is listed at $9 after drawing Barrier 7.

The Paul Preusker-trained six-year-old ran fifth behind Vow And Declare in last year’s Melbourne Cup when arguably the run of the race and is well fancied.

Vow And Declare, one of four Danny O’Brien trained stayers in the Melbourne Cup, will jump from Barrier 4 for jockey Jamie Mott and is priced at $34.

Russian Camelot, which placed in the Cox Plate behind Sir Dragonet, is considered the stable’s best hope at $13 and has drawn Barrier 16 for champion jockey Damien Oliver.

Chris Waller’s Caulfield Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant is also in the market at $13 despite drawing just inside Russian Camelot in 15.

Prince of Arran, which ran second last year behind Vow And Declare and third behind Cross Counter in 2018, has drawn the inside barrier for trainer Charlie Fellows.

Star Sydney jockey James McDonald will ride Finche for Waller and is pleased with a draw of Barrier 6.

Anthony Van Dyck at Werribee Racecourse on October 28, is the third horse sharing favouritism in Cup markets. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Finche ran seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup and has raced well without winning in three runs leading into the 2020 edition.

“Obviously drawing a good gate is a big help for him. He can get into rhythm well. We can put him where we want to,” McDonald said.

“Now he has got a good gate, there is no excuse. He is in really good form and Chris and the team are really, really happy with him.”

Ashrun secured a run for German trainer Andreas Wohler, the only European trainer to travel to Melbourne this year, after winning the Hotham Stakes on Saturday.

Wohler, who trained Protectionist to win the 2014 Melbourne Cup, was delighted with the run of Ashrun, who finished stoutly from last for a last stride victory.

But his optimism was tempered when the five-year-old stallion, which will drop 8kg in weight to carry 53kg in the Melbourne Cup, drew the outside barrier of 24.

MELBOURNE CUP BARRIER DRAW

1. Anthony Van Dyck (3)

2. Avilius (10)

3. Vow And Declare (4)

4. Master Of Reality (11)

5. Sir Dragonet (14)

6. Twilight Payment (12)

7. Verry Elleegant (15)

8. Mustajeer (2)

9. Stratum Albion (9)

10. Dashing Willoughby (19)

11. Finche (6)

12. Prince Of Arran (1)

13. Surprise Baby (7)

14. King Of Leogrance (18)

15. Russian Camelot (16)

16. Steel Prince (21)

17. The Chosen One (5)

18. Ashrun (24)

19. Warning (8)

20. Etah James (22)

21. Tiger Moth (23)

22. Oceanex (17)

23. Miami Bound (13)

24. Persan (20)

Ashrun, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy wins the Lexus Hotham Stakes — and his way into the Melbourne Cup — at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images