Number of chances for Maher-Eustace

Smokin’ Romans and jockey Jamie Kah will look to give the Cranbourne training partnership of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace their first win in the Melbourne Cup. 306033 Picture: BRETT HOLBURT/RACING PHOTOS

By David Nagel

Cranbourne training partners Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will saddle up a remarkable five runners in today’s $7,750,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The Maher-Eustace camp had four runners qualified ahead of Derby Day on Saturday, with the Ozzie Kheir-owned Interpretation being one of the last horses to make up the full field of 24 runners.

The field has already been reduced to 23 runners on Cup eve, with the Robert Hickmott-trained Point Nepean being scratched on Monday due to elevated blood levels.

Gold Trip and Smokin’ Romans appear to be the best chances of giving the Maher-Eustace camp their first win in the race that stops the nation.

Gold Trip, beaten less than three lengths by Anamoe in the Cox Plate, will be ridden by Mark Zahra and jump from barrier 14.

Smokin’ Romans has drawn barrier 16 as he looks to provide star-jockey Jamie Kah with her first victory in the famous Flemington two-miler.

High Emocean will jump from barrier eight for Teo Nugent, while Interpretation has drawn perfectly for Craig Newitt in barrier six.

Grand Promenade, the roughie of the field at $101, will look to wind back the clock when Harry Coffey bunts him out from barrier one.

Grand Promenade will wear the same colours worn by Prince of Penzance when he and jockey Michelle Payne won from the same barrier, in the same colours, in 2015.

But win or lose today’s cup, Eustace is already proud of having five runners in the great race.

He puts it all down to teamwork.

“I’m really proud of the team,” Eustace said after the Melbourne Cup barrier draw.

“To have five runners in a race like this is testament to the staff and the work they’ve done over the past six months to get the horses there.

“They go there in really good order and we can’t wait for the race.

“I think they have all drawn quite well.

“Probably Smokin’ Romans, we would have liked him to draw in and roll forward.

“He’s the one horse that may not have drawn quite so well.”

The gates spring back for the Melbourne Cup at 3pm this afternoon.

FULL FIELD

LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP (3200m)

TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER, 2022, 3PM

GROUP 1

PRIZEMONEY: $7,750,000

1. GOLD TRIP (14) 57.5kg

Form: 33529

Jockey: M Zahra

Trainer: C Maher and D Eustace

Odds: $17

2. DUAIS (10) 55.5kg

Form: x0688

Jockey: H Bowman

Trainer: E Cummings

Odds: $26

3. KNIGHTS ORDER (23) 55.5kg

Form: x1343

Jockey: T Clark

Trainer: G Waterhouse and A Bott

Odds: $17

4. MONTEFILIA (11) 55.5kg

Form: 8×434

Jockey: J Collett

Trainer: D Payne

Odds: $11

5. NUMERIAN (7) 55.5kg

Form: 1×225

Jockey: T Berry

Trainer: A Neasham

Odds: $61

6. WITHOUT A FIGHT (18) 55.5kg

Form: 311×2

Jockey: W Buick

Trainer: Simon and E Crisford

Odds: $10

7. CAMORRA (17) 55kg

Form: 551×8

Jockey: B Melham

Trainer: Ben and JD Hayes

Odds: $51

8. DEAUVILLE LEGEND (9) 55kg

Form: 2121x

Jockey: K McEvoy

Trainer: J Ferguson

Odds: $3.50

9. STOCKMAN (2) 54kg

Form: 64418

Jockey: S Clipperton

Trainer: J Pride

Odds: $26

10. VOW AND DECLARE (4) 54kg

Form: x5356

Jockey: B Shinn

Trainer: D O’Brien

Odds: $26

11. YOUNG WERTHER (20) 54kg

Form: 8×430

Jockey: D Lane

Trainer: D O’Brien

Odds: $34

12. HOO YA MAL (15) 53.5kg

Form: 22318

Jockey: C Williams

Trainer: G Waterhouse and A Bott

Odds: $15

13. SERPENTINE (22) 53.5kg

Form: x0902

Jockey: J Allen

Trainer: R Hickmott

Odds: $61

14. DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (13) 53kg

Form: 3×070

Jockey: D Moor

Trainer: P Stokes

Odds: $41

15. GRAND PROMENADE (1) 53kg

Form: 7×594

Jockey: H Coffey

Trainer: C Maher and D Eustace 7×594

Odds: $81

16. ARAPAHO (19)

Form: 12382

Jockey: R King

Trainer: B Baker

Odds: $81

17. EMISSARY (3) 51.5kg

Form: x1581

Jockey: P Moloney

Trainer: M Moroney

Odds: $34

18. LUNAR FLARE (12) 51.5kg

Form: 46612

Jockey: M Dee

Trainer: G Begg

Odds: $21

19. SMOKIN’ ROMANS (16) 51.5kg

Form: 92117

Jockey: J Kah

Trainer: C Maher and D Eustace

Odds: $17

20. TRALEE ROSE (21) 51.5kg

Form: 9×700

Jockey: D Yendall

Trainer: S Wilde

Odds: $71

21. POINT NEPEAN (20)

SCRATCHED

22. HIGH EMOCEAN (8) 50kg

Form: 34161

Jockey: T Nugent

Trainer: C Maher and D Eustace

Odds: $34

23. INTERPRETATION (6) 50kg

Form: x6536

Jockey: C Newitt

Trainer: C Maher and D Eustace

Odds: $41

24. REALM OF FLOWERS (5) 50kg

Form: 6×033

Jockey: D Thornton

Trainer: Anthony and S Freedman

Odds: $10