Vinnie Roe
No1

59kg.
B h 5 yrs
Barrier 7
Jockey - P J Smullen
Trainer - Dermot Weld
15 starts, 9-1-2
Last five starts - s1211
Prizemoney $1,227,837
Average Prizemoney $81,855
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts.

Vinnie Roe has seven wins and a second from his last eight starts. His last start was a win on September 14 in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger run over 2816 metres. Vinnie Row carried 61kg.

Vinnie Row has won up to 3100 metres. In June this year he was beaten a neck in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup run over 4023 metres.

This outstanding 5YO is used to carrying weight and won with 63.5kg. in August this year. His trainer won the 1993 Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop so knows what is required to win the race.

Jardines Lookout
No2

56kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 19
Jockey - Patrick Payne
Trainer - Alan Jarvis
21 starts, 4-3-3
Last five starts - 39164
Prizemoney $433,524
Average Prizemoney $20,644
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 5 sts. 1-1-0

This handy stayer has been competitive in England with Persian Punch, who ran third in last year's Melbourne Cup.

Three starts back, in August, he won the Goodwood Cup, a Group 2 Weight for Age race over 3219 metres. On that run he must rate a chance in the Melbourne Cup.

Daliapour
No3

55.5kg.
B h 7 yrs
Barrier 1
Jockey - M Kinane
Trainer - Michael Stoute
25 starts, 7-3-3
Last five starts - 4514s
Prizemoney $3,357,562
Average Prizemoney $134,302
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 st. 0-0-0

A quality stayer who won the Group 3 Irish Curragh Cup on June 29 by two lengths carrying 61.5kg.

Daliapour races on the pace and has the proven overseas credentials to do well in the Cup - a strong performing horse over 2800 metres.

Sandmason
No4

55.5kg.
Ch h 6 yrs
Barrier 13
Jockey - Steven Arnold
Trainer - Tony McEvoy
11 starts, 2-4-0
Last five starts - s9804
Prizemoney $311,960
Average Prizemoney $28,360
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 st. 0-0-0

Sandmason was scratched at the barrier in the Caulfield Cup, but the next week ran a nice fourth in the Moonee Valley Cup.

Sandmason is a former English stayer. His best win overseas was the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes run at Ascot in June last year over 2414 metres.

Now racefit after five runs this campaign, the 3200 metres remains a query. If he gets the distance he could be right in the finish.

Helene Vitality
No5

54.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 17
Jockey - G Mosse
Trainer - David Hayes
27 starts, 3-8-2
Last five starts - s8040
Prizemoney $2,964,958
Average Prizemoney $109,813
Handles Good to Slow tracks. Best on firm tracks.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 st. 0-0-0

He won the New Zealand Derby in 1999 under the name of Hades.

This classy galloper ran a big fourth to Northerly in the Turnbull Stakes. He has also finished second in two Group 1 races over 2400 metres this year. His second to Nayef in the $3,936,000 Dubai Classic was impressive. The Arc winner, Marienbard finished behind him.

In the Caulfield Cup Helene Vitality was checked and later tightened for room. Helene Vitality has now had five runs here and is at peak fitness for the Cup.

Hath Anna
No6

54kg.
B h 6 yrs
Barrier 22
Jockey - R Hills
Trainer - Saeed Bin Suroor
12 starts, 3-2-0
Last five starts - 1s455
Prizemoney $270,367
Average Prizemoney $22,530
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

This is Hath Anna's second visit. Last year he won the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington, run over 2500 metres, on the last day of the Carnival.

Hath Anna has only raced three times since, the best run being beaten by 3.8 lengths when finishing fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup in June this year. The race was run over 4023 metres. In that race Hath Anna carried one more kilo than Vinnie Roe, who finished second, 3.7 lengths in front of him.

In the Melbourne Cup Hath Anna meets Vinnie Roe six kilos better at the weights. If weights mean anything, if Vinnie Roe is a winning chance in the Cup, then Hath Anna must be as well.

Freemason
No7

53.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 11
Jockey - Darren Gauci
Trainer - John Hawkes
53 starts, 6-6-6
Last five starts - 06650
Prizemoney $1,999,930
Average Prizemoney $37,734
Handles all track conditions, but is better with some sting out.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 0-0-0

This dour stayer ran a huge race in the Caulfield Cup. Carrying 53.5kg. he was specked from $51.00 to $41.00 and finished fifth, beaten only 1.6 lengths by Northerly.

On Saturday back to Weight for Age conditions he carried 58kg. and never got into the race at Flemington. Best to ignore.

However he has failed at his two attempts over 3200 metres which is a worry. In last year's Cup, after racing on the speed on a Dead track he weakened and finished more than 23 lengths behind Ethereal.

Maguire
No8

53.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 8
Jockey - Danny Nikolic
Trainer - Jon Collins
33 starts, 8-2-2
Last five starts - 64906
Prizemoney $385,747
Average Prizemoney $11,689
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-0-0

He goes into this race with a big plus. He is proven at the distance, having won the Group 1 Auckland Cup on New Year's Day this year. He is clearly stronger than when he finished fourteenth in the 2000 Melbourne Cup, nearly 15 lengths behind the winner, Brew.

Maguire's six runs from a spell have all been with one target in mind - the Melbourne Cup. His run in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on October 26 has primed him up nicely. He was forced to work after being caught wide early, and battled on well for sixth, beaten less than four lengths by the very smart Thong Classic. Maguire carries 3.5kg. less in the Cup.

It's rumoured that connections are quietly confident, expecting a very big run.

Could be one for value.

Pugin
No9

53.5kg.
B h 5 yrs
Barrier 15
Jockey - Frankie Dettori
Trainer - Saeed Bin Suror
9 starts, 3-3-0
Last five starts - s8s12
Prizemoney $313,223
Average Prizemoney $34,802
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 st. 0-0-0

The Godolphin recently purchased this lightly raced stayer as a likely Melbourne Cup winner.

At his most recent start, on September 14, when formerly trained by John Oxx, Pugin finished 1.5 lengths second behind Vinnie Roe in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger over 2816 metres. Both horses carried 61kg.

Pugin meets Vinnie Roe 5.5kg. better at the weights in the Cup and must rate a big chance of winning.

Rain Gauge
No10

53.5kg.
Br h 5 yrs
Barrier 14
Jockey - Greg Childs
Trainer - George Hanlon
36 starts, 5-5-7
Last five starts - 54772
Prizemoney $652,300
Average Prizemoney $18,119
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

He finished an unlucky sixth in last year's Cup after being checked on the home turn.

In this year's Caulfield Cup, after settling well back in the field, Rain Gauge made up plenty of ground and was only beaten two lengths by Northerly. Rain Gauge followed up with an unlucky second to Thong Classic in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2500 metres on October 26. In some circles, they believe Rain Gauge should have won the protest.

Rain Gauge drops 2.5kg. from that run and has the same weight as in the Caulfield Cup. He looks one of the best local chances.

Beekeeper
No11

53kg.
B h 5 yrs
Barrier 20
Jockey - Kerrin McEvoy
Trainer - Saeed Bin Suroor
8 starts, 3-0-0
Last five starts - s9s16
Prizemoney $185,229
Average Prizemoney $23,153
Has only raced on Good rated tracks.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

This lightly raced stayer was very unlucky in the Caulfield Cup. He got back in the field and never had a clear crack at them in the straight until the race was all over. He hit the line as good as anything in the race, finishing less than two lengths behind Northerly.

He raced like he can get the 3200 metres, but you can never be certain until they have raced over the distance. If Beekeeper gets the distance he is right in the race. But the wide barrier is a worry. It will take all of year 2000 Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy's skill to ensure Beekeeper has a good run.

County Tyrone
No12

52.5kg.
B g 4 yrs
Barrier 9
Jockey - Jim Cassidy
Trainer - Max Lees
20 starts, 6-0-2
Last five starts - 00878
Prizemoney $389,650
Average Prizemoney $19,482
Handles all track conditions, but is better with some sting out.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

County Tyrone's claim to fame was winning the Queensland Derby in June this year.

The stayer resumed in August and has had five runs. His best performance was being beaten 1.7 lengths in the Group 3 Coongy Handicap at Caulfield on October 19, run over 2000 metres. He started at $26.00 in that race.

County Tyrone's run the following week in the Moonee Valley Cup will have topped him off nicely. the slow pace was against him when he finished 4.7 lengths behind the winner, Thong Classic.

In the Cup County Tyrone will get a much better pace to suit. The big question is whether he will get the distance. If he does, he'll be running on strongly at the end and figuring in the finish. He could be a bit of a smokey.

Hail
No13

52.5kg.
Ch g 5 yrs
Barrier 16
Jockey - N Harris
Trainer - Bruce Marsh
25 starts, 7-4-3
Last five starts - 23308
Prizemoney $340,517
Average Prizemoney $13,620
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

Hail won the New Zealand Derby on December 26, 2000. He also has creditable form over 3200 metres, and finished sixth, four lengths behind Henderson Bay in this year's Sydney Cup.

He didn't have much luck in running from barrier 15 in the Caulfield Cup, but still finished only four lengths behind Northerly. On Saturday in the Mackinnon Stakes it looked like he just went around for a workout under race conditions. He finished the race off OK and is primed for Tuesday.

Don't be surprised with a pretty forward showing in the Cup.

Media Puzzle
No14

52.5kg.
Ch g 6 yrs
Barrier 3
Jockey - Damien Oliver
Trainer - Dermot Weld
18 starts, 5-1-5
Last five starts - 88031
Prizemoney $289,969
Average Prizemoney $16,109
Best on a track no worse than Dead.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-1

Media Puzzle has excellent overseas form. He is thrown into this race at the weights - on September 15 he carried 60kg. in the Irish $116,000 Curragh Open Handicap run over 3219 metres and finished third, beaten only a length by Lowlander who carried 51.5kg.

Then Media Puzzle won the Geelong Cup in a canter on October 23. He also drops 2.5kg. in weight for the Cup.

Mr. Prudent
No15

52kg.
Ch g 8 yrs
Barrier 4
Jockey - Corey Brown
Trainer - George Hanlon
59 starts, 10-7-4
Last five starts - 09663
Prizemoney $1,003,710
Average Prizemoney $17,012
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 6 sts. 1-1-0

He carried 52kg. and was beaten by over 17 lengths in last year's Cup after winning the Sydney Cup earlier in the year. However he has been racing well this year, including another strong run in the Sydney Cup, where he was beaten a nose by Henderson Bay.

Mr. Prudent put in a good, even run in the Moonee Valley Cup and finished third. He drops 5kg. in weight for the Cup. The class may test him, but he is certainly capable of running into the placings at odds.

Pentastic
No16

52kg.
Br g 4 yrs
Barrier 6
Jockey - Glen Boss
Trainer - David Hall
21 starts, 3-2-4
Last five starts - 91597
Prizemoney $519,800
Average Prizemoney $24,752
Races best with a bit of sting out of the ground.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

Pentastic is a backmarker. His three wins have come on Dead rated tracks. As a 3YO he matched it with the best 3YOs of the land.

After being checked at the 400 he finished third in last year's Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington. In March this year he ran three huge races all in a row in the Group 1 Canterbury Guineas, the Group 1Rosehill Guineas and the Group 1 A.J.C. Australian Derby.

He was then unlucky in the Sydney Cup where he was tightened for room and checked several times. So being beaten 4.7 lengths is much better than it appears on paper.

Pentastic was only beaten 2.4 lengths by Northerly in the Turnbull Stakes on October 5. He followed that up with a respectable run in the Caulfield Cup, four lengths behind Northerly. Pentastic then ran a highly respectable seventh, beaten 3.8 lengths by Lonhro in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

That run has him primed for a big run in the Cup. He should be making up ground in the straight and will be right in the finish.

Prized Gem
No17

52kg.
B m 5 yrs
Barrier 24
Jockey - Michael Rodd
Trainer - Murray Baker
23 starts, 9-3-4
Last five starts - s6150
Prizemoney $852,750
Average Prizemoney $37,076
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-0-0

Prized Gem will have no problems with the distance. The mare won the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm in June this year over 3200 metres with a storming finish after being checked in the straight. Michael Rodd, who has the Cup ride, rode her that day.

Her last two starts this campaign, in the Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Stakes have been disappointing, but the start befoer that she won in Group 1 Weight for Age company in New Zealand.

As a backmarker the Cup barrier should not be a major concern. If you like Prized Gem back her. If she puts her best hoof forward she could run a massive race at big odds.

Victory Smile
No18

52kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 2
Jockey - Danny Beasley
Trainer - Donna Logan
38 starts, 8-9-3
Last five starts - 1xs710
Prizemoney $615,422
Average Prizemoney $16,195
Best on tracks no worse than Dead.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

Victory Smile was beaten by over five lengths at her only try over 3200 metres in the Auckland Cup held on 1 January this year.

Her well beaten last of 15 in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 26 is not a good recommendation for this race. It will require a major form reversal if Victory Smile figures in the finish. However, she does drop 5kg. in weight for the Cup from that race.

Cyclades
No19

51.5kg.
B g 7 yrs
Barrier 5
Jockey - Scott Seamer
Trainer - Cydne Evans
27 starts, 8-2-1
Last five starts - 75587
Prizemoney $277,240
Average Prizemoney $10,268
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-1-0

This New Zealand stayer has a huge plus. He is proven at the distance. He was beaten a short neck by Maguire in the Group 1 Auckland Cup on January 1 this year and won the Group 1 Wellington Cup on January 26 this year.

Cyclades is very fit as he has had six runs in from a spell. His run in the Geelong Cup, dashingly won by Media Puzzle, should be ignored as he struck major interference. His run on Saturday in the 2500 metres Hotham Handicap was a beauty -he was last of the 18 runners on the home turn and made up plenty of ground to finish seventh, beatn less than four lengths.

(If you're wondering where we got the name Hotham Handicap from, for the third race at Flemington last Saturday, we are using the official registered name for the race, not the unregistered name that was used promoting a car.)

Distinctly Secret
No20

51.5kg.
Br g 4 yrs
Barrier 4
Jockey - Steven King
Trainer - Mark Walker
19 starts, 6-4-1
Last five starts - 72643
Prizemoney $546,238
Average Prizemoney $28,749
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

If Distinctly Secret handles the distance, then at the weights he has to be one of the best chances in the race.

In June this year he was an unlucky fourth in the Queensland Derby, run over 2400 metres. His other try over 2400 metres was his fourth in the Caulfield Cup, beaten only 1.1 lengths by Northerly. Again, Disticnctly Secret was unlucky, being badly held up for a run.

The Caulfield Cup run was followed by a slashing third in Saturday's Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. He made up good ground in the straight, going down by a neck and a nose to Lonhro and Royal Code.

Distinctly Secret drops in weight by a massive 6kg. for the Cup.

Grey Song
No21

51kg.
Gr g 4 yrs
Barrier 23
Jockey - Chris Munce
Trainer - Tommy Hughes
19 starts, 3-2-0
Last five starts - 48498
Prizemoney $325,600
Average Prizemoney $17,136
Races best on rain affected going.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

His three wins have been on Heavy tracks. He won the Group 3 V.R.C. St. Leger over 2800 metres on April 25 this year.

Grey Song's recent efforts haven't been too bad, including making up ground to finish eighth, beaten under four lengths by Northerly in the Caulfield Cup on a Good rated track.

With a rain affected track he would rate a big show in the Melbourne Cup. That is unlikely, as the weather in Melbourne is fine, hot and sunny. On a Good track - well, you never know. He sticks on and could possibly run a place at huge odds.

Thong Classic
No22

51kg.
Ch g 5 yrs
Barrier 21
Jockey - Brett Prebble
Trainer - Pat Carey
28 starts, 7-7-7
Last five starts - 03331
Prizemoney $575,300
Average Prizemoney $20,546
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

This gelding is as honest as they come. He is a genuine handicapper who has always stepped up a level when asked.

His lead up form in handicaps is impeccable, including winning the Moonee Valley Cup. The big questions are whether Thong Classic will handle th e3200 metres and the class rise. However, he only has 51kg.

If Thong Classic can get a decent run from the barrier, he should be in the race for quite some time and is capable of causing an upset.

Miss Meliss
No23

49kg.
B m 5 yrs
Barrier 10
Jockey - Craig Newitt
Trainer - Bart Cummings
14 starts, 1-3-1
Last five starts - 41042
Prizemoney $68,440
Average Prizemoney $4,888
Best on Good rated tracks.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

This mare qualified for the Cup by running second in the Hotham Handicap on Saturday. Three weeks earlier she ran a good fourth in a 2400 metres handicap at Caulfield.

It's worth noting she commenced her current campaign on August 9 by finishing second, beaten over three lengths by Paris Plaits (who is that?) in a Bendigo Maiden!

Miss Meliss looks out of her depth, though the feather weight will help. However, because she is trained by "Cups King", Bart Cummings, who has won the race 11 times, she is sure to attract plenty of support.

Requiem
No24

49kg.
B h 5 yrs
Barrier 12
Jockey - Craig Williams
Trainer - Tony McEvoy
25 starts, 4-3-2
Last five starts - 15221
Prizemoney $273,255
Average Prizemoney $10,930
Best on firm tracks.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

Requiem qualified for the Cup by winning the Hotham Handicap on Saturday.

His two runs before that were good. He was grabbed on the line by The Secondmortgage in a Group 2 Handicap over 2400 metres at Caulfield on October 12 and followed that run up 11 days later with a second, beaten 3.5 lengths, by Media Puzzle in the Geelong Cup. He meets Media Puzzle 2kg. better at the weights.

Requiem is not a class galloper. The weights have given him a rough show of performing against many classier gallopers.