Key posts
Lunar Flare scratched from Melbourne Cup, Interpretation passed fit
By Damien Ractliffe
A field of 22 will run in today’s Melbourne Cup after Grahame Begg’s mare Lunar Flare failed a vet examination on race morning.
The seven-year-old daughter of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente was inspected on Monday morning and found to be lame in her off fore leg.
Click here to read more.
Lunar Flare has been scratched from the Melbourne Cup.Credit:Getty Images
Latest posts
‘Five is a good number but you only need one’: Maher’s Cup mob
By Chris Roots
It is the tale of two cities in this year’s Melbourne Cup. Sydney’s biggest trainer, Chris Waller, is at home without a runner, looking at his Cup from Verry Elleegant’s win last year, while Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Victoria’s largest stable, have five runners.
It is not quite the worst of times for Waller, who saddles up three in the Big Dance at Randwick on Tuesday.
Neither is it the best of times for Maher and Eustace, whose Cup hopes start at $17 with Gold Trip and Smokin’ Romans and move out to $101 for Grand Promenade – unless, of course, they lift their first Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Click here to read more.
Ethan Brown gives a salute as Smokin’ Romans wins the Turnbull Stakes last month.Credit:Vince Caligiuri, Getty Images
Cup field’s international presence drops to four, but favourite could stay on in Australia
By Peter Ryan
Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend could continue to race in Australia, with a decision yet to be made on the future of the leading international raider in Tuesday’s race.
Trainer James Ferguson said a decision by the owners on whether the horse’s future would be in Europe or Australia would not be made until after the Cup.
“No decision has been made,” Ferguson said. “There were wonderful opportunities for him in Europe and in Australia, so we will leave that up to the owner and the team. The owners have been big supporters of ours.”
Click here to read more.
Trainer James Ferguson leads Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend and Kerrin McEvoy onto Werribee last week.Credit:Racng photos
The inconvenient truths about the race that divides the nation
By Andrew Webster
Last week, James McDonald – the best jockey in the land, maybe even the world – was fanboying about his mount, Loft, in the Melbourne Cup.
“I had my first sit on him and I’m so happy I did,” he told me during a lengthy interview. “He’s in the race up to his ears. He worked beautifully the other morning. He’s not big in stature, but he’s a very athletic, clean-winded horse. He’s got form over two miles, very adaptable in his racing style, goes on the wet, the dry. There’s not much to dislike apart from the unknown.”
The “unknown” to which McDonald was referring was the fact the German import was unraced in Australia. As it turned out, a mandatory CT scan revealed an unknown tendon injury, and vets put a line through Loft the following day.
Click here to read more.
James McDonald on Verry Elleegant wins Melbourne Cup at Flemington last year.Credit:Joe Armao
How to pick the Melbourne Cup winner by the numbers
By Chris Roots
It’s the one race of the year when most Australians like to have a bet, yet it’s often the hardest race to find a winner.
Flemington will be back to a massive crowd of pre-pandemic proportions for the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup. Office workers will be in the workplace, having sweeps again, and here’s how you can look like an expert by finding the winner in Australia’s great race.
This year’s event is a throwback to the old days of the Melbourne Cup, with only two internationally-trained horses, as Racing Victoria continues to implement strict welfare protocols for gallopers.
Click here to read more.
Montefilia has the right profile to win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.Credit:Getty
Greetings, everybody
By Ronny Lerner
Hello everyone and welcome to our live rolling coverage of Melbourne Cup day 2022.
And after two COVID-impacted years, Flemington will be back to full strength today with no limit on crowd size for the first time since 2019, and there’s no doubt the Victorian Racing Club will be hoping for a turnout in excess of 100,000.
Follow all the action as we give you all the news, analysis, winners, fashion and, of course, the big one at 3pm – the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup.
Who will take out the race that stops the nation? Will it be hot favourite Deauville Legend? Will it be Without A Fight? Or perhaps Montefilia or Realm Of Flowers will salute? Or will a roughie be victorious?
Stay tuned with our blog to find out!
Kerrin McEvoy onboard Deauville Legend last week.Credit:Getty
