The first Order of Entry for this year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup has been released Melbourne Cup favourites Mount Athos and Green Moon are both safely in the Emirates Melbourne Cup field as it stands today following the release of the initial Order of Entry.
Progressive English stayer Mount Athos, from the Luca Cumani stable, is 20th in the Order of Entry with leading local hope Green Moon at no 25.
The $6.2 million Melbourne Cup is limited to a field of 24, but Mount Athos and Green Moon will both move up the order one position when Jukebox Jury, who is yet to be officially withdrawn but has been retired, comes out.
The favoured pair might be in the field as it stands, but several other leading contenders need to elevate themselves up the order to gain a start in the 3200-metre Group 1 on Tuesday, 6 November.
The horse likely to carry Dermot Weld's hopes a third Cup success, Galileo's Choice, is 31st in order of entry, Godolphin pair Lost In The Moment and Willing Foe are 39th and 46th respectively, Andre Fabre's Brigantin is 40th, OTI Racing pair Gatewood and Ibicenco 58th and 59th with the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Shahwardi 60th.
Champion Sydney mare More Joyous (88th) is down the list as she is yet to pass the ballot, but will do so with a top-three finish in the Sportingbet Cox Plate, while last year's beaten Caulfield Cup favourite December Draw (89th) is among the others also yet to pass the ballot.
Former winners Americain and Dunaden head the Order of Entry with 2010 champion Americain atop the list on account of a slightly bigger bank balance than the defending champion.
Of the local brigade, Peter Moody's Manighar is the highest rated at No 3, in advance of defending BMW Caulfield Cup champion Southern Speed (four).
Ethiopia (nine), Polish Knight (16) and Zabeelionaire (26) are the highest ranked four-year-olds, while Efficient (12), Midas Touch (17), Mourayan (23) and Seville (24) join Robert Hickmott-trained stablemate Green Moon among the top 25.
The Order of Entry may undergo an overhaul following feature racedays at Caulfield and Randwick this Saturday, while tomorrow's Newcastle Gold Cup presents several Cup entrants with the chance to improve their position.
The Order of Entry will be updated on Monday, while first declarations for the Emirates Melbourne Cup will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 9 October.
