We are just looking to the ones who are trained overseas and there are ten this year.
Al Riffa is a 5yo horse by Wooten Bassett trained by Joseph O'Brien who has had two previous Melbourne Cup winners and says that this is the best horse he's brought here. He won the Irish St Leger which was a key prep race for Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle and won't have a problem with either the trip or the wet. Mark Zahra will be following up a 4-timer on Saturday. Currently 8.00.
Chevalier Rose is the Japanese runner and although he won the Stayers a year ago in Japan his current form isn't too impressive. Damien Lane will ride and the have Gate 5 which are two positives. Currently 34.00
Presage Nocturne is another Wooton Bassett and won't have a problem with either the wet or the trip. He ran 4th in the Caulfield Cup where he was finishing off very strongly and that is often the best guide to the Melbourne Cup. He's a 5yo grey horse so don't forget the saying "greys in the wet". Currently 8.50.
Meydaan is by Frankel and ran in the Caulfield Cup but did not do very well. He's had a couple of good wins but may not be up to this standard or trip. One plus is that J Mac is riding but gate 22 will need all his skills.
Absurde is trained by Willie Mullins who just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in American racing with Ethical Diamonds winning the Breeders' Cup Turf at 50/1. So do not ignore. He ran 5th in this last year and seems happy both over jumps and on the flat. No problems with trip or wet. 19.0 looks value.
Flatten the Curve is trained in Germany by Henk Grewe but is already a willing traveller having made at least two trips to the US and on his last one winning well at Keeneland. He's slipped under the radar a bit as punters not so familiar with German racing but he's won over the trip and won't mind the wet and will be ridden by Germany's champin jockey Thorse Hammer Hanson, 21.0 here but already cut to 14.0 in the UK.
Onesmoothoperator trained by Yorkshireman Brian Ellison and while his form hasn't been brilliant this year he seems to like being in Australia and came out and won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. He's a 7yo gelding so this may be his last chance. 26.0
Further is trained in England by Andrew Balding whose stable is doing well are present however Further is not the one we would have connected with the Melbourne Cup. He won the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury recently but there were only 6 runners in the race and was second in the Queen's Vase at Ascot. Has a good gate in 7.
Parchment Party is the first American runner in the Melbourne Cup. Acclaimed handler Bill Mott is sending him over with Johnny Velzquez a top American jockey to ride. He won the Belmont Gold Cup defeating Flatten The Curve but this is his first real test on turf and he may not be fully equipped to handle it. They got gate 3 so that may help. 51.0
Goodies Two Shoes is another Joseph O'Brien runner and the 6yo mare has earned her way here and is not just a traveling companion to Al Riffa. She came third in the Lilly Langtry at Goodwood and is a consistent type who should get the trip. Wayne Lordan is coming to ride her – presumably in the absence of Ryan Moore. 41.0 is worth a bit of e/w especially in the UK where they pay out on the first 5 runners.
