The final field and barrier draw for the 2009 Group 1 $5.65million Melbourne Cup next Tuesday was announced tonight following a sensational day of elite victories and a few upsets at Flemington at the AAMI Victoria Derby Day.

Much controversy surrounded Danny O’Brien-trained Vigor and whether the Racing Victoria committee would use its discretion to include the runner into the field despite being below the 24th spot on the elimination. After O’Brien chose not to run Vigor in the Mackinnon Stakes, the gelding, 25th on the order of elimination, was denied a start after the RVC officials chose not to use their powers to elevate him into the field.

Zipping’s fall in the barriers before the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday left the Lloyd Willimas trained runner out of Cup contention, and with other big names including Efficient and Kirkless withdrawn from the race, lesser-raced acceptors includingGallions Reach (barrier 6) and Capecover (barrier 19) were able to remain in the 24 horse field.

Mark Kavangh’s Shocking burst into Melbourne Cup contention when he defeated the Group 3 Lexus Stakes field in impressive fashion, pushing out Bart Cumming’s additional Melbourne Cup hopefuls Dandaad and Navla Escort from the final field. Shocking drew barrier 22.

Cummings will still be represented next Tuesday by three runners, defending Cup champion Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder, in barriers 9, 15 and 13 respectively.

The third-placegetter Viewed was terrific in the Mackinnon – giving Cummings the best possible trial for the two-miler on Tuesday as he went beautifully to the line.

The Cups Kings’ son, Anthony Cummings, also has a starter for the Melbourne Cup with Zavite drawing barrier 3.

Luca Cumani will get another chance after training the runners-up in the last two Cups with his entry Basaltico just making it into the field, due to start in barrier 10.

Following the field and barrier announcement, Alcopop, who drew gate 12, remains the favourite for the Flemington feature at $5.00.

2009 Melbourne Cup Final Field:

#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Penalty	Handicapper Rating
1	VIEWED	Bart Cummings	Brad Rawiller	9	58	1.0	119
2	C’EST LA GUERRE (NZ)	John Sadler	Nicholas Hall	7	55.5		111
3	FIUMICINO (NZ)	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Steven King	24	55.5		112
4	MASTER O’REILLY (NZ)	Danny O’Brien	Vlad Duric	16	55		110
5	MOURILYAN (IRE)	Herman Brown	Glyn Schofield	14	54.5		112
6	ROMAN EMPEROR (NZ)	Bart Cummings	Hugh Bowman	15	54		114
7	ISTA KAREEM (NZ)	Colin Little	Luke Nolen	23	53.5		106
8	CRIME SCENE (IRE)	Saeed Bin Suroor	Kerrin McEvoy	11	53		109
9	MUNSEF (GB)	Ian Williams	Zac Purton	5	53		108
10	ZAVITE (NZ)	Anthony Cummings	Mark Zahra	3	53		107
11	ALCOPOP	Jake Stephens	Dom Tourneur	12	52.5	2.5	108
12	HARRIS TWEED (NZ)	Murray & Bjorn Baker	Craig Newitt	20	52.5		107
13	KIBBUTZ (NZ)	Jarrod McLean	Chris Symons	8	52.5		104
14	NEWPORT	Paul Perry	Peter Wells	18	52.5		104
15	WARRINGAH (GB)	Chris Waller	Damien Oliver	17	52.5		105
16	GALLIONS REACH (NZ)	Richard Yuill	Dwayne Dunn	6	52		102
17	SPIN AROUND	Steven Cooper	Mark Du Plessis	4	52		102
18	BASALTICO (IRE)	Luca Cumani	Danny Nikolic	10	51.5		102
19	CAPECOVER (NZ)	Alexander R Fieldes	Noel Harris	19	51.5		102
20	DAFFODIL (NZ)	Kevin Gray	Chris Munce	21	51.5		110
21	SHOCKING	Mark Kavanagh	Corey Brown	22	51		105
22	ALLEZ WONDER	Bart Cummings	Michelle Payne	13	50.5	0.5	111
23	CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE)	David Hayes	Glen Boss	1	50.5		108
24	LEICA DING	Darren Weir	Craig Williams	2	50.5	0.5	105