The final make-up of the Melbourne Cup 2012 field became slightly clearer today with Racing Victoria releasing the second declarations for the ‘race that stops a nation’.

Caulfield Cup third placed Lights Of Heaven is one of three 2012 Melbourne Cup second acceptors for Peter Moody

Running as Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 6, the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) is the world’s richest handicap race and there are now just 46 horses, down from 67 at first acceptance stage, vying for a spot in the capacity 24-horse Melbourne Cup final field.

Of the 21 horses that dropped out of contention following the Melbourne Cup second acceptances the most notable were the Peter Moody-trained Manighar, sent out to the paddock earlier this season, and the Lloyd Williams-owned duo of Midas Touch and Seville.

Moody still has accepted for a trio of Melbourne Cup hopes with Caulfield Cup third placegetter Lights Of Heaven who is one of the top fancies in the Melbourne Cup odds at bookmaker.com.au, his impressive Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Vatuvei and imported galloper Voila Ici who is a surprise acceptor after their dead last finish in the Caulfield Cup.

While Galileo four-year-old Seville, runner-up to stablemate Green Moon in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, was ruled out of a spring cups bid at the start of the month the news that Midas Touch would also be absent from this year’s Melbourne Cup only broke after their disappointing eighth in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup over the weekend.

The trainer – owner duo of Robert Hickmott and Williams however are still represented in the Melbourne Cup second declarations by:

• Excluded – Last seen running a brave second to French stayer Shahwardi in the Herbert Power Stakes, goes to the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday
• Mourayan – Veteran seven-year-old in good form this time in, last seen winning the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) in Sydney on October 6
• Tanby – Reigning Bendigo Cup winner took out the Listed The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington at the start of the month
• Green Moon – Turnbull Stakes winner third-up this time in before running seventh to Ocean Park in the Cox Plate on Saturday

Green Moon however may be the next defector from the Melbourne Cup for Williams after they pulled up a little bruised and battered when seventh as the beaten favourite in the Cox Plate on Saturday.

Notable Omissions from the 2012 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations Include:

• Binamick (Michael Brady)
• Dance With Her (Daivd Brideoake & David Feek)
• Manighar (Peter G Moody)
• Midas Touch (Robert Hickmott)
• Miss Artistic (Shaune Rithcie)
• Seville (Robert Hickmott)
• Western Symbol (Gai Waterhouse)

All the other major players in the Melbourne Cup betting markets meanwhile are still in contention including equal favourites Dunaden and Americain, the French-trained duo having won the past two editions of the classic.

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden was last seen scoring an impressive Caulfield Cup victory while Americain, winner of the Melbourne Cup in 2010, ran a slashing Caulfield Cup fourth in their first run down under this season.

Other 2012 Melbourne Cup Betting Fancies Still in the Mix Include:

• Mount Athos (Luca Cumani) – Winner of three straight in Britain during our winter, won’t race down under before the Melbourne Cup going straight into the field
• Brigantin (Andre Fabre) – Right on the cusp of a cup start after this French raider ran a good third on debut to Gatewood in the Geelong Cup
• Red Cadeaux (Ed Dunlop) – British gallop ran a devastatingly close second in last year’s Melbourne Cup, yet to run in Australia this spring
• Shahwardi (Alain de Royer Dupre) – Americain’s stablemate proved their good form with a successful debut win down under in the Herbert Power Stakes, well suited to the two miles
• Ethiopia (Pat Carey) – Best fancied of the local hopes in this year’s Cup, the smart four-year-old – winner of the Australian Derby last season – ran a slashing fourth in the Cox Plate on the weekend
• Tac De Boistron (Michael Kent) – French import was disappointing on debut here when sixth in the Geelong Cup, likely to run on Derby Day looking for a ballot exemption
• Galileo’s Choice (Dermot K Weld) – Smart Irish galloper is another international likely to go straight into the Melbourne Cup without an earlier run on these shores

The 2012 Melbourne Cup final field of 24 is due for release this Saturday live from Flemington Racecourse after the action of Victoria Derby Day at 4:30pm (AEST).

Meanwhile the latest Melbourne Cup order of entry will be out soon, Races.com.au to report the horses safely inside the top 24 and those that must win a ballot exemption via a Derby Day race such as the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) or the $200,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) to make the cut.

Updated Melbourne Cup betting markets on the second acceptors will be released shortly at our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au so head there now and open an account to get ready for the action!

2012 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations

Flemington Race 7 – 06/11/2012