The Races.com.au team is rallying behind the German stayer Protectionist and has him as the one to beat in the Melbourne Cup 2014 tips for Tuesday’s famous Flemington feature.

Protectionist is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Andreas Wohler’s Monsun stallion is one of 11 internationals facing off in this year’s $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), the world’s richest handicap jumping as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) tomorrow.

Drawn in barrier 11 with Ryan Moore to ride the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) winner is looking to become the third European raider in the past five years to come via that race following the French-trained duo of Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011).

He debuted down under with a fast finishing fourth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and should appreciate a step up in distance and the roomier track at Flemington in the big one.

Protectionist is rated an $8 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au in their latest Melbourne Cup odds, easing out from $7, and heads the Races.com.au team’s Melbourne Cup trifecta.

The Melbourne Cup betting markets meanwhile are led by Japan’s Caulfield Cup winning stallion Admire Rakti out from $4.80 to $5.50 to complete the Spring Cups’ double as the top weight in both races.

Also under $10 to take out the title of 2014 Melbourne Cup winner are the likes of Kris Lees’ classy mare Lucia Valentina ($7.50) and Saturday’s Lexus Stakes champ Signoff ($7.50) who are both light weight chances carrying 53kg and 51.5kg respectively.

Robert Hickmott’s Cox Plate runner-up Fawkner, sixth in the race last year, then rounds out those at single-figures through Ladbrokes.com.au to win the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’.

1^st

#5 Protectionist ($8)

German-trained five-year-old is only lightly raced with nine starts to date for four wins and four minor placings. Latest victory was the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay in the wet over 3000m but also runs well on Good (4-1-2-0) tracks so Flemington shouldn’t be too firm. Stepping up to 3200m for the first time but the 3000m win two back suggests the distance is a non-issue and he’s all but proven over the two miles. Herbert Power debut is good statistically as no international has won the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up run down under since Vintage Crop (1993). Was closing fast when under a length off the winner in fourth that race and should be right up there again. Barrier 11 looks ideal and hard to fault with work since the Herbert strong at Werribee. Also has the same sire as last year’s winner Fiorente so pedigree is there as well.

2^nd

#22 Lucia Valentina ($7.50)

Kris Lees’ four-year-old daughter of Savabeel lost few admirers when third as the beaten favourite in the Caulfield Cup from a wide run last start, she was good late and lapped up the ground in the closing stages. Gets a gun barrier for her style of racing here in two and is on just 53kg again so well weighted. Last Melbourne Cup winning mare was Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005) and the first four-year-old female winner since Ethereal (2000). The Caulfield Cup form holds in the Melbourne edition with 13 of the past 30 winners coming via it. Her effort was outstanding and she’ll be right up there again.

3^rd

#12 Who Shot Thebarman ($21)

Adding value to the Melbourne Cup tips is this Chris Waller-trained NZ import to be ridden by Makybe Diva’s triple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss from barrier 12. This Yamanin Vital six-year-old has won over the trip in the Group 1 Auckland Cup earlier in the year and also has a good record at Flemington with two wins from as many starts. One of those was the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) that led to a 13^th in the Caulfield Cup, an effort he can improve on at Flemington with Caulfield likely too tight for him.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our 2014 Melbourne Cup trifecta tip make sure you lock in your selections online at Ladbrokes.com.au and also check out their $10 million Megfecta promo!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change