A ballot free ride into November’s $8 million Melbourne Cup field is up for grabs at HQ on Saturday with a class field of stayers engaged in The Andrew Ramsden Stakes 2021.

Former VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound chases a spot in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field via Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes at HQ. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Due to run as Flemington Race 6 at 2:50pm (AEST), this year’s Listed $400,000 The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) features a line-up of runners led in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au by the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Realm Of Flowers ($3.80).

Mark Zahra partners the four-year-old So You Think mare in Melbourne’s feature race of the weekend coming back aboard her for the first time since a close second in last November’s Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) over the mile and a half.

Realm Of Flowers has been good over the autumn including a Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) second at Rosehill and her last start fifth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 17 at Randwick.

This shapes-up as an easier grade of rival for her and over the distance with a bit of luck she could be hard to beat.

It’s a close affair in The Andrew Ramsden betting this season with the danger being the Danny O’Brien-trained Group 1 winning Miami Bound ($4.20).

Jumping from barrier 10 with Ben Allen in the saddle, the former VRC Oaks champion chases her first victory since last October’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).

She contested the 2020 Melbourne Cup running 14^th and gets the chance to earn another shot at the world’s richest handicap race via a win in The Andrew Ramsden.

The now four-year-old Reliable Man mare has been very strong in Sydney in the lead-up coming off back-to-back Group 1 thirds in the Tancred Stakes and Sydney Cup, plus she’s a two-time winner at Flemington.

The bookies are having a hard time separating the best from the rest in The Andrew Ramsden odds with a host of other runners also at single-figures including the Ciaron Maher & Daivd Eustace-trained trio of: Persan ($4.80), therails-drawn stablemate Grand Promenade ($6) and three-year-old VRC St Leger winner last time out Through Irish Eyes ($6).

Pierro four-year-old Persan is the shortest-priced of The Andrew Ramsden acceptors in the current all-in Melbourne Cup 2021 odds online paying $26, a price sure to firm should he win on the weekend.

He’s a Flemington specialist having won four from seven at the track including last October’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings that led into his credible fifth in the Melbourne Cup behind Twilight Payment when under three lengths beaten at 40/1.

Click here for the latest 2021 Melbourne Cup futures markets and here for Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden odds.

2021 The Andrew Ramsden Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.