This year the 2010 Melbourne Cup field could feature as many as 11 international gallopers with the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar tipped as one of the top overseas raiders to win the 150^th anniversary of the famous Flemington handicap.

Yesterday Races.com.au reported that British galloper Sans Frontieres had been ruled out of the 2010 Melbourne Cup, giving Cumani a better chance of securing a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field with Manighar.

Five-year-old Linamix gelding Manighar is now paying $19 in the Melbourne Cup betting at [sportsbet], the second shortest-priced international contender following Dermot K Weld’s Profound Beauty and France’s top stayer Americain both at $15.

Currently sitting 20^th on the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup elimination order, Manighar is assured of start in the $6 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2, so here the Races.com.au team have a deeper look at Manighar’s form and assess his chances of becoming the Melbourne Cup winner this spring.

Horse Facts – Manighar

• Jockey: A jockey for Manighar’s Melbourne Cup run is yet to be booked
• Owners: OTI Racing Syndicate, Earle Mack
• Trainer: Luca Cumani
• Age: 5YO
• Gender: Gelding
• Breeding: by Linamix (FR) from Mintly Fresh (USA)
• Career: 12-6-3-1
• Prize Money: $502,343
• Current Melbourne Cup Odds: $19 [sportsbet]

The lightly-raced Manighar has been a consistent performer over his 12 career starts enjoying six wins.

At his most recent start back in August, Manighar ran a gallant second to fellow Melbourne Cup hopeful Americain in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville in France.

Proving himself as a genuine stayer, a fast finishing Manighar was beaten by just a short-neck and likely could have claimed victory over an extra 200m.

The Melbourne Cup is run over a testing ‘two miles’, or 3200m, which is ideal for Manighar.

For his first six career starts, Manighar was prepared by the same trainer as Americain, Alain de Royer-Dupre, before being transferred to Cumani.

Following the eye-catching Kergorlay run, Manighar was sent into quarantine to prepare for a trip Down Under and has been in Melbourne since late August.

Manighar is expected to make his Australian racing debut either in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) next Saturday or in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 20 along with his stablemate Drunken Sailor.

Luca Cumani also has 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer and five-year-old mare Becqu Adoree still entered after the 2010 Melbourne Cup second declarations were taken earlier in the week.

To get behind Manighar or any of the other international Melbourne Cup contenders, you will find the best odds at [sportsbet] so sign up with them today and enjoy a free $300 welcome bet!