There is still a cloud of doubt around the chances that Luca Cumani’s Bauer will run in the 2010 Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow, the eight-year-old still plagued with a hoof injury that could see him miss the $6 million showdown.

Galileo grey Bauer, who was nosed out of a Melbourne Cup win by Bart Cummings’ Viewed in 2008, made the 150^th Melbourne Cup field after a number of notable defectors weren’t paid up for at final declaration stage on Victoria Derby Day on Saturday.

However, Bauer could still be ruled out of the world’s richest handicap tomorrow with independent vet Dr Chris Whitten still not satisfied of the horse’s fitness to run in the testing 3200m event.

Bauer was examined after trackwork at Werribee this morning, and Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey said they would inspect the Melbourne Cup hopeful again tomorrow morning.

“The horse has improved since Friday, but still not enough to satisfy us he can start,” Bailey said.

If cleared to run, Bauer has drawn favourably with barrier two in the Melbourne Cup and will be ridden by jockey Chris Munce, who won the 1998 Melbourne Cup with Jezabeel.

Munce is also part of an exclusive club, one of only seven jockeys to take out the ‘grand slam’ of Australian horse racing.

Leading online bookmaker Luxbet have Bauer at $71 in their Melbourne Cup betting, with So You Think the clear favourite at a short quote of $3.30.

For the full Melbourne Cup markets and to get in on the action of the ‘race that stops the nation’ head to Luxbet now!