Just ten classy stayers have been confirmed in the final field for this weekend’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington Racecourse, highlighted by the inclusion of several hopeful 2014 Melbourne Cup contestants.

Ethiopia has been confirmed in the final field for the 2014 Bart Cummings. Photo: Steve Hart

Charging home to finish a credible seventh in the 2013 edition of the Race that Stops a Nation, Ethiopia has been confirmed for a Victorian racing return in the 2014 Bart Cummings.

The winner of the 2012 edition of the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m), Ethiopia secured several impressive results over the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, highlighted by a strong run for fifth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and fourth in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) just three days prior to the Cup.

Suffering a few niggling injuries that kept him off course for the 2014 Autumn Carnival, the Helenus gelding finished eighth in the Coolgardie Cup (1760m) on August 31^st after just light lead-in training, but is more than a chance of returning to contention in The Bart Cummings after finishing second to Fawkner in a strong Cranbourne barrier trials on September 22^nd.

Allocated barrier 7, trainer Pat Carey is confident jockey Rhys McLeod will get the best from his sole entrant in The Bart Cummings.

A leading chance of success for the Macedon Lodge stables through the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, Sea Moon has been confirmed to kick off his campaign in the 2014 Bart Cummings.

Beginning his racing career abroad in Great Britain before being transferred to trainer Robert Hickmott’s care at the beginning of 2013, Sea Moon stamped his claims as a serious 2013 Melbourne Cup contender when finishing second in The Bart Cummings and winning the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), but was unable to match the late pace of Fiorente when 13^th on the first Tuesday of November.

Confirmed to be partnered by champion jockey Damien Oliver, the Beat Hollow entire is offered an excellent chance of first-up success from the ideal barrier 2 this weekend.

Earning entry to the 2013 Melbourne Cup with an impressive win in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 23^rd, Ibicenco has steadily built to the task over two starts this time in and has been confirmed to contest the 2014 Bart Cummings.

Claiming four wins and five minor places from 24 competitive starts so far, Ibicenco began his racing career abroad in his native Germany and immediately stamped his claims as a serious stayer over his maiden racing preparation which peaked with a close second in the Group 1 Preis Von Europa (2412m) at Cologne.

Likely to receive the run of the race from barrier 1, trainer Peter Moody has enlisted veteran hoop Brad Rawiller to partner the Shirocco entire at Flemington this weekend.

Displaying an exceptional turn of foot to burst back into Cups contention when taking out the Girls’ Day Out Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Makybe Diva Stakes day, Who Shot Thebarman he been charged with overcoming the wide barrier 10 in the 2014 Bart Cummings.

Returning to racing in career best form this year, the Yamanin Vital gelding won both the Group 2 Avondale Gold Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in his native New Zealand, but was unable to figure when ninth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) upon arriving in Australia.

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2014 The Bart Cummings Final Field and Barrier Draw