Just 36 stayers remain in contention for Tuesday week’s Melbourne Cup 2017 following second acceptances taken for the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ this week.

Shock Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time is one of 36 Melbourne Cup 2017 second acceptances for the famous Flemington Race 7 on November 7. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Up from 32 at this stage last year, the second declarations for the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) in 2017 are dominated by the reigning champion Almandin.

Owner Lloyd Williams celebrated his fifth win in the two mile classic with the son of Monson last year, Almandin ridden to victory by Kerrin McEvoy.

The Melbourne Cup jockey for the reigning champion is up in the air this spring with previously confirmed hoop Damien Oliver’s fate to be decided this afternoon as he appeals a 20-meeting Cox Plate suspension.

Almandin was last seen running fourth under a hefty 60kg in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 7 and sits top of the all-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.50 to be the first multiple winner since the three-peat of Makybe Diva (2003-05).

Trainer Robert Hickmott also still has Bondi Beach, Gallante, Aloft and Foundry among the Melbourne Cup second acceptances in 2017.

Leading the Melbourne Cup ballot is the Lindsay Park-trained shock Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time.

Penalised one kilogram for his upset in the 2400m classic on October 21 at 50/1, the Flying Spur stallion is still in well in the Melbourne Cup weights with 53kg.

Boom Time is at $31 to do the Spring Cups double, last achieved by champion Kiwi mare Ethereal (2001).

Key 2017 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances

• 36 total second acceptors
• 12 international raiders
• Almandin the defending champion
• Hartnell the 57.5kg top weight
• Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time one of four for Lindsay Park
• Cox Plate runner-up Humidor one of five for Darren Weir

The David Hayes-led stable have also paid up for Ventura Storm, Harlem and Cool Chap with the former the only one assured of a start in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field sitting 15^th on the ballot.

Following Almandin in futures Melbourne Cup betting at $7.50 after a career best run last weekend chasing Winx home in the Cox Plate is Humidor.

Trainer Darren Weir scored the upset Melbourne Cup win in 2015 with 100/1 shot Prince Of Penzance, but is in with a much better fancied stayer this year.

Teofilo five-year-old Humidor backed-up off a Caulfield Cup fifth to give now three-time Cox Plate hero Winx a genuine scare in the weight-for-age showdown at The Valley finishing just a quarter-length off her for second.

Weir has a total of five Melbourne Cup horses still in contention including also the gun 51kg lightweight mare Amelie’s Star ($26) who won The Bart Cummings two back before her 11^th in the Caulfield Cup results.

Top-weight Hartnell (57.5kg), third in the Melbourne Cup trifecta last spring, also remains in the mix for a second shot.

The James Cummings-trained Godolphin galloper is out to $41 in Melbourne Cup odds, the seven-year-old not having raced since the disappointing ninth in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) on October 14.

Of the 12 international Melbourne Cup entries paid up for at second acceptance stage the standout is Marmelo, the $8 third favourite prepared in the UK by Hughie Morrison.

Jockey Hugh Bowman is likely to stay on the Duke Of Marmalade stallion after riding the five-year-old to an eye-catching sixth in the Caulfield Cup reeling off the gun late sectionals.

Caulfield Cup third placed Johannes Vermeer ($11), Andreas Wholer’s German visitor Red Cardinal ($11) and the Hugo Palmer-trained Herbert Power runner-up Wall Of Fire ($11) are the other standout Melbourne Cup international hopefuls.

A final spot in the Melbourne Cup 2017 field is up for grabs this Saturday on Derby Day with the winner Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) exempt from ballot.

The most notable non-acceptor was dual Oaks winner Bonneval after her unplaced Caulfield Cup run.

The official 2017 Melbourne Cup Field of Final Acceptances is announced from 4:30pm (AEDT) live from Flemington Racecourse post the Victoria Derby Day racing action.

Check out the updated Melbourne Cup odds and back your early tips at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances

Flemington Race 7 (3:00pm) – 07/11/2017