Predicted 2017 Melbourne Cup Field: Moreira in Danger

November 2, 2017

Predicted 2017 Melbourne Cup Field: Moreira in Danger

Update: Qewy has been ruled out of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Field. 

Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira is in danger of missing out on a ride in the Melbourne Cup 2017 field with his mount Thomas Hobson right on the cusp of a start in the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’.

Joao Moreira

Hong Kong-based Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira is on standby to ride the William Mullins-trained Thomas Hobson in the 2017 Melbourne Cup field should the raider make the line-up. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.

Punters are eagerly tracking the latest news on the confirmed Melbourne Cup horses and hoops ahead of the iconic Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 7.

There are still officially 36 entries for the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) this spring, but only 24 horses will make the starting line-up.

Earlier in the week two of the runners inside the top 24 on the Melbourne Cup ballot were listed as unlikely final acceptors.

The track record breaking win by Qewy for Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby on Wednesday in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) however brings last year’s Melbourne Cup fourth placed raider back into contention.

A final decision by Appleby from the UK and the team on Qewy will be announced on Friday.

Gallante’s chances of becoming one of a possible seven Melbourne Cup horses for the race’s record holding owner Lloyd Williams depends on the weather.

Williams, who won his fifth ‘Loving Trophy’ with Almandin in 2016, said a wet Flemington track would guarantee known mudlark Gallante a chance to improve on his unplaced effort in last year’s Melbourne Cup results.

That has flattened the hopes of Irish trainer Williams Mullins of adding a third Melbourne Cup runner to his contingent with Thomas Hobson 26th on the order of entry.

Mullins already has guaranteed starters in Max Dynamite and Wicklow Brave sitting 13th and 16th on the ballot.

Thomas Hobson though needs luck and a decent attrition rate to make the field, the dour stayer not set to race between now and Melbourne Cup Day.

The veteran eight-year-old son of Halling could be pushed even further down the ballot order should the winner of Saturday’s Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) on Derby Day be one of the eight hopefuls sitting outside the safe top 24 chasing the Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.

Runner-up in 2015 behind Darren Weir’s triple-figure winner Prince Of Penzance, Max Dynamite pays $15 in the latest all-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to go one better two years on.

Jockey Zac Purton has been locked in as the rider aboard Max Dynamite this season, while the horse’s 2015 hoop Frankie Dettori rides the defending champion and $6.50 favourite Almandin.

Mullins is yet to lock in a rider for Wicklow Brave who the controversial globetrotter Dettori rode out wide in last year’s race eventually finishing right back in 22nd.

The ‘Magic Man’ Moreira meanwhile is on standby for the ride on Thomas Hobson, the Hong Kong-based hoop having been aboard last year’s narrow runner-up Heartbreak City.

The final Melbourne Cup acceptances close at 4:30pm (AEDT) and will be announced live along with the Melbourne Cup barrier draw from Flemington Racecourse on VRC Derby Day this Saturday.

Before then head to Ladbrokes.com.au and lock in the generous all-in prices on offer for the likely Melbourne Cup 2017 horses.

2017 Melbourne Cup Horses

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

Ballot Horse Wgt (kg) Jockey Trainer
1 BOOM TIME 53 Cory Parish David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
2 AMELIE’S STAR 51 Dean Yendall Darren Weir
3 HARTNELL (GB) 57.5 Damian Lane James Cummings
4 ALMANDIN (GER) 56.5 Frankie Dettori Robert Hickmott
5 JON SNOW (NZ) 54.5 Stephen Baster Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
6 HUMIDOR (NZ) 56 Blake Shinn Darren Weir
7 TIBERIAN (FR) 55.5 Olivier Peslier Alain Couetil
8 REKINDLING (GB) 51.5 Corey Brown Joseph O’Brien
9 RED CARDINAL (IRE) 55 Kerrin McEvoy Andreas Wohler
10 MARMELO (GB) 55 Hugh Bowman Hughie Morrison
11 SINGLE GAZE 53 Kathy O’Hara Nick Olive
12 JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) 54.5 Ben Melham Aidan O’Brien
13 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) 54 Tommy Berry Chris Waller
14 MAX DYNAMITE (FR) 54 Zac Purton William Mullins
15 VENTURA STORM (IRE) 54 Glen Boss David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
16 WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) 54 TBA William Mullins
17 BONDI BEACH (IRE) 54 TBA Robert Hickmott
18 US ARMY RANGER (IRE) 53.5 TBA Joseph O’Brien
19 BIG DUKE (IRE) 53.5 Brenton Avdulla Darren Weir
20 GALLANTE (IRE) 53 TBA Robert Hickmott
21 LIBRAN (IRE) 53 Dwayne Dunn Chris Waller
22 QEWY (IRE) – RULED OUT 53 TBA Charlie Appleby
23 NAKEETA (GB) 53 Glyn Schofield Iain Jardine
24 WALL OF FIRE (IRE) 53 Craig Williams Hugo Palmer
25 ABBEY MARIE 51.5 Michael Kent
26 THOMAS HOBSON (GB) 52 Joao Moreira William Mullins
27 HARLEM (GB) 51.5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
28 ALOFT (IRE) 51.5 Robert Hickmott
29 FOUNDRY (IRE) 51 Robert Hickmott
30 VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) 50.5 Michael Moroney
31 PENTATHLON (NZ) 50.5 John Wheeler
32 COOL CHAP 50 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
=33 CISMONTANE (NZ) 50 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
=33 KELLSTORM (IRE) 50 Darren Weir
35 GUARDINI (FR) 53 Darren Weir
36 ALWARD (IRE) 50 Chris Waller

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