2022 MELBOURNE CUP UPDATE: LUNAR FLARE SCRATCHED, 22 LEFT
2022 MELBOURNE CUP UPDATE: POINT NEPEAN SCRATCHED, 23 LEFT
The world-famous Group 1 $7.75 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) will be run and won on Tuesday afternoon, and below we have our insider 2022 Melbourne Cup tips and best bets on the iconic two-mile showdown.
Lunar Flare has been scratched from the 2022 Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The field is confirmed, barriers are drawn, lead-ups are done and all that is left is for the light to go on at 3:00pm (AEDT) and the horses to do their job at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
With international raiders Deauville Legend and Without A Fight dominant in Melbourne Cup betting, can the locals fight back and keep the ‘Loving Cup’ trophy at home?
Will the mares go back-to-back with the likes of Montefilia and Duais profiling perfectly for a big run in the big race, or will Gold Trip carry the top weight to victory lining-up for his third spring major on the trot?
Find out what stayers we’re tipping in our Melbourne Cup exotics right here then head over to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the top odds on the ‘race that stops a nation’!
To Win: No. 8 Deauville Legend ($3.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
He’s been dominant in Melbourne Cup betting since news this James Ferguson-trained English raider was making the trip down under, and really, what beats him? It’s hard to see the Aussies stop the international raid, and he’ll be given every chance with three-time Melbourne Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy aboard. The four-year-old may be yet to win a Group 1 race, but it’s looking like that will change on Tuesday. Ferguson has been modest in his pre-race commentary, far from declaring the heavily-backed favourite a sure thing, but the money keeps coming. The international form was franked with import El Bodegon (3rd in Europe behind Deauville Legend in the Group 2 Greate Voltigeur at York in August) so good in his third to Anamoe in the Cox Plate, and that is a beacon worth following. This horse has passed all the fitness tests, travelled well and has upside. Not a great price, but a great chance. Aided by the perfect barrier nine draw. BACK DON’T SACK.
To Surprise: No. 11 Young Werther ($34 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Outside of the favourites it’s a pretty open edition of the Cup and Young Werther looks one of the forgotten dangers in the field. Danny O’Brien saddles-up both this gun galloper and his 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare. A five-year-old son of Tavistock to be ridden by Damian Lane, Young Werther ran a solid Cup trial in the Cox Plate when 10th. Better than that sounds. He didn’t get a great run, was strong late at 50/1 and only three lengths beaten. Run before was third to fellow Cup hope Smokin’ Romans in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), always a solid form race for the majors. Sure, he’s only won up to 1500m before and that will turn plenty off him in a field full of proven two-mile horses. He was third however in the 2020 VRC Derby as a 3YO, runner-up in last year’s ATC Derby and has upside. He has only won a Geelong maiden in his 14-start career, but he’s got a terrific Group 1 record and will appreciate the roomier Flemington track. BEST ROUGHIE.
To Feature: No. 1 Gold Trip ($21 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There are so many form lines to consider and horses with claims in the Melbourne Cup 2022, but you cannot leave out Gold Trip even with the 57.5kg top-weight. If successful, he will become the heaviest-weighted Melbourne Cup winner since Makybe Diva (58kg in 2005) who won three of these! The Maher/Eustace stable have had him on the Cup trial all season and he’s had two runs in two spring majors already. The French import, who will have Mark Zahra aboard, remains lightly-raced with the Melbourne Cup just his 16th start. The Outstrip stallion has just the one win on the board to date in a Group 2 over 2200m in France back in June of 2020. He has been competitive in plenty since with a host of elite level placings overseas before coming to Australia including a close third only a length beaten in the Group 1 Saint Cloud in July. Caulfield Cup second two back with this weight, and Cox Plate ninth was a strong trial at WFA when under three lengths beaten down in distance. KEEP SAFE.
*All 2022 Melbourne Cup odds quoted are from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change.
