2022 Melbourne Cup Field Update: Point Nepean Scratched, 23 Horses Remain

October 31, 2022

2022 Melbourne Cup Field Update: Point Nepean Scratched, 23 Horses Remain

UPDATE: No. 18 Lunar Flare (12) has been scratched from the Melbourne Cup field


Goliath owner Lloyd Williams now has only Serpentine remaining in his hunt for an eighth ‘Loving Cup’ trophy with breaking Melbourne Cup 2022 news that the Robert Hickmott-trained Point Nepean has officially been scratched from Tuesday’s Group 1 $7.75 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) field due to an elevated blood count.

Point Nepean | Photo: Racing Photos | Races.com.au

Point Nepean has been withdrawn from the 2022 Melbourne Cup field with an elevated blood count. Photo: Racing Photos.

With no emergencies allowed for the ‘race that stops a nation’ there will now be only 23 Melbourne Cup horses lining up in the famous Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday afternoon.

Vets made the concerning discovery on Monday morning around the elevated blood results, which could indicate illness or infection, and which subsequently ruled out the five-year-old Camelot entire from the 162nd edition of the world’s richest handicap race.

Irish hoop Wayne Lordan made the long flight to Australia for the ride, but has been left without a shot at Melbourne Cup glory.

Point Nepean was horse No. 21 drawn barrier 20 in the Melbourne Cup field. 

His withdrawal sees the four horses drawn wider than him all move in one position.

Updated 2022 Melbourne Cup Barriers: 

  • No. 3 Knights Order – 24 into 23
  • No. 11 Young Werther – 21 into 20
  • No. 13 Serpentine – 23 into 22
  • No. 20 Tralee Rose – 22 into 21

Among the horses coming in one closer is the fellow Hickmott-trained Serpentine now in barrier 22 to be ridden by John Allen.

Serpentine snuck his way into the field passing the ballot clause at the eleventh hour running a brave second in Saturday’s Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes on Derby Day.

Point Nepean was around $81 as an outsider in Melbourne Cup betting at the time of his withdrawal, the same price Serpentine is currently paying for an upset.

UK raider Deauville Legend remains hot favourite in the markets at firming Melbourne Cup odds of $3.60 through Ladbrokes.com.au drawn in barrier nine with three-time winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

Anthony & Sam Freedman‘s light-weight mare Realm Of Flowers with 50kg has been heavily supported and is now into single-figures at $9.50.

The six-year-old daughter of So You Think was last seen running a close third in Sydney’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m).

Click here for the updated Melbourne Cup markets from Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Melbourne Cup Field & Barriers

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 52x3x33529 GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 14 57.5kg 119
2 96117×0688 DUAIS Edward Cummings Hugh Bowman 10 55.5kg 116
3 x3521x1343 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 24 (into 23) 55.5kg 114
4 14x718x434 MONTEFILIA David Payne Jason Collett 11 55.5kg 116
5 x60211x225 NUMERIAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham Tommy Berry 7 55.5kg 114
6 11x20311x2 WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Simon & Ed Crisford William Buick 18 55.5kg 113
7 3217x551x8 CAMORRA (IRE) Ben & JD Hayes Ben Melham 17 55kg 113
8 4x2x12121x DEAUVILLE LEGEND (IRE) James Ferguson Kerrin McEvoy 9 55kg 117
9 127×964418 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 2 54kg 114
10 x8x00x5356 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien Blake Shinn 4 54kg 111
11 32x528x430 YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) Danny O’Brien Damian Lane 21 (into 20) 54kg 110
12 312×322318 HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Craig Williams 15 53.5kg 114
13 786x0x0902 SERPENTINE (IRE) Robert Hickmott John Allen 23 (into 22) 53.5kg 104
14 111213×070 DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) Phillip Stokes Daniel Moor 13 53kg 108
15 2516x7x594 GRAND PROMENADE (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 1 53kg 108
16 2721712382 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 19 52.5kg 106
17 53x35x1581 EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney Patrick Moloney 3 51.5kg 0.5kg 106
18 1156×46612 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 12 51.5kg 0.5kg 105
19 2219×92117 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Jamie Kah 16 51.5kg 1.5kg 114
20 x33219x700 TRALEE ROSE (NZ) Symon Wilde Dean Yendall 22 (into 21) 51.5kg 106
21 x7x2111x90 POINT NEPEAN (IRE) Robert Hickmott Wayne Lordan 20 51kg 106
22 9x25x34161 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Teo Nugent 8 50kg 102
23 11144×6536 INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Newitt 6 50kg 100
24 51x006x033 REALM OF FLOWERS Anthony & Sam Freedman Damien Thornton 5 50kg 104

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