A ballot exemption for the world’s richest handicap is on offer at Flemington on Saturday with a line-up of Melbourne Cup hopefuls facing off in the 2023 The Bart Cummings.

First Immortal is favourite in the Lexus Bart Cummings 2023 at Flemington this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 3 $500,000 The Lexus Bart Cummings (2520m) is one of the key support acts on a bumper 10-race Turnbull Stakes Day card at Headquarters.

The Bart Cummings winner earns a ballot free ride into the iconic Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) held back at the track on Tuesday November 7.

Almandin (2016) was the last horse to complete The Bart Cummings – Melbourne Cup double and betting on the former this year has First Immortal on top at $3.30 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

First Immortal is currently equal 59^th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry as a $26 shot in all-in markets and is prepared by Mark & Levi Kavanagh.

Mark Kavanagh enjoyed Melbourne Cup success back in 2009 with Shocking and is hoping to have another genuine shot at the two-mile classic this spring with the consistent Churchill four-year-old.

The up-and-comer has won seven of his 13 starts to date and is a genuine Flemington specialist boasting three wins from four starts at the track.

He comes off a big 3.5 length romp home over 2000m at Caulfield carrying 63kg on September 23 and will be airborne back to 54kg in The Bart Cummings.

The favourite has the far outside alley to overcome but has previous winning form up to 2500m and looks a hard to beat fancy.

Three other runners are also under double-figures in The Bart Cummings betting this spring including the $7 second elect Goldman for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.

Jordan Childs rides the Verdi five-year-old who is already assured of a run in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field sitting top of the ballot thanks to his stunning victory in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) back in March.

This prep Goldman has had two runs when ninth in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence and sixth last time out in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes over 2000m.

He is tipped to improve third-up over further on Saturday from a favourable gate returning to Flemington.

Waterhouse & Bott saddle-up three horses in The Bart Cummings field with Goldman joined by Serpentine ($8.50) and Sir Lucan ($15).

The other best in betting at $7.50 is the in-form John O’Shea-trained Athabascan to be ridden by super hoop James McDonald.

The French-bred son of Almanzor chases a third win on the trot having won back-to-back Sydney races over the 2400m in September including most recently the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill.

He makes his Melbourne debut on the weekend and is 41^st on the Melbourne Cup ballot ahead of the event.

Ciaron Maher & David Eustace won last year’s Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip and the stable has four confirmed The Bart Cummings runners on Saturday along with the final emergency United Nations sweating on a start.

The team will be represented by last year’s Melbourne Cup third place-getter High Emocean ($31), Ashrun ($18), Interpretation ($16), and Future History ($14).

Craig Williams has the ride on the promising Showcasing gelding Future History who is lightly-raced chasing his sixth win at career start number 15 notably up in grade but with nice lead-up form and a good gate.

The Bart Cummings 2023 is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 3:50pm (AEDT) on Saturday with the latest markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, available by clicking here.

2023 The Bart Cummings Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.