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’.

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 26^th on the order of entry.

Mullins already has guaranteed starters in Max Dynamite and Wicklow Brave sitting 13^th and 16^th 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 22^nd.

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