Thirty-four of the world’s best stayers remain in the mix for the Melbourne Cup 2022 following Monday’s fourth declarations for the iconic two-mile showdown.

Caulfield Cup winner Durston is among the 2022 Melbourne Cup fourth acceptances for the $8 million feature at Flemington on November 1. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The international flavour is back for this year’s Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) with all-in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the famous Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 1 led by raiders Deauville Legend ($5.50) and Loft ($8).

The James Ferguson-trained British raider Deauville Legend was last seen winning a Group 2 over the mile and a half at York back in August and gets into the 162^nd edition of the Melbourne Cup with 55kg.

Three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy is booked to ride this year’s favourite.

McEvoy is out to join Bobbie Lewis and the legendary Harry White, who passed away on the weekend, as history’s only four-time Melbourne Cup winning hoops.

German visitor Loft meanwhile will be ridden by last year’s champion jockey James McDonald who chases back-to-back victories after his success aboard Verry Elleegant in 2021.

The Marcel Weiss-trained Loft is a dual winner over the two miles including a strong 3.3 length victory in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) back in June making him one of the dour stayers in this year’s event.

The internationals occupy the first three lines of pre-field Melbourne Cup betting with the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained York Grand Cup winner Without A Fight, to be ridden by the UK’s William Buick, at $13.

“There is nothing like the Lexus Melbourne Cup anywhere in the world and the journey for both horses and connections over the next eight days will be unlike anything they will ever experience,” Victoria Racing Club Executive General Manager Leigh Jordon said.

“We are thrilled with the way in which this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup field is shaping up and there are so many great stories amongst those chasing the world’s richest handicap.

“International trainers like James Ferguson, Simon and Ed Crisford and Marcel Weiss will make their Flemington debut but they will face some of Australia’s best horsemen and it is very fitting that a new generation of the Cummings family will potentially lead the home team’s defence.”

Adding further intrigue from an international perspective will be the Australian race debuts of the imported Hoo Ya Mal (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) and Camorra (Ben & JD Hayes) with both horses assured of a run sitting eighth and 13^th on the ballot respectively.

The best of the locally-trained Melbourne Cup contingent is Edward Cummings’ Australian Cup – Tancred Stakes winning mare from the autumn Duais ($15) to be ridden by Hugh Bowman.

Last year’s winning trainer Chris Waller returns looking for a second success and has two fourth acceptors in his hunt for another ‘Loving Cup’ trophy.

Roy Higgins Quality winner Crystal Pegasus (22^nd on the Melbourne Cup order of entry) is a roughie hope running first in Wednesday’s Group 3 $500,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m), while the stables best chance lies in Caulfield Cup champion Durston.

Durston made history as the first ever Caulfield Cup emergency to win the mile and a half showdown back on October 15 when ridden by Michael Dee.

Dee partners the Grahame Begg-trained mare Lunar Flare in the Melbourne Cup field, paving the way for Damien Oliver to jump aboard Durston.

Durston carried only 51.5kg in the Caulfield Cup and following a 3.5kg penalty now has 53.5kg in the Melbourne Cup ahead of his shot at the double last completed by Ethereal (2001).

The other best out of the Caulfield Cup among the Melbourne Cup fourth acceptances is the runner-up Gold Trip, $15 for the big one next month, for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.

Gold Trip went around at The Valley in the Group 1 $5 million Cox Plate (2040m) last weekend and finished three lengths back ninth behind the historic Godolphin-raced winner Anamoe, a run he is sure to improve on over further on the first Tuesday of November.

It’s been a decade since the Turnbull Stakes – Melbourne Cup double was completed in the same year, but Maher & Eustace also still have Smokin’ Romans in the mix to be the next.

Seventh in the Caulfield Cup, Smokin’ Romans is out to $31 in the current futures Melbourne Cup markets and has moved up to 23^rd on the order of entry.

Currently sitting right on the cusp of a start in Number 24 is the Michael Moroney-trained Geelong Cup winner Emissary, followed by last year’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes winning mare Realm Of Flowers who jockey Damien Thornton is down to ride should she gain a start.

A final spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field is up for grabs on Victoria Derby Day on Saturday with the winner of the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) exempt from ballot.

Final Lexus Melbourne Cup 2022 acceptances close at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday and the coveted Melbourne Cup barrier draw will take place live from the Mounting Yard at Flemington following the excitement of Victoria Derby Day.

Click here for the latest Melbourne Cup odds on the fourth acceptances thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Melbourne Cup Fourth Acceptances

Table Credit: Racing Australia.