There's plenty more on the 10-race Melbourne Cup day card at Flemington, starting with the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate for two-year-olds at 10:45am.
The Melbourne Cup is the race everyone talks about, but Tuesday's Flemington card has ten races. The first goes at 10:45am and the last at 5:15pm (AEDT). Here's the running order and what to look for.
The running order
- Race 1, 10:45am: Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m), two-year-olds
- Race 2, 11:20am: Benchmark 80 handicap (2000m)
- Race 3, 12:00pm: Listed race for three-year-olds (1800m)
- Race 4, 12:40pm: Schweppervescence Plate (1000m), three-year-olds
- Race 5, 1:20pm: Australian Heritage Cup (2800m), Benchmark 96 handicap
- Race 6, 1:55pm: Listed handicap (1800m)
- Race 7, 3:00pm: Melbourne Cup (3200m), Group 1 handicap
- Race 8, 3:50pm: Listed Amanda Elliott (1400m), three-year-olds
- Race 9, 4:35pm: Group 3 race for mares (1400m)
- Race 10, 5:15pm: Benchmark 90 handicap (1400m)
Maribyrnong Plate opens the day
The Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate is one of the main early-season tests for two-year-olds over the Flemington straight 1000m. Royal Press, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy and ridden by Jye McNeil, heads the early market. Ciaron Maher's Amsterdam, with Mark Zahra aboard, is next in line. It's a small field of nine, so the early speed and the side of the track they head to could decide it.
Staying test before the Cup
The Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) is a high-grade Benchmark 96 staying handicap and often gives a guide to how the track is playing for stayers before the Cup. Watch which part of the track the leaders come down in the straight and whether horses are making ground from back in the field.
Straight sprints
The Maribyrnong Plate and the Schweppervescence Plate are both run down the straight. On Flemington's straight course, the side of the track the field heads to can matter as much as the draw. The early straight races are worth watching closely if you plan to bet later in the day.
The punting angle
Rain is forecast for Monday, and the rating is likely to start in the soft range and may improve through the day. Note the official rating on the morning and track bias in the first few races before you settle on your Cup bets. Fields and prices for the later races will firm up after final scratchings on Tuesday morning.
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