SECOND declarations for the Melbourne Cup close on Monday and the squeeze is itensifying for the final spots in the $6.2 million nation-stopping race. As usual the Cup landscape can shift dramatically as the past 24 hours have shown, reports Racing Network.
One-time Cup favorite Puissance De Lune won’t be Cup bound as he pulled up lame after the Cox Plate while Lloyd Williams declared that Tanby, one of seven horses he has left in the Cup, won’t be a starter.
But, Super Cool, Foreteller and Glencadam Gold, all considered unlikely runners could be surprise acceptors at 10 am tomorrow.
Mark Kavanagh was non-committal about Super Cool, which finished fifth in a Cox Plate he would thought a week ago he would have won with Atlantic Jewel.
Kavanagh said he thought Super Cool ran bravely and his sectional splits were good.
“I thought he ran well, he just didn’t have much luck from a wide alley,” Kavanagh said.
If Super Cool does run in the Cup it could be ridden by Corey Brown, who teamed with Kavanagh to win the Melbourne Cup with Shocking.
Chris Waller described as “doubtful” whether Foreteller, a fast-finishing fourth in the Cox Plate, would progress to the Melbourne Cup, but added it had not been entirely ruled out.
Gai Waterhouse will work Glencadam Gold tomorrow morning, a gallop that will determine if he is among those horses who press on towards the Cup.
Waterhouse already has Cup favorite Fiorente and former French stayer Tres Blue in the Cup.
Apart from track accidents, Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes and Lexus Stake are the final two chances for horses currently below the curt off point for the Cup to catapult into the race.