Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor has missed out on a Melbourne Cup start with the Victoria Racing Club declining to promote him into the field.Trainer Danny O'Brien, who has Master O'Reilly in the field, took the gamble not to run Vigor in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes but he missed out by one place.Efficient, who won the race in 2007, and stablemate Zipping who was a late scratching from the Mackinnon when he became cast in his barrier, were not among the final acceptors.European contender Kirklee
Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor has missed out on a Melbourne Cup start with the Victoria Racing Club declining to promote him into the field.
Trainer Danny O'Brien, who has Master O'Reilly in the field, took the gamble not to run Vigor in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes but he missed out by one place.
Efficient, who won the race in 2007, and stablemate Zipping who was a late scratching from the Mackinnon when he became cast in his barrier, were not among the final acceptors.
European contender Kirklees was also withdrawn on Saturday but that was still not enough to get Vigor in the field.
Shocking, winner of Saturday's Lexus Stakes, was already safely in the Cup and ended the hopes of others in the qualifying race.
The VRC committee did not announce the make-up of the field until just before the barrier draw after deliberating for almost two hours.
Victoria Derby-winning jockey Corey Brown will now ride Shocking after having a booking for Vigor.
"I didn't mind which horse I rode, they are both good mounts," Brown said.
However, he will have to be at his best on Shocking who drew barrier 22 and eased from $8 to $11 with TAB Sportsbet.
"It will have to be a good ride from Corey from there," trainer Mark Kavanagh said.
Bart Cummings' trio fared reasonably with 2008 winner Viewed to start from gate nine, Allez Wonder from 13 and Roman Emperor from 15.
Viewed and Alcopop (barrier 12) remained the $5.50 equal favourites after the draw ahead of Roman Emperor at $8.
After the non-acceptances of Efficient due to a recurring injury and Zipping, owner Lloyd Williams will have just one runner, 2008 third-placed C'est La Guerre who drew barrier seven.
"We've had a bad day but Dad's got his godson (Nick Hall) riding him and let's hope for the dream," Williams' son Nick said.
"We've still got one, we've still got a chance, only one horse can win the race.
"Let's hope we've got the one to do it.
"He's not going as well as last year but the vets have assured us that the horse will start this race 100 per cent fit."
Shares in European Basaltico changed hands on Saturday with Simon O'Donnell and the OTI syndicate, who raced last year's runner-up Bauer, now in the ownership.
Basaltico is trained by Luca Cumani who has produced the last two second placegetters, Bauer and Purple Moon.
Although Bart Cummings appears to hold the ace hand, son Anthony is happy with his runner Zavite who drew gate three.
Proven over 3200 metres in the Adelaide Cup, Zavite finished just over six lengths ninth in the Caulfield Cup won by Viewed who was third to Scenic Shot in Saturday's Mackinnon.
"I'm happy with him and happy with barrier three," Cummings said.
"That gives us options.
"But if I wasn't training my horse then Viewed would be the one I'd want to be on."