Melbourne Cup favourites draw tough barriers for big race 

Australia’s chance at at Melbourne Cup victory looks hopeful after several top international horses drew wide in Saturday’s barrier selection.

Last year’s winner Almandin retained his spot as the $7 TAB favourite following the draw, however the sporting giant will be forced to jump from barrier 14.

But Irish horse Gallante fared the worst of the bunch after selecting barrier 18, the only number never to have turned out a winner.

Taking out the most successful starting gate of barrier 5, which has recorded eight wins since the race began, was Big Duke.

Similarly popular with seven wins, barrier 11 went to Single Gaze who will be ridden by Kathy O’Hara. 

But top weight Hartnell was pushed further afield, drawing barrier 12 – midway through the pack of 24.

The four furthest barriers went to Red Cardinal (24), Tiberian (23), US Army Ranger (22) and Thomas Hobson (21).

Last year’s winner Almandin (pictured) retained his spot as the $7 TAB favourite following the draw, however the sporting giant will be forced to jump from barrier 14

Taking out the most successful starting gate of barrier 5, which has recorded eight wins since the race began, was Big Duke (pictured at the Schweppes Chairman’s Handicap in April)

Running in his fourth attempt at the prestigious cup, gelding Who Shot Thebarman also drew wide with the same barrier as last year – number 20.  

Equally unlucky was galloper Wall Of Fire who picked up barrier 15, a number that has had just one winner from it in 1973.

The four closest barriers to the railings, meanwhile, were drawn by Bondi Beach (1), Max Dynamite (2), Johannes Vermeer (3) and Rekindling (4).

Strong contender Marmelo wound up with barrier 16, putting him in the middle of the pack for the jump.

But the unfavourable position did little to upset trainer Hughie Morrison, who told The Age he was confident of the 5-year-old.

‘He can run from the front or the back, and two miles is a long way. We have been pretty happy with him the last few days….given a bit of luck he will run well,’ he said.

Eleven overseas horses will compete in the ‘Race that stops the nation’ on Tuesday, but they will be outnumbered by 13 local contenders.

Irish horse Gallante (pictured after winning the Schweppes Sydney Cup in 2016) fared the worst of the bunch after selecting barrier 18, the only number never to have turned out a winner

Top weight Hartnell who is considered a strong contender drew barrier 12 – midway through the pack of 24 (pictured, horses jumping from the barriers on Derby Day)