1

Admire Rakti

Impressive winner of the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on 18 October at first start in Australia. Not won at 3200m but ran 3.5 lengths 2nd to Gold Ship in 3000m Hanshin Daishoten in March and was one length 4th to Gentildonna in last year's Japan Cup. Tough with top-weight but too good to dismiss.

2

Cavalryman

Godolphin visitor who's won three of five starts in 2014. Won the Goodwood Cup at this distance in July before 2.8 lengths 4th to Pale Mimosa in 3280m Lonsdale Cup at York on 22 August.

3

Fawkner

Ran sixth, beaten six lengths, with 120lb in last year's Melbourne Cup. Form since has been very strong. Impressive winner of 2000m Caulfield Stakes before short neck 2nd to Ballydoyle raider Adelaide in last Saturday's 2040m G1 Cox Plate.

4

Red Cadeaux

Remarkable nine-year-old but no horse of that age has won the Cup. However he's run second in this race in 2011 and 2013 and was 8th in 2012 so can hardly be written off.

5

Protectionist

Sound winner of the Prix Kergorlay (3000m) on soft ground at Deauville on 24 August. Very good at Australian debut on good ground when 0.9 lengths 4th to Big Memory in 2400m Herbert Power Stakes on 11 October. Conceded weight to all rivals in that race.

6

Sea Moon

2012 Hardwicke Stakes winner in the UK. One win in eight Australian starts was in the 2013 Herbert Power Hcp at 2400m. Pulled up with soreness after failing to beat a runner home when 9 lengths last of 18 behind Admire Rakti in the G1 Caulfield Cup.

7

Seismos

Came into calculations for this with neck win over Willing Foe in the 2655m Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on 16 August. Slow pace against at Australian debut when 5.1 lengths 15th to Admire Rakti in Caulfield Cup. One paced. Soft ground would assist.

8

Junoob

In-form galloper who won the Hill Stakes at 2000m on 20 September before solid half length win over Opinion and Araldo in the G1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on 4 October and 2.25 lengths 7th to Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup.

9

Royal Diamond

Johnny Murtagh trained visitor who ran 2nd in Irish St Leger trial on 24 August before 12.3 lengths 6th to Brown Panther in the St Leger on quicker ground on 14 September. Has good record at 3200m.

10

Gatewood

Won the Geelong Cup in 2012 when previously raced in Australia. Trained here for a time but then returned to John Gosden in UK. Won over 2500m at Deauville on soft ground on 10 August before head 2nd to Cocktail Queen in the 2500m Prix de Deauville on 31 August.

11

Mutual Regard

Second runner for Johnny Murtagh. Winner at 3200m at The Curragh in June before 3.8 lengths 3rd to Pale Mimosa in the 2800m Challenge Stakes and 1.3 lengths win over (Lord) Van Percy in the 2800m Ebor Handicap at York on 23 August.

12

Who Shot Thebarman

Scored successive wins at 2000m and 2520m at this track before below best with 4 lengths 13th to Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup. Vet diagnosed mucus in trachea post-race. Winner at 3200m.

13

Willing Foe

Newbury 2655 winner in May 2013 before break and neck 2nd to Seismos in 2655m Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury in August and 8 lengths 4th to Brown Panther in 2800m Irish St Leger on 14 September.

14

My Ambivalent

Roger Varian trained visitor who was ruled out of Caulfield Cup with hoof problem. Third behind Cirrus Des Aigles and Flintshire in the 2409m Coronation Cup at Epsom in June before 4.3 lengths 4th to Thistle Bird when back in trip for 2000m Pretty Polly Stakes on 29 June.

15

Precedence

Trained by Bart Cummings who seeks a 13th Melbourne Cup winner. Finished 8th, 9th and 11th in three previous attempts at this race. Satisfactory effort last Saturday when 5 lengths 5th to Prince Of Penzance in 2500m MV Cup.

16

Brambles

Racing well. Finished 0.6 lengths 3rd to Lucia Valentina in 2000m Turnbull Stakes at this track before sound on-pace 1.1 lengths 4th to Admire Rakti in the 2400m Caulfield Cup on 18 October. Satisfactory final tune-up on Saturday when 6.75 lengths 9th to Happy Trails in 2000m Gr 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

17

Mr O'Ceirin

Fair effort last time when 4.8 lengths 7th to Mourinho in 2025m Cranbourne Cup. Wants this longer trip now and would be advantaged if the ground is rain affected.

18

Au Revoir

Made Australian debut last Saturday when 1.75 lengths 3rd to Prince Of Penzance in MV Cup at 2500m. Every chance on that occasion but may well be improved by the run.

19

Lidari

Raced handy and held on well when 2.15 lengths 6th to Admire Rakti in the G1 Caulfield Cup after good 2nd to Lucia Valentina at 2000m this track. Flemington record sound.

20

Opinion

Strong performance when 0.5 lengths 2nd to Junoob in the G1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick. Then slow pace against when 5.1 lengths 6th to Prince Of Penzance in 2500m MV Cup last Saturday. Second in Sydney Cup this year at only 3200m run.

21

Araldo

Two sound closing performances at past two starts. Finished 1.3 lengths 3rd to Junoob in the G1 The Metropolitan (2400m) before came from last to finish 1.4 lengths 5th to Admire Rakti in the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

22

Lucia Valentina

Quality mare who won the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at this track before strong finishing 0.9 lengths 3rd to Admire Rakti in the 2400m Caulfield Cup running quickest last 600m in the race.

23

Unchain My Heart

Likely to be big odds after 8.15 lengths 9th to Big Memory in Herbert Power Stakes and 8.85 lengths 17th to Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup but is a 3200m winner at this track.

24

Signoff

Had to win the Gr 3 Lexus Stakes on Saturday to secure a place in the field and he did that in dazzling style, with Joao Moreira up, winning by 2.5 lengths from Big Memory. Drops in weight for this and likely to run very well.