Preview: Melbourne Cup 2012 - ABC Online

Updated November 04, 2012 14:37:25

The 2012 Melbourne Cup (3,200m) will sport one of the strongest fields ever assembled in the race's 152-year history.

View the field here

The Offsiders panel, featuring the ABC's Gerard Whateley and Barrie Cassidy, alongside Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter and bookmaker Alan Eskander, preview Tuesday's race with only two Australian-bred horses among the 24 vying for glory in the race that stops a nation.

Whateley says he believes 2010 winner Americain will be right in the finish.

"He's a bull of a horse who is still holding his form," Whateley said of the pre-race favourite from France.

"The way he ran away from So You Think (in the 2010 Melbourne Cup)... we know historically how good that form is.

"I expect him to be in front of a third of the field and he'll be something to hold out. These old horses who have proven themselves at the level will repeat and repeat and repeat at the level, at the two miles."

Take a look at Offsiders full preview coverage of the Melbourne Cup

Topweight and defending champion Dunaden will have to overcome a wide draw to win the $6.2 million Cup.

Dunaden drew barrier 16 after the 24-horse field for the Cup was settled on Saturday evening.

Americain is the favourite at $5.50 after drawing 12 for new jockey Damien Oliver, while the Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos firmed in the betting after drawing well with barrier eight.

Below you can find the field for the 152nd running of the Melbourne Cup. Click on the horse's name for its profile.

	Name	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
	1. DUNADEN	Mikel Delzangles	Craig Williams	16	59kg
	2. AMERICAIN	Alain de Royer Dupre	Damien Oliver	12	58kg
	3. JAKKALBERRY	Marco Botti	Colm O'Donoghue	19	55.5kg
	4. RED CADEAUX	Ed Dunlop	Michael Rodd	18	55.5kg
	5. WINCHESTER	John Sadler	Jamie Mott	22	55.5kg
	6. VOILA ICI	Peter Moody	Vlad Duric	13	55kg
	7. CAVALRYMAN	Saeed Bin Suroor	Frankie Dettori	6	54kg
	8. MOUNT ATHOS	Luca Cumani	Ryan Moore	8	54kg
	9. SANAGAS	Bart Cummings	Nicholas Hall	4	54kg
	10. ETHIOPIA	Pat Carey	Rhys McLeod	14	54kg
	11. FIORENTE	Gai Waterhouse	James McDonald	2	53.5kg
	12. GALILEO'S CHOICE	Dermot Weld	Pat Smullen	11	53.5kg
	13. GLENCADAM GOLD	Gai Waterhouse	Tommy Berry	7	53.5kg
	14. GREEN MOON	Robert Hickmott	Brett Prebble	5	53.5kg
	15. MALUCKYDAY	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Jim Cassidy	9	53.5kg
	16. MOURAYAN	Robert Hickmott	Hugh Bowman	3	53.5kg
	17. MY QUEST FOR PEACE	Luca Cumani	Corey Brown	1	53.5kg
	18. NIWOT	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Dwayne Dunn	15	53.5kg
	19. TAC DE BOISTRON	Michael Kent	Olivier Doleuze	21	53.5kg
	20. LIGHTS OF HEAVEN	Peter Moody	Luke Nolen	17	53kg
	21. PRECEDENCE	Bart Cummings	Blake Shinn	20	53kg
	22. UNUSUAL SUSPECT	Michael Kent	Glyn Schofield	23	53kg
	23. ZABEELIONAIRE	Leon Corstens	Craig Newitt	24	52kg
	24. KELINNI	Chris Waller	Glen Boss	10	51kg

Topics: horse-racing, sport, flemington-3031, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted November 04, 2012 13:56:09