Shocking wins the Melbourne Cup in 2009, one of only four horses since 1994 to do so after racing on Victoria Derby Day. Picture: Darren Tindale Source: The Daily Telegraph
IS Derby Day becoming irrelevant as a guide to the Melbourne Cup?
The Mackinnon Stakes and Lexus Stakes, run at Flemington tomorrow, traditionally have been the most important lead-up races into the Melbourne Cup three days later.
But what was once the norm has become the exception.
Of the top 24 in order of entry for the $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, only two are racing on Derby Day Winchester and Zabeelionaire in the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
The 13 starters in the Group 3 $250,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) are all well down in the Melbourne Cup order of entry although the winner is guaranteed a start.
But how times have changed.
Irish stayer Vintage Crop's 1993 Melbourne Cup triumph not only ushered in the international era, but it has revolutionised how stayers are prepared for the famous Flemington two-miler.
Vintage Crop's final Cup "trial" was his Irish St Leger win on September 18 seven weeks prior to the big race.
Since Vintage Crop, the only Cup winners who raced on Derby Day were Jeune (1994), Rogan Josh (1999), Viewed (2008) and Shocking (2009).
But an examination of Melbourne Cup winners in a 70-year period between 1923 and 1993 shows that no fewer than 58 Melbourne Cup winners raced on Derby Day.
Even the maestro Bart Cummings is discarding his proven formula Melbourne Cup-winning formula by not running Sanagas and Precedence tomorrow.
Cummings has won 12 Melbourne Cups and 11 of those ran on Derby Day Light Fingers (1965), Galilee (1966), Red Handed (1967), Think Big (1975), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Let's Elope (1991), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008) all contested the Mackinnon, while Think Big (1974) and Kingston Rule (1990) lined up in the Lexus Stakes.
The trainer's champion, Saintly, was his only Melbourne Cup winner that didn't race on Derby Day, his final lead-up race being his epic 1996 Cox Plate win.
Cummings is trying to get a third runner into Tuesday's big race when Dare To Dream contests the Lexus Stakes.
English trainer Luca Cumani has Mount Athos and My Quest For Peace already safely into the Melbourne Cup field but he's also looking to get a third runner into the race with either Gatewood or Ibicenco through the Lexus Stakes.
It is unusual for the internationals to race on Derby Day and then back-up three days later.
Gatewood, the Geelong Cup winner, is early favourite for the Lexus Stakes, but part-owner Terry Henderson conceded the stayer is no certainty to run in the Melbourne Cup even if he wins tomorrow.
"We still want to have a horse after the carnival," Henderson said.
"If he comes out and wins the Lexus, and our co-owner George Strawbridge is happy and trainer John Gosden is happy, then will be in a position to consider a run."
Shocking (2009) was the last horse to win Lexus Stakes-Melbourne Cup double. Others to complete the double were White Nose (1931), Dark Felt (1943), Sirius (1944), Foxzami (1949), Baystone (1958), Think Big (1974) and Brew (2000).
Prairie Star and Back In Black need to win the Mackinnon Stakes to force their way into the Melbourne Cup.
The Mackinnon Stakes-Melbourne Cup double has been achieved 16 times, most recently by Let's Elope (19991) and Rogan Josh (1999).
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