Bart Tipped For 11th Cup Win:
Information courtesy of New Zealand TAB

Melbourne Cup maestro Bart Cummings is poised to win his 11th Melbourne Cup with Rogan Josh as the horse demolished the field in Saturdays McKinnon Stakes at Flemington..

Rogan Josh's win saw him vault to the head of betting markets for the $A3 million cup after previously being a 12-1 chance.

The Warrior on the Charge:
The Warrior charged into the Melbourne Cup with a win in Saturdays $A200 000 Saab Quality (2500m) at Flemington forcing his way into the Melbourne Cup field.

The Warrior was given a perfect run by Te Awamutu rider Gary Grylls, who will retain the mount in the Melbourne Cup. It was The Warriors sixth win from 20 starts and boosted his earnings from $101 000 to $263 000

Brew Fizzing:
Last gasp qualifier Brew is set to lead a three pronged assault on the Melbourne Cup for Matamata trainer Mike Moroney. Brew entered the reckoning, and won over champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan when he powered home for an unlucky fifth in yesterday's Saab Quality (2500m) at Flemington.

The effort saw Brew join Maridpour and second coming in the Moroney colours for cup day and set up an intriguing prospect of the now dead champion sire Sir Tristram upstaging his high flying son Zabeel as the cup hero one last time.

Outside starting position for Figurehead:
New Zealand trained horse Figurehead has been given the rank outside starting position of barrier 24 for the Melbourne Cup.

A look at the history books provides relief. Barrier 24 has provided three winners - Colonus (1942), Rain Lover (1968) and Gala Supreme (1973). In earlier years when the fields were bigger, there had been two winners from 25 and one from 27.

Trainer Kay Lane has taken the draw philosophically. Barrier one could have been worse, she said - the horse could end up in a bad place on the rails.

Realistically no one could be happy drawing 24 out of 24 in the worlds richest 3200 - metre handicap, with a stake of $A3 million ($NZ3.82 million).

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