Third acceptances were due this morning for Melbourne Cup nominees. 42 remain in the hunt to be among the 24 that line up on racing day. The current Order of Entry is available here: https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/rv/2...ry-as-at-oct-28

Final acceptances will be taken this Saturday and then the top 35 of those remaining will undergo a vet check to see if they'll be right to race on the following Tuesday.

Dropping out at this stage are:
ALFARRIS (FR)
ATTENTION RUN (GER)
AVILIUS (GB)
BIG DUKE (IRE)
ETYMOLOGY
GLORY DAYS (NZ)
HOMESMAN (USA)
HUMIDOR (NZ)
KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE)
MASTER OF WINE (GER)
MR QUICKIE
RED CARDINAL (IRE)
SHRAAOH (IRE)
SUPERNOVA (GB)
TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ)
VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ)
WOLFE (JPN)
YUCATAN (IRE)

There are two remaining chances for those currently aside the Top 24 (asides from those above them dropping out through illness/injury).

The first of these is Wednesday's Bendigo Cup. There's a chance to earn a penalty or earn enough prizemoney to leap ahead of others. Those Cup nominees who have accepted for the race:
ANGEL OF TRUTH¹²
BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB)³⁷ - needs 2kg penalty
PATRICK ERIN (NZ)²⁸ - needs 0.5kg penalty
RAHEEN HOUSE (IRE)³⁰ - needs 1kg penalty
SULLY (NZ)⁴¹ - needs 3.5kg penalty

Acceptances for this race were due ahead of the release of the new Order of Entry.

The final chance for nominees is the Hotham Handicap/Lexus Stakes this Saturday, where the winner will receive the final ballot exemption. 28 have nominated for the race so far. Prizemoney for 2nd or worse won't be enough for those on the same handicap as 24th-placed Neufbosc to progress. It will be win and you're in.

Nominations close for this race on Wednesday at noon. Of those who have accepted for the Ballarat Cup: Brimham Rocks and Patrick Erin have already nominated (as has Angel of Truth, who is safely in the field and will probably just run at Ballarat for a tune-up if at all). Neither Raheen House or Sully are yet to nominate. Sully will have to run in the Hotham and cop the Ballarat Cup scratching fee; perhaps Raheen House will try their luck at Ballarat given the smaller task. Only 18 will make the final field of the Hotham, so that may make some decisions. There's only 4 hours between acceptances for the Hotham being announced and the start of the Ballarat Cup.


As anticipated, Hunting Horn did not receive a penalty for his win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Nor did Master of Wine for his first ballot clause passing-win in the Tattersalls Cup.