Results from the Hotham Handicap by Cup nominees:

DOWNDRAFT (IRE)	24	1st of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$5.5
AZURO (FR)	32	3rd of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$9.5
SIR CHARLES ROAD	27	4th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$9.5
THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ)	23	5th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$6
HUSH WRITER (JPN)	33	6th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$7
WALL OF FIRE (IRE)	36	7th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$14
HAKY (IRE)	30	8th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$8
VALAC (IRE)	34	9th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$26
PATRICK ERIN (NZ)	25	10th of 10	FLEM	2500m Soft7 HOTHAM HCP Group 3 $301,500	@$9.5

Downdraft wins and is into Tuesday's Melbourne Cup with his ballot exemption. Following the forced withdrawals of Marmelo and Ispolini, and the scratching of Angel of Truth, he was in 24th so needed to protect his position. It's been announced that he has not earned a penalty.

Angel of Truth ruined everything. Check out this alternative timeline: After Marmelo and Ispolini were turfed by stewards, Sound was 23rd in the order and elected to skip the Hotham. The Chosen One in 24th needed to run, with the winner otherwise bumping him from the Cup. Both he and Sound were on the same handicap with Sound just ahead with $248,489 of eligible winnings. The Chosen One was close behind with $241,000. He just finished 5th and won $7500, taking his eligible winnings to $248,500. He should have jumped ahead of Sound in the Order and would have made it into the Melbourne Cup field by just $11.

But Angel Of Truth wrecked it on Thursday. Sound could withdraw from the Hotham as he was guaranteed a Melbourne Cup start.

Don't know why The Chosen One ran... Downdraft couldn't leap ahead of him in the prizemoney stakes by coming 2nd. If another horse won the exemption then it would have been Downdraft missing out on the Top 24.


Final declarations, along with rider notifications, are due by 4:30pm today. The barrier draw is set to start at 5:30pm.