'The system' is just a collation of form factors that were supposed to shortlist the winner. 2017 was the first year and it was applied retroactively. The form factors were noted ahead of time and after the race I went back expecting to discover how useless they were, but the winner Rekindling was the only horse to have ticked off every factor (from memory, only he, Almandin and Wicklow Brave - the latter two whom could be ruled out by age - also had the 17 Conduit Mare Stamina figure).

Last year was the first time it was used to forecast the result. You can't see it on last year's thread now unfortunately: I posted it as an image and the hosting site has since shut down. I'm certain though (I think someone comments this in the thread) that the first four were among the total of 7 horses in the table that had either full points or were only one off. Cross Counter was one of the horses who had lost one point, but he was the only one of the seven who also had 17 Stamina.

As far as how to use the data in the table this year: unfortunately there are too many good candidates for it to be of much use this time! For an interest wager you could place a Win bet for Raymond Tusk, Downdraft or Surprise Baby: they're on the top two rungs + have a 17 Stamina figure.

It's probably more helpful as a means to help your own decision-making in coming up with a shortlist.


Here's another system which might leave a smaller number of candidates: "Aspro's Melbourne Cup System", presumably soon to be posted by Racing & Sports:

Rule 1 - List any Cup acceptor placed in either the Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes (now irrelevant moved to finals day)
Mer De Glace, Vow And Declare, Mirage Dancer

Rule 2 - List any Cup acceptor placed 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup
Downdraft

Rule 3 - List any acceptor who was placed 1-2-3 in the Melbourne Cup at their last cup run
Cross Counter, Prince Of Arran

Rule 4 - List the Lexus Stakes winner
Downdraft

Rule 5 - Delete any horse whose last run in the Melbourne Cup was an unplaced run.
N/A

Rule 6 - Delete any horse who is aged 3yo or 7yo or older.
Bye, Prince Of Arran


So per this system, the winner comes from: Mer De Glace, Vow And Declare, Mirage Dancer, Downdraft, or Cross Counter.


Combine it with our 'the system' and the winner is "clearly" one of Downdraft and Vow And Declare. ...though you'll note that there's no way for a debuting foreign raider to be a selection per Aspro, so his system would have misfired the previous two years. Per 'the system', the best foreign debuting candidates are Master Of Reality and Latrobe. Box these 4 candidates for trifecta and first fours? Standout Downdraft - the only one of these with a 17 Stamina figure - for the win, if you're a strong believer.

I thought Marmelo was going to win this year, to be honest. So I was fully prepared for 'the system' to fail and was likely going to bet against it. That's how much confidence I have in its selections! LOL