23 horses passed fit to start in the Melbourne Cup as Damien OIiver’s last ride in doubt

On Monday afternoon, RV said: “Veterinarians today completed their second round of pre-race physical veterinary inspections of all starters in tomorrow’s $8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.

“As communicated earlier, when inspected today the Mike Moroney-trained Alenquer continued to show signs of soreness in the near fore foot as a result of the stone bruise reported yesterday.

“The horse will be re-examined by RV veterinarians tomorrow morning prior to final scratching time (7.30am) to determine its suitability to race. The remaining 23 horses have been passed as suitable to race tomorrow.”

• Melbourne Cup favourite backed to win more than $3 million

Damien Oliver is set to have his last ride in the Melbourne Cup on Alenqeur so he will have to wait until Tuesday morning to know his fate.

On Monday, Oliver said: “What will be will be”.

“I spoke to Mike (Moroney) this morning, he seems pretty confident he’ll get there, who knows, with feet it’s a day to day thing, it’s not like a tendon or a bone injury, one day they’re not so good and next day they can be OK,” Oliver said.

“It’s all timing, if I’m going to have a ride I want to be riding on a fit, healthy horse, if the horse isn’t right it’s not right, I’ve ridden in enough Melbourne Cups to not just have a ride for the sake of having a ride, I know it’s my last, but you want the horse to be right if he’s going to go there.

“Pretty philosophical about, I’ve been in it long enough to see the ups and downs and what will be will be.”

• ‘He just wins’: They may as well present the Melbourne Cup now

On Monday, Vauban remains favourite at $4.60, however, he has drifted from $3.60.

His stablemate, Absurde, to be ridden by Zac Purton, has been the big shortener in the race, firming from $21 into $10.

French raider Lastotchka has firmed from $23 to $18 on Monday.

Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban drew barrier three for the $8.4 million 3200m Group 1, flanked by reigning champion Gold Trip (two) and Soulcombe (four).

Without A Fight fared the worst of the main players, drawn out in barrier 16.

• Racenet’s Melbourne Cup Online Sweep Generator

Champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who only arrived in Melbourne on Saturday morning, declared Vauban his “strongest chance ever” to win the Melbourne Cup.

• Expert tips for the 2023 Melbourne Cup

Mullins placed twice in the Cup previously with Max Dynamite.

“I think he’s (Vauban) as good as Max Dynamite and maybe better, we’ll find that out on Tuesday,” Mullins said.

“It’s our strongest chance ever, probably will be my strongest chance ever.

“We wouldn’t want to forget Absurde either… he’s quarantined very well and I think he’s in great shape.”

• Melbourne Cup horses

Mullins would not be drawn on tactics for Tuesday, happy two of the world’s best jockeys, Ryan Moore and Zac Purton, to navigate the race.

• How one awkward comment reunited Gai Waterhouse and Lloyd Williams

Gold Trip’s co-trainer Ciaron Maher said: “I was hoping he’d be out in the middle (barriers) somewhere as he likes to get out a bit it.”

“Still, you never pass up a good gate and the horse is well… he’s better than last year but I think he needs to be. I think the race is stronger, the track is going to be firmer and he’s going to have a bit more weight.

“He needs to be going better to win but I think he is.”

Emerging barrier rogue Soulcombe blew the start by four lengths in the Caulfield Cup.

“We have taken the blinkers off ... from that draw if he can begin he is going to be right in it,” Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said of Soulcombe.

“He has drawn a beautiful barrier, now it is down to the horse.”

• Why owner of Vauban won’t be watching the Melbourne Cup

- additional reporting by Brad Waters and Glenn McFarlane

■ The Melbourne Cup is race 7 on Tuesday’s program and the starter is set to let them fly at 3pm.

Here is the field and barrier draw for the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

No. - Horse - Trainer - Jockey - Barrier - Weight
1 - GOLD TRIP - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - James McDonald - 2 - 58.5kg
2 - ALENQUER - Michael Moroney - Damien Oliver - 9 - 56.5kg
3 - WITHOUT A FIGHT - Anthony & Sam Freedman - Mark Zahra - 16 - 56.5kg
4 - BREAKUP - Tatsuya Yoshioka - Kohei Matsuyama - 18 - 55kg
5 - VAUBAN - Willie Mullins - Ryan Moore - 3 - 55kg
6 - SOULCOMBE - Chris Waller - Joao Moreira - 4 - 53.5kg
7 - ABSURDE - Willie Mullins - Zac Purton - 8 - 53kg
8 - RIGHT YOU ARE - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - John Allen - 15 - 53kg
9 - VOW AND DECLARE - Danny O‘Brien - Billy Egan - 19 - 53kg
10 - CLEVELAND - Kris Lees - Michael Dee - 23 - 52kg
11 - ASHRUN - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Kerrin McEvoy - 11 - 51.5kg
12 - DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR - Phillip Stokes - Daniel Stackhouse - 12 - 51.5kg
13 - OKITA SOUSHI - Joseph O‘Brien - Dylan Gibbons (a) - 20 - 51.5kg
14 - SHERAZ - Chris Waller - Beau Mertens - 22 - 51.5kg
15 - LASTOTCHKA - Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) - Craig Williams - 21 - 51kg
16 - MAGICAL LAGOON - Chris Waller - Mark du Plessis - 7 - 51kg
17 - MILITARY MISSION - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Rachel King - 5 - 51kg
18 - SERPENTINE - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Jye McNeil - 1 - 51kg
19 - VIRTUOUS CIRCLE - Liam Howley - Craig Newitt - 6 - 51kg
20 - MORE FELONS - Chris Waller - Jamie Kah - 24 - 50.5kg
21 - FUTURE HISTORY - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Hollie Doyle - 13 - 50kg
22 - INTERPRETATION - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Teo Nugent - 17 - 50kg
23 - KALAPOUR - Kris Lees - Zac Lloyd (a) - 14 - 50kg
24 - TRUE MARVEL - Matthew Smith - Ben Thompson - 10 - 50kg

Originally published as 23 horses passed fit to start in the Melbourne Cup as Damien OIiver’s last ride in doubt