Last year’s winner Almandin and this year’s Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time head up the second acceptances for the 2017 Group 1 $6.25m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7.
Caulfield Cup winner Boom Tie, above, is among the 36 second acceptors for the 2017 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Godolphin owned Hartnell is also a surprise second acceptor for the Melbourne Cup after it was mooted that the seven year old would be targeted towards the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 11 on the last day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Thirty-six horses are still in the contention for the Melbourne Cup following the second acceptances with the Lindsay Park trained Boom Time sitting at the top of the order of entry ahead of the Darren Weir trained Amelie’s Star who booked a spot in ‘The Race That Stops A Nation’ with her win in the Group 3 $300,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 7.
As well as Amelie’s Stars, leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir also has Ladbrokes Cox Plate runner up to Winx, Humidor, Randwick’s St Leger winner Big Duke, Kellstorm and Guardini still in contention.
As well as Almandin, the Lloyd Williams, Robert Hickmott owner-trainer combination have accepted with Bondi Beach, Gallante, Aloft and Foundry while Williams is also a part owner of the Aidan O’Brien trained Johannes Vermeer.
Irish stayer Johannes Vermeer is one of twelve overseas trained horses still in contention for the 2017 Melbourne Cup and is coming off a third behind Boom Time and Single Gaze in the Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21.
English stayer Marmelo ran a slashing trial for the Melbourne Cup with an eye catching sixth in the Caulfield Cup while runner up Single Gaze is also among the second acceptances.
Caulfield Cup winning trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig still have three horses in line for the Melbourne Cup and as well as Boom Time, have Ventura Storm and Harlem.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller, fresh off of a third Ladbrokes Cox Plate win with Winx, has three of his team among the second acceptances, last Saturday’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup quinella Who Shot Thebarman and Libran as well as Alward who is yet to pass the first ballot clause of the Melbourne Cup.
Veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman was back in the winner’s circle for the first time in two years but escaped a penalty for the Melbourne Cup for his win in the Group 2 $300,000 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at The Valley.
The final acceptances for the 2017 Melbourne Cup will be taken at 4:30pm, Melbourne Time, on Saturday November 4.
Early betting for the 2017 Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6.50 Almandin, $7.50 Humidor, $8 Marmelo, $11 Johannes Vermeer, Red Cardinal, Wall Of Fire, $15 Rekindling, $17 Thomas Hobson, Max Dynamite, $21 Big Duke, $26 Amelie’s Star, Harlem, Single Gaze, $31 Tiberian, Boom Time, $34 Nakeeta, Abbey Marie, Jon Snow, Ventura Storm, Who Shot Thebarman, $41 Hartnell, US Army Ranger, Wicklow Brave, Bondi Beach, $51 or better the rest.
The second acceptances for the 2017 Melbourne Cup
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Pen. | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6510×39341 | BOOM TIME | H | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 1 | 53kg | 1.0kg | 7.5 |
| 2 | 214×839410 | AMELIE’S STAR | M | 6 | Darren Weir | 2 | 51kg | – | 7 |
| 3 | x2822x1229 | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 7 | James Cummings | 3 | 57.5kg | – | 2 |
| 4 | 665111×214 | ALMANDIN (GER) | G | 8 | Robert Hickmott | 4 | 56.5kg | – | 3 |
| 5 | 7311×68139 | JON SNOW (NZ) | H | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 5 | 54.5kg | – | 3.5 |
| 6 | 212×681352 | HUMIDOR (NZ) | G | 5 | Darren Weir | 6 | 56kg | – | 3.5 |
| 7 | 242x11711x | TIBERIAN (FR) | H | 6 | Alain Couetil | 7 | 55.5kg | – | 4 |
| 8 | 210×140124 | REKINDLING (GB) | H | 4 | Joseph O’Brien | 8 | 51.5kg | – | 4 |
| 9 | 1132x11x5x | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | G | 6 | Andreas Wohler | 9 | 55kg | – | 4.5 |
| 10 | 232x1521x6 | MARMELO (GB) | H | 5 | Hughie Morrison | 10 | 55kg | – | 4.5 |
| 11 | 2612×05442 | SINGLE GAZE | M | 5 | Nick Olive | 11 | 53kg | – | 5 |
| 12 | 3x45712x23 | JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien | 12 | 54.5kg | – | 5 |
| 13 | 3642×94491 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | G | 9 | Chris Waller | 13 | 54kg | – | 5.5 |
| 14 | 1x2x30x91x | MAX DYNAMITE (FR) | G | 8 | William Mullins | 14 | 54kg | – | 5.5 |
| 15 | 121x5x7620 | VENTURA STORM (IRE) | H | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 15 | 54kg | – | 5.5 |
| 16 | 0x81424440 | WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) | G | 9 | William Mullins | 16 | 54kg | – | 5.5 |
| 17 | x11x330x90 | BONDI BEACH (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 17 | 54kg | – | 5.5 |
| 18 | 428×320386 | US ARMY RANGER (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien | 18 | 53.5kg | – | 6 |
| 19 | 113×550214 | BIG DUKE (IRE) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 19 | 53.5kg | – | 6 |
| 20 | 031x270x07 | GALLANTE (IRE) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 20 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 21 | 746Px61652 | LIBRAN (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 21 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 22 | 22x141x40x | QEWY (IRE) | G | 8 | Charlie Appleby | 22 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 23 | 202x024x1x | NAKEETA (GB) | G | 7 | Iain Jardine | 23 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 24 | 11x6248x22 | WALL OF FIRE (IRE) | H | 5 | Hugo Palmer | 24 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 25 | 8400×72586 | ABBEY MARIE | M | 5 | Michael Kent | 25 | 51.5kg | – | 6.5 |
| 26 | 9P01712x72 | THOMAS HOBSON (GB) | G | 8 | William Mullins | 26 | 52kg | – | 7.5 |
| 27 | 4x386x5158 | HARLEM (GB) | H | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 27 | 51.5kg | 0.5kg | 8.5 |
| 28 | x39x12x139 | ALOFT (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 28 | 51.5kg | – | 8 |
| 29 | 30x33x2410 | FOUNDRY (IRE) | H | 8 | Robert Hickmott | 29 | 51kg | 1.0kg | 8.5 |
| 30 | 2x542x9981 | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney | 30 | 50.5kg | 0.5kg | – |
| 31 | 97860×0496 | PENTATHLON (NZ) | G | 6 | John Wheeler | 31 | 50.5kg | – | 9 |
| 32 | 5223×54165 | COOL CHAP | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 32 | 50kg | – | 9.5 |
| 33 | x232521033 | CISMONTANE (NZ) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 33= | 50kg | – | 9.5 |
| 34 | 1735111636 | KELLSTORM (IRE) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 33= | 50kg | – | 9.5 |
| 35 | x621x02003 | GUARDINI (FR) | H | 7 | Darren Weir | 35 | 53kg | – | 6.5 |
| 36 | 4×54114112 | ALWARD (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 36 | 50kg | – | 9.5 |
