Owner Lloyd Williams has added blinkers to his imported English stayer Sea Moon to try to enhance his chances in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Sea Moon will wear blinkers in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Sea Moon was touted as a good Melbourne Cup prospect last year before finishing thirteenth to the Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorente.

And the imported seven year old has only saluted once from eight starts for the Robert Hichmott  stable with a win in the Group 2 $220,000 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield prior to last year’s Melbourne Cup.

Sea Moon has had two runs leading up to this year’s big ‘two miler’ and ran a fair race when a first up fifth to Who Shot Thebarman in the  Group 3 $150,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington on October 4.

But then after connections decided to go forward from the outside barrier in the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 18, Sea Moon overraced in front and faded in the straight to finish at the tail of the field.

No doubt Team Williams will be hoping for better luck for Sea Moon at the Melbourne Cup barrier draw so he could be ridden in a quitter manner to give him every chance to ran home at the finish.

Tommy Berry takes the ride on Sea Moon, replacing Steven Arnold who will ride the Johnny Murtagh trained Irish stayer Royal Diamond.

Team Williams will also be represented with the 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner who is racing in top form and is high up in the market order after winning the Group 1 $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 before finishing second to Adelaide in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Regular rider Nick Hall will ride Fawkner in the Melbourne Cup.

Team Williams were denied a third runner with 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon not making the final field because of an hoof injury.

Sea Moon is marked as one of the outsiders in the latest Melbourne Cup market order with Ladbrokes.com.au at $101.

Japanese stayer Admire Rakti has maintained his spot at the top of the betting at $5 since his win in the Caulfield Cup with Lucia Valentina the second pick at $7.

German stayer Protectionist is next in the market order at $7.50 ahead of the well backed Signoff who is now an $8 chance after winning the Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington today.