Only 20 Australian-bred entries have been nominated though some of them have the credentials to be a force, most notably dual Derby winner Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) and two of Australia's Group 1-winning fillies from last season, Zardozi (Kingman) and Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun).
There is also $35,000 yearling The Map (Alpine Eagle), who although modestly-bred, is guaranteed a run in the race thanks to her win in the Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m), which carries a golden ticket entry into the Cup.
Her's is a story likely to capture the non-racing public's attention if she does make it into the Cup field.
Some of the other Aussie-bred entries appear more in need of a miracle to make it to the starting stalls on November 5 with their connections content to risk the $1500 entry fee and try and be this year's fairytale story.
DUNLEER LAD
Dundeel (NZ) x Clementine (Octagonal (NZ))
Amy Small is yet to have a runner as a trainer, but that did not stop her throwing in an entry for her recent stable acquisition, who she bought for $1750 on Inglis Digital earlier this year. A son of Dundeel and the Octagonal mare Clementine, the five-year-old has had six starts and is yet to record a top-four finish.
RED ACES
Dundeel (NZ) x Cardiac (Encosta de Lago)
The Nick Ryan-trained colt by Dundeel out of the Encosta De Lago mare Cardiac is in the running to become the first three-year-old to contest the Melbourne Cup since Arena in 1998. Bred by Musk Creek Farm in Victoria, the $380,000 Inglis Premier purchase has only had two starts; a third placing over 1300 metres at Seymour before a strong win in the 1800-metre Byerley Handicap at Flemington on July 20.
SENTIMENTAL FLAME
Kermadec (NZ) x Sentimental Star (More Than Ready (USA))
The Travis Doudle-trained four-year-old was bred by Grant and Alana Williams in Western Australia and was sold for $150,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. By Kermadec, a son of three-time Melbourne Cup-winning sire Teofilo, and out of the More Than Ready mare Sentimental Star, her two wins have come in a 1200-metre Gawler maiden and a 1550-metre Benchmark 66 for three-year-olds at Morphettville but she was placed in last year's Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m).
THINK 'N' FLY
So You Think (NZ) x Gliding (Flying Spur)
Mornington trainer David Noonan probably didn't think he'd be paying up for the Melbourne Cup for the So You Think gelding when he paid $15,000 for him late last year, but then he also probably didn't expect he would have already paid for himself almost 10 times over. Out of the Flying Spur mare Gliding, the eight-year-old was a $100,000 yearling after being bought out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at Inglis Premier Yearling Sale all the way back in 2018 and has had 48 starts for seven wins and 13 minor placings.
WAY UP HIGH
Last Typhoon x Nitrox (Lucky Owners (NZ))
The Greg Galt homebred is one of 16 named-foals from the first crop of Last Typhoon, a son of Winx's sire Street Cry out of the former Australian Horse of the Year, Typhoon Tracy, who produced only 76 foals from his first six seasons at stud. Out of the Lucky Owners mare Nitrox, Way Up High has won four races but had her 24th start in Benchmark 70 over 2400 metres at Sandown on Wednesday and could only manage fourth.
The other Australian-bred horses among the Melbourne Cup entries are Alegron, Aurora's Symphony, Don't Doubt Dory, Foxy Cleopatra, Knight's Choice, Manzoice, Mare Of Mt Buller, Mission Of Love, Muramasa, Promises Kept and Suizuro.
