The third round of acceptances for the 2020 Melbourne Cup were finalised on Monday morning, with 45 stayers remaining in the quest for a spot in the $8 million spring feature.
A number of international gallopers are still sitting outside the field in the latest order of entry, with San Huberto (26th), Nickajack Cave (27th), Ashrun (29th), Le Don De Vie (31st), Skyward (32nd), and Pondus (39th) all needing things to go their way to sneak into the final 24.
Cox Plate-winning trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace could field up to five entrants, with Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, Azuro, Lord Belvedere, Persan, and Etah James all third round acceptors.
He gets his big race, but it’s not for Aidan O’Brien! Sir Dragonet wins the Ladbrokes Cox Plate for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 24, 2020
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer also has five live hopes, with 2019 winner Vow And Declare, Russian Camelot, Miami Bound, King Of Leogrance, and Saracen Knight all in the final 45.
Father and son Joseph and Aidan O’Brien also have five runners between them, with Tiger Moth, Anthony Van Dyck, Master Of Reality, Twilight Payment, and Pondus still in contention.
Final acceptances for the 2020 Melbourne Cup will close at 4:30pm on Saturday, with the barrier draw to be undertaken at 5:30pm.
View the current 2020 Melbourne Cup Order of Entry below:
| Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 1 | 55.5kg |
| 2 | SIR DRAGONET (IRE) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 2 | 55.5kg |
| 3 | OCEANEX (NZ) | M | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 3= | 51.5kg |
| 4 | PERSAN | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 3= | 51kg |
| 5 | ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O'Brien | 5 | 58.5kg |
| 6 | VOW AND DECLARE | G | 5 | Danny O'Brien | 6 | 57kg |
| 7 | AVILIUS (GB) | G | 7 | James Cummings | 7 | 57kg |
| 8 | RUSSIAN CAMELOT (IRE) | H | 4 | Danny O'Brien | 8 | 53.5kg |
| 9 | MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) | G | 6 | Joseph O'Brien | 9 | 56kg |
| 10 | TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) | G | 8 | Joseph O'Brien | 10 | 55.5kg |
| 11 | TIGER MOTH (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O'Brien | 11 | 52.5kg |
| 12 | MUSTAJEER (GB) | G | 8 | Kris Lees | 12 | 55kg |
| 13 | STRATUM ALBION (GB) | G | 8 | Willie Mullins | 13 | 55kg |
| 14 | PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) | G | 8 | Charlie Fellowes | 14 | 54.5kg |
| 15 | WARNING | G | 4 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 15 | 53kg |
| 16 | SURPRISE BABY (NZ) | G | 6 | Paul Preusker | 16 | 54.5kg |
| 17 | DASHING WILLOUGHBY (GB) | G | 5 | Andrew Balding | 17 | 54.5kg |
| 18 | FINCHE (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 18 | 54.5kg |
| 19 | ETAH JAMES (NZ) | M | 8 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 19 | 52.5kg |
| 20 | MIAMI BOUND (NZ) | M | 4 | Danny O'Brien | 20 | 51kg |
| 21 | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | H | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 21 | 53.5kg |
| 22 | STEEL PRINCE (IRE) | G | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 22 | 53.5kg |
| 23 | KING OF LEOGRANCE (FR) | G | 6 | Danny O'Brien | 23 | 53.5kg |
| 24 | TRUE SELF (IRE) | M | 8 | Willie Mullins | 24 | 52kg |
| 25 | ZEBROWSKI (NZ) | G | 4 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 25 | 52kg |
| 26 | SAN HUBERTO (IRE) | H | 5 | Matt Cumani | 26 | 53.5kg |
| 27 | NICKAJACK CAVE (IRE) | G | 5 | Peter G Moody | 27 | 53.5kg |
| 28 | PLATINUM INVADOR (NZ) | G | 5 | Peter G Moody | 28 | 53kg |
| 29 | ASHRUN (FR) | H | 5 | Andreas Wohler | 29 | 53kg |
| 30 | HUSH WRITER (JPN) | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 30 | 52.5kg |
| 31 | LE DON DE VIE (GB) | G | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 31 | 52.5kg |
| 32 | SKYWARD (FR) | H | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 32 | 52.5kg |
| 33 | SOUND (GER) | H | 8 | Michael Moroney | 33 | 52kg |
| 34 | AZURO (FR) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 34 | 52kg |
| 35 | CHAPADA | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 35 | 52kg |
| 36 | CARIF | H | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 36 | 52kg |
| 37 | HAKY (IRE) | G | 7 | Archie Alexander | 37 | 52kg |
| 38 | GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) | H | 8 | Archie Alexander | 38 | 51kg |
| 39 | PONDUS (GB) | G | 5 | Joseph O'Brien | 39 | 51kg |
| 40 | SCHABAU (GER) | H | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 40 | 50.5kg |
| 41 | ATTORNEY (FR) | G | 6 | Matthew Smith | 41 | 50kg |
| 42 | LORD BELVEDERE (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 42 | 50.5kg |
| 43 | ADMIRE ROBSON (JPN) | H | 7 | Paul Preusker | 43= | 50kg |
| 44 | FUTURE SCORE (IRE) | G | 6 | Matt Cumani | 43= | 50kg |
| 45 | SARACEN KNIGHT (IRE) | G | 6 | Danny O'Brien | 43= | 50kg |
