Sam Fairclough, Kent Jansen and Matt "Chimp" Addinsall

BUCKAROO -  The Chris Waller trained favourite, with Joao Moreira in the saddle, was the Caulfield Cup runner-up and had an emphatic 3.5 length win in the Underwood. He will carry a light weight of 54.5kg, something he will need to see out the 3200m  given his longest race win to date has been 1800m.

Adam Williams

ZARDOZI -  A Godolphin-raced (blue silks for those who go by colour) former VRC Oaks winning mare, Zardozi is trained by James Cummings. She jumps from barrier four which is a bonus for the local hope ridden by Andrea Atzeni and at a price of around $16.

Peter Megee

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR - It sure was just that in winning the Geelong Cup to move into the big race, and is well fancied at $8 and with in form jockey Craig Williams aboard. He climbed Everest (the richest turf race in the world) just a few weeks ago... can he claim the Cup on the Brian Ellison trained gelding?

Johnny Adams

VALIANT KING - One from the stable of Chris Waller, the King needs a form turn around after being imported to Australia for the 2023 Spring Carnival and its best effort on Aussie soil being 6th in that year's Caulfield Cup. One for the dads to back, with jockey Craig Newett suggesting he could do with a big win to help put food on the table for his five sons. At $81 for the win, a few bucks on it could have you feeding an Army.

Popular Crocs stalwart "Rusty"

VAUBAN - They say "toppy for a reason" and this top weight (the reason why it is number 1) heads into the Cup for a second consecutive year where it is likely to jump as favourite. The UK raider is trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by William Buick who are taking a different approach with their star stayer in a bid to outdo last year's 14th placing.

Fabian Christoph

ABSURDE - Stablemate of Vauban and similar to his ol mate, he is returning to this race having contested it in 2023 where he did run 7th and at one stage in the straight, did loom up as a winning chance. He has three time Melbourne Cup jockey Kerrin McEvoy on board and given both know what's needed on Cup day, he's a good value bet at around the $10 price.

Rick Gheller

LAND LEGEND - Another from the Waller camp and with Zac Purton riding. Was the winner of The Group 1 Metrop over  2400m a couple of starts back and defeated some of the runners he faces again in this race. Was a fancied chance in the Caulfield Cup, played up pre-race and wasn't settled, but still fought on for 3rd. Get on him late if you see he's been a good boy behind the barriers.

Paul Martinez

SAINT GEORGE -  Only just made the cut and that's what Paul likes most about this UK import trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Tyler Schiller. Finishes off races well and may like the 3200m run, although he would seem a touch below this class. He's a $26 chance.