By Emma Berry
MELBOURNE, Australia–Last year's G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) will break from barrier 14 in his bid for a follow-up victory in Tuesday's A$6.2 million feature. The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding, one of six runners for Lloyd Williams and his associate, will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who arrives in Australia on Monday direct from the Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar. Close behind Almandin in the betting for the Melbourne Cup is one of 11 European challengers, Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who has attracted strong support since his strong-finishing sixth in the G1 BMW Caulfield Cup. Hughie Morrison's first Cup runner drew gate 16.
Willie Mullins will now saddle three runners on Tuesday, with Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling) having made the cut on the veterinary scratching of Jon Snow (Aus) on Saturday afternoon. The Royal Ascot winner will jump from stall 21 in partnership with Joao Moreira, while Rich and Susannah Ricci's other runner, the 2015 runner-up Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {JPN}), drew gate two. Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), who will also line up for a second time, is in barrier eight.
Widest of all will be the Andreas Wohler-trained Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who, from stall 24, will have a hard task to emulate the 2014 victory of Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) for the same trainer and owner Australian Bloodstock.
One berth inside him is the French raider Tiberian (Fr) (Tiberius Caesar {Fr}), while US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of two runners for Joseph O'Brien, is also drawn wide in 22. Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has the chance to increase Aidan O'Brien's record-breaking tally of Group 1 winners for the season and will face the starter in stall three with Ben Melham.
PP DRAW
1 – Bondi Beach (Ire)
2 – Max Dynamite (Fr)
3 – Johannes Vermeer (Ire)
4 – Rekindling (GB)
5 – Big Duke (Ire)
6 – Ventura Storm (Ire)
7 – Libran (Ire)
8 – Wicklow Brave (GB)
9 – Boom Time (Aus)
10 – Amelie's Star (Aus)
11 – Single Gaze (Aus)
12 – Hartnell (GB)
13 – Humidor (NZ)
14 – Almandin (Ger)
15 – Wall Of Fire (Ire)
16 – Marmelo (GB))
17 – Cismontane (NZ)
18 – Gallante (Ire)
19 – Nakeeta (GB)
20 – Who Shot Thebarman (NZ)
21 – Thomas Hobson (GB)
22 – US Army Ranger (Ire)
23 – Tiberian (Fr)
24 – Red Cardinal (Ire)
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