A field of 24 goes forward for the G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday with race favourite Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) drawn in the middle of the pack in stall 12. Hartnell is one of five runners for Godolphin who can also count on the well-fancied Oceanogapher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who will jump from stall 11. His trainer Charlie Appleby also has G3 Geelong Cup winner Qewy (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) (stall 15) in the mix and has no complaints about where his pair are drawn. ''We've got half decent draws so that makes it a lot easier,” Appleby told Racing.com. Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) finished fifth last year and his trainer Michael Bell was another left smiling after drawing stall 7 for Bill and Tim Gredley's 5-year-old. “He was a boy last year and he's a man this year and from that draw I think he gets his chance to go better than he did last year,” said Bell. G1 Caulfield Cup winner Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire})'s chances increased by drawing gate 3, however some of the other European challengers didn't fare so well. Tony Martin's Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) has to make do with an outside draw of 23 .He won the Ebor H. at York in August and Martin is hoping acclaimed jockey Joao Moreira can work his magic from that position. “It is what it is but it's only a draw,” Martin said. “The horse is well, we're happy with him. Moreira knows the horse, he's a top jockey and so much depends on luck in running.” Willie Mullins trained Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) to finish second in the race last year but his chances of going one better won't be aided by his G1 Irish St. Leger winner Wicklow Brave (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) getting the widest draw in 24. “It's not ideal but we know what this horse is capable of and I'll leave it up to Frankie [Dettori],” said Mullins. “The work he did Saturday morning was a huge piece of work and if he can reproduce that on Tuesday he's going to give a great account of himself I think,” he added. Aidan O'Brien should have no complaints after his Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was allocated barrier 5.
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