With a field of 13 set to line up for the G1 Emirates S. (2000m), formerly run as the Mackinnon S., five runners will be backing up after contesting the G1 WS Cox Plate behind Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), but the race could go the way of The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is backing up for the third consecutive Saturday.
A length winner over 1600 metres in the G2 Feehan S. on Cox Plate day, the Robert Hickmott-trained The United States, who races in similar connections to Tuesday's Melbourne Cup winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), then finished fourth in the G1 Cantala S. (1600m) last Saturday, beaten just over a length by Hard Spun's son Le Romain (Aus).
The current race favourite, The United States will have the services of Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who also partnered last start Caulfield Cup runner up Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and looks one of the hardest to beat here.
With three wins from four attempts at the distance, Scottish's jockey William Buick will be doing the best he can to see Godolphin take home their first Group 1 of the Flemington carnival. Cox Plate fourth-placed Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), a Group 1 winner two starts back over 1600 metres, will have leading jockey Damien Oliver aboard, and if he has come through his last-start performance where he over-raced quite strongly, the stud-bound 5-year-old looks a genuine contender in the weight-for-age contest.
The Chris Waller stable will have two runners in the A$2-million race with Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) having his first Australian start off the back of an excellent eight length trial win recently, while Vanbrugh (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) will make his first trip to the races after his tough win in the G3 Coongy Hcp (2000m) three weeks back.
Three-year-old colt Good Standing (Aus) (Artie Schiller) could give not only his sire his second Group 1 winner of the carnival, but also his trainer-jockey combination of James Cummings and Glyn Schofield, who combined to win last Saturday's G1 Victoria Derby with More Than Ready colt Prized Icon (Aus).
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