THE 2013 MELBOURNE CUP 2013

The 2013 Melbourne Cup barrier draw will be held tonight at 6:30pm AEDT. Join us for live updates, the barrier draw results for the big race, and reactions from the owners and trainers.

We will be posting the final field live from the barrier draw at Flemington this evening.

We'll have reactions from those who think they've won a good barrier, and those who are out in the proverbial car park.

33 horses have paid up for the Melbourne Cup, with some late developments heading into the barrier draw.

On Friday, both Silent Achiever (19th in the field) and Mr O'Ceirin (31st in the field) were withdrawn from the race.

Saturday's racing saw Ruscello win the Lexus Stakes for trainer Ed Walker – and his comments after the race were that he didn't think his horse would run, being a young four-year-old, with a big future in front of him.

However, owner Simon O'Donnell and OTI Racing pushed for him to be paid up and accepted into the Cup with a tiny 50kg handicap.

Later in the afternoon it was confirmed that connections have paid up the acceptance fee, with Cox Plate-winning hoop Chad Schofield engaged to ride.

In the Mackinnon, Side Glance won in strong fashion which has qualified him for the race on Tuesday, though connections are likely not to enter the horse in the final field.

The Cummings partnership of James and Bart have missed out on a start for Precedence – who ended up 25th in the order of entry – missing out on the field by one.

With the final field announced, we will look to the barrier draw. In a 3200m race, the significance of the barrier draw is a tactical one. As the 24 horses jump out of the gates, it is important to know where the early speed is around you, as you either push forward to the front, sit in the middle or do it from the back to avoid being buffeted around.

Perhaps more significant will be the rain, or lack thereof. The track remains dry, which will play into horses that like firm going.

Historically, which Melbourne Cup barriers are best?
The most successful barriers leading up to the 2013 Melbourne Cup barrier draw are:

Barrier 11 – Seven wins, last in 2001
Barrier 14 and 5 – six wins, last in 2005 – Green Moon winning from barrier 5 in 2012.
Barriers 6, 8 and 19 all have five wins, the last in 2008 from barrier 8.

2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden (2011) jumped from barrier 13 (of 23).

Historcially, which Melbourne Cup barriers are worst?
There is one 'cursed' barrier – gate 18, which has seen zero wins in the history of the race.

Barrier 7 and Barrier 15 share just the one win, in 1924 and 1973 respectively.
Barriers 2, 12, and 20 all have just two wins.

The favourites are currently split between Fiorente and Mount Athos, with Mourayan considered the roughie at $100.

OFFICIAL 2013 Melbourne Cup field (in order of entry)

No
 Horse
 Trainer
 Jockey
 Barrier
 Weight
 
1
 DUNADEN (FR)
 Mikel Delzangles
 Jamie Spencer
 1
 58.5kg
 
2
 GREEN MOON (IRE)
 Robert Hickmott
 Brett Prebble
 10
 57.5kg
 
3
 RED CADEAUX (GB)
 Ed Dunlop
 Gerald Mosse
 23
 56.5kg
 
4
 SEA MOON (GB)
 Robert Hickmott
 Steven Arnold
 7
 56.5kg
 
5
 BROWN PANTHER (GB)
 Tom Dascombe
 Richard Kingscote
 6
 55kg
 
6
 FIORENTE (IRE)
 Gai Waterhouse
 Damien Oliver
 5
 55kg
 
7
 FORETELLER (GB)
 Chris Waller
 Craig Newitt
 15
 55kg
 
8
 DANDINO (GB)
 Marco Botti
 Ryan Moore
 4
 54.5kg
 
9
 ETHIOPIA
 Pat Carey
 Rhys McLeod
 14
 54.5kg
 
10
 FAWKNER
 Robert Hickmott
 Nicholas Hall
 8
 54.5kg
 
11
 MOURAYAN (IRE)
 Robert Hickmott
 Brenton Avdulla
 19
 54.5kg
 
12
 SEVILLE (GER)
 Robert Hickmott
 Hugh Bowman
 9
 54.5kg
 
13
 SUPER COOL
 Mark Kavanagh
 Corey Brown
 13
 54.5kg
 
14
 MASKED MARVEL (GB)
 Robert Hickmott
 Michael Rodd
 2
 54kg
 
15
 MOUNT ATHOS (IRE)
 Luca Cumani
 Craig Williams
 22
 54kg
 
16
 ROYAL EMPIRE (IRE)
 Saeed Bin Suroor
 Kerrin McEvoy
 11
 54kg
 
17
 VOLEUSE DE COEURS (IRE)
 Michael Moroney
 James McDonald
 21
 54kg
 
18
 HAWKSPUR
 Chris Waller
 Jim Cassidy
 18
 53.5kg
 
19
 SIMENON (IRE)
 William Mullins
 Richard Hughes
 12
 53.5kg
 
20
 IBICENCO (GER)
 Peter G Moody
 Luke Nolen
 17
 53kg
 
21
 VEREMA (FR)
 Alain de Royer Dupre
 Christophe Lemaire
 3
 53kg
 
22
 DEAR DEMI
 Clarry Conners
 Chris Munce
 16
 51kg
 
23
 TRES BLUE (IRE)
 Gai Waterhouse
 Tommy Berry
 20
 51kg
 
24
 RUSCELLO (IRE)
 Ed Walker
 Chad Schofield (a)
 24
 50kg