Top earners of the 2022 Melbourne Cup field.
VOW AND DECLARE $6,035,880
Vow And Declare has only won the 4 races but thanks to his Melbourne Cup win in 2020 he heads the list of prizemoney earners. Since his victory in the Cup he has yet to return to the winners stall but he has been racing consistently of late and will make presence felt.
DURSTON $3,637,438
He has become a bit of a Cups King in recent starts having won Wyong Cup, Newcastle Cup then his biggest triumph the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last start. No reason he cannot complete the double with the form he is in.
DUAIS $2,887,765
The Cummings name is synonymous with the Melbourne Cup and another Cummings in Edward has a promising staying mare representing the family in the Cup. She comes back to Flemington where she tasted Group 1 glory in the Australian Cup back in the autumn before returning to Sydney for Group 1 Tancred win. Nearly $3 million in Stakes earnings suggests she is a class mare.
MONTEFILIA $2,756,525
Class mare who had an outstanding three-year-old season winning multiple Group 1 races. Relished the heavy ground in the Group 1 Ranvet back in the autumn beating last years Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant in the process. If she brings that form to Flemington she will be right in the mix.
KNIGHTS ORDER $2,421,401
Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott trained gelding has already taken out a couple of the biggest two mile races in Australia having won the 2021 Brisbane Cup before relishing the heavy ground back in the autumn and winning the Sydney Cup. Aiming for a trifecta in the Eastern States Cups and is a proven winner at the trip.
NUMERIAN $1,514,573
Numerian bought a consistent resume’ to Australia and joined the Annabel Neasham stable. He was a Listed winner back in Ireland on heavy ground. His prizemoney has spiraled since coming to Australia winning the Gosford Cup the the $1.2 million Q22 at Eagle Farm. Brave effort in Caulfield Cup and he will be a factor come first Tuesday in November.
LUNAR FLARE $1,473,555
She found her way into the Melbourne Cup field with a good tough win in the Bart Cummings here two starts back then went to The Valley and was placed in the Cup. First try at the two miles but she races as though it will suit her.
GOLD TRIP $1,439,914
The French horse Gold Trip has only one the one race in his 15 start career but that was in Group 2 company back in France at only his fourth start. He has won most of his prizemoney with a number of placings in nice races in Australia including a Caulfield Cup placing.
SMOKIN’ ROMANS $1,403,865
He has blossomed into a special stayer this spring and his form culminated with a Group 1 win in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. He was sent out favourite in the Caulfield Cup and although beaten was not far away. Can Jamie Kah finally take out the ultimate prize for a rider.
STOCKMAN $1,336,390
He has been a reliable stayer for a number of seasons and comes to Melbourne of a tough and decisive ATC St. Leger win at Randwick. Over $1.3 million in prizemoney is nothing to sneeze at.
GRAND PROMENADE $1,177,400
Maher/Eustace stable are yet to win a Melbourne Cup but they get a chance with this consistent gelding. He finished sixth in this race last season and can go couple of spots better this season.
YOUNG WERTHER $1,074,900
He crept over the million dollar mark when placed in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes here two starts back. Amazingly he has only won the one race and that was in a maiden at Geelong on debut. He has a number of Group 1 placings and always threatened to win a big race. Could that be the Melbourne Cup?
ALEGRON $1,044,440
Went over the million dollar mark for Godolphin winning at Group 3 level in the Kingston Town two starts back. Looks best chance for James Cummings to win his first Melbourne Cup.
TRALEE ROSE $907,725
She finished in the first half of the field in the Melbourne Cup last season. Been a bit disappointing in her most recent starts and she needs to improve.
HOO YA MAL $905,868
Import who joins the Waterhouse/Bott team in Australia. Finished second in this years Epsom Derby before going to Goodwood (GB) and winning the Group 3 March Stakes. He looks talented and should go over the million dollar mark in Australia.
ARAPAHO $673,900
Won a Group 3 Premiers Cup at Randwick earlier in the spring. Does not win all that often but consistent stayer and comes off last start ATC St Leger placing.
DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR $621,142
Group 2 Adelaide Cup winner back in the autumn means he has gained his spot in the biggest two mile race in the country. Proven at the trip which is always a positive.
CRYSTAL PEGASUS $582,550
Back in the autumn he was unstoppable in Victoria. Won a couple in a row at Flemington before taking out the Mornington Cup. Has not found his best this campaign but has the Chris Waller magic on his side.
DEAUVILLE LEGEND $556,167
Lightly races stayer who looks high quality. Group 3 winner at Newmarket (GB) at only his fifth start in a race. Left for Australia after winning at Group 2 level at York in a canter. Comes into the Melbourne Cup at only his eighth start in a race but class will take him a long way.
EMISSARY $545,583
This is the import that ticks a few boxes for me. Trained on the track by a Melbourne Cup winning trainer in Michael Moroney. He has been placed in Group 1 Ranvet then back to Melbourne winning Heatherlie Handicap then last start came from long way off them to win Geelong Cup. Like him at odds.
LOFT $483,213
Looking at the German import his prizemoney suggests he would be low on the scale of chances in the 2022 Melbourne Cup but he is far from it. A multiple Group 2 winner over two miles in Germany and U.S.A. Only had the 12 starts but he carries the perfect profile and if he travels well will take beating.
POINT NEPEAN $468,515
Still a maturing import for Team Williams. Strung together three wins back in the autumn including a Flemington win. Team Williams knows how to win this race and must respect them every time their colours appear.
WITHOUT A FIGHT $410,620
His low Stakes winnings is more a reflection of the prizemoney in Britain than it is his ability. Started long odds on and won accordingly when demolished them in the Group 3 York Cup two starts back. He looks a live chance in the Melbourne Cup.
CAMORRA $294,998
The Hayes family has a wonderful history in the Melbourne Cup and they look to continue the tradition with an Irish import in Camorra. Not much prizemoney to speak of but he won over 2816m in the Group 2 Curragh Cup two starts back and that good form for this staying test.