Melbourne Cup 2015: Preview, full runner details, TV schedule, start time and betting odds

The Melbourne Cup 2015 is set for another memorable edition on Tuesday at Flemington as racing fans and punters come out of the woodwork to be part of Australia’s most famous race.

With $6.2 million prize money on the line, the 2015 Group 1 Melbourne Cup, race-7 in a 10-card race, will feature a strong international contingent that contains 10 individual Group 1 winners and a range of form lines that tie in most of the world’s great distance races.

The list of international racers includes strong favourite Fame Game, second favourite Trip To Paris, three-time runner-up Red Cadeaux, Snow Sky, Quest For More and Max Dynamite. Meanwhilw, the home team’s leading contenders features last year’s placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, stablemate Preferment, Almoonqith and Criterion.

The Melbourne Cup’s growing popularity has made the race a significant part of Australia’s social and sporting culture, having been known as “the race that stops a nation.” German galloper Protectionist was last year’s Cup winner after an emphatic victory over Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman. Protectionist also brought up a race-to-race double for his sire Monsun, who had also sired 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.

This year’s edition of the Melbourne Cup will have a gruelling staying test of over 3200-metre run and will have carries of more than just Group 1 status. The horses that will claim victory in the race will forever be etched into Australian racing folklore and be celebrated for generations to come.

Fame Game, one of the highest-rated Japanese runners to race in Australia, is the favourite to win this year’s race at Flemington, which starts at 3 pm AEDT. From just 15 starts, Fame Game has progressed through the grades in Japan, winning the G3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) in 2014 and 2015, G2 Copa Republica Argentina (2500m), and just failing to catch local champion Gold Ship in the Tenno Sho (3200m) on his final run before leaving for Australia.

However, trainer Yoshitada Munakata has hinted he may tinker his strategy in the Melbourne Cup after being told by Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey and his panel that they expected Fame Game to be ridden as he was in his controversial Caulfield Cup sixth. Bailey told Munakata and jockey Zac Purton that stewards would assume Fame Game will be among the early backmarkers in the Melbourne Cup after he was snagged back and wove through runners in the straight during the Caulfield Cup.

"I think we might inform the stewards we will ride the horse further forward,” Munakata told The Age .

Leading trainer Chris Waller is coming off a high note after winning the Cox Plate with Mare as he will be represented by three Cup runners, Preferment, Who Shot Thebarman, and Grand Marshall. Preferment is clearly the stable’s top speed after displaying great performances prior to the Cox Plate. But Grand Marshall and Who Shot Thebarman also hold chances at rewarding odds with their campaigns having been timed to perfection by Waller.

Trip To Paris, an Ascot Gold Cup winner, is the second favourite to win the Melbourne Cup 2015 and a strong contender for three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux despite showing poor effort on his final start in Britain after finishing fifth behind Max Dynamite at York.

Another UK-trained challenger is Sky Hunter, who represents Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin. Sky Hunter, a lightly-raced galloper and winner of six of 11 race starts, has raced just twice this year in March and September, when he won at Group two level over 2410 metres and a second finish to The Corsican at Newbury. Meanwhile, Almoonqith is also poised as a strong contender, having been in peak form at the Geelong Cup.

TV schedule and start time

The Melbourne Cup 2015 will start at 3:00 p.m. AEDT on Nov. 3, Tuesday. It will be broadcast live on Channel 7 at 10:00 a.m. in Sydney and Melbourne, 9:00 a.m. in Brisbane, 9:30 a.m. in Adelaide, and 7:00 a.m. in Perth (7TWO).

Full runner details (Courtesy of the Herald Sun )

Group 1 (3200m)

1) SNOW SKY (GB) Trainer: Sir M Stoute Jockey: R Moore (16) 58kg

Career: 15: 5-2-2. Prizemoney: $919,932 Biggest win: 2015 Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot.

Breeding: Nayef-Winter Silence, 5YO bay horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2816-1609m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $41 Opening price: $21 Best price: $26

2) CRITERION (NZ) Trainer: D Hayes & T Dabernig Jockey: M Walker (4) 57.5kg

Career: 31:7-7-5. Prizemoney: $6,743,869 Biggest win: 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Breeding: Sebring-Mica’s Pride, 5YO chestnut horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 4:0-1-0 Win range: 2400-1100m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $14 Opening price: $35 Best price: $61

3) FAME GAME (JPN) Trainer: Y Munakata Jockey: Z Purton (12) 57kg

Career: 17: 5-1-1. Prizemoney: $2,873,484 Biggest win: 2014 Group 2 Copa Republica (2500m) at Tokyo

Breeding: Heart’s Cry-Hall Of Fame, 6YO brown horse Distance: 2:0-1-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 3400-2000m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $3.20 Opening price: $26 Best price: $26

4) OUR IVANHOWE (GER) Trainer: L & A Freedman Jockey: B Melham (22) 56kg

Career: 14: 5-2-1. Prizemoney: $786,973 Biggest win: Group 1 Von Bayern (2400m) in Munich

Breeding: Soldier Hollow-Indigo Girl, 6YO bay horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2400-2200m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $21 Opening price: $21 Best price: $26

5) BIG ORANGE (GB) Trainer: M Bell Jockey: J Spencer (23) 55.5kg

Career: 13:5-1-0. Prizemoney: $549,822 Biggest win: 2015 Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m), downing Quest For More and Trip To Paris.

Breeding: Duke Of Marmalade-Miss Brown To You, 5YO bay gelding Distance: 3:1-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 3219-2012m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $51 Opening price: $51 Best price: $51

6) HARTNELL (GB) Trainer: J O’Shea Jockey: J McDonald (17) 55.5kg

Career: 20: 7-4-1. Prizemoney: $1,595,499 Biggest win: Group 1 The BMW (2400m/WFA) at Rosehill in March.

Breeding: Authorized-Debonnaire, 5YO bay gelding Distance: 2:1-0-0 Track: 1:0-0-0 Win range: 3219-1609m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $31 Opening price: $26 Best price: $26

7) HOKKO BRAVE (JPN) Trainer: Y Matsunaga Jockey: C Williams (20) 55.5kg

Career: 30: 5-5-6. Prizemoney: $1,896,169 Biggest win: 2013 October Stakes (2400m) at Tokyo

Breeding: Marvellous Sunday-Hokko Memory, 8YO bay horse Distance: 2:0-0-1 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2600-2200m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $31 Opening price: $51 Best price: $51

8) MAX DYNAMITE (FR) Trainer: W Mullins Jockey: F Dettori (2) 55kg

Career: 18: 3-3-2. Prizemoney: $379,647 Biggest win: 2015 Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m) at York, beating Trip To Paris and Big Orange.

Breeding: Great Journey-Mascara, 6YO bay gelding Distance: 7:1-3-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 3299-2200m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $13 Opening price: $17 Best price: $17

9) RED CADEAUX (GB) Trainer: E Dunlop Jockey: G Mosse (8) 55kg

Career: 53: 7-13-7. Prizemoney: $8,108,268 Biggest win: Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in 2012

Breeding: Cadeaux Genereux-Artisia, 10YO chestnut gelding Distance: 8:0-4-1 Track: 5:0-3-0 Win range: 2816-2400m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $26 Opening price: $51 Best price: $51

10) TRIP TO PARIS (IRE) Trainer: E Dunlop Jockey: T Berry (14) 55kg

Career: 18: 6-2-1. Prizemoney: $775,548 Biggest win: 2015 Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m)

Breeding: Champs Elysees-La Grand Zoa, 5YO bay gelding Distance: 2:1-0-1 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 4023-1408m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $8.50 Opening price: $35 Best price: $35

11) WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) Trainer: C Waller Jockey: B Shinn (6) 54.5kg

Career: 24: 8-3-1. Prizemoney: $1,423,020 Biggest win: Group 3 Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington last October.

Breeding: Yamanin Vital-Ears Carol, 7YO bay gelding Distance: 4:1-1-1 Track: 4:2-0-1 Win range: 3200-1600m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $19 Opening price: $51 Best price: $51

12) SKY HUNTER (GB) Trainer: S Bin Suroor Jockey: W Buick (7) 54kg

Career: 11:6-1-1. Prizemoney: $585,150 Biggest win: 2015 Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold (2400m) at Meydan

Breeding: Motivator-Pearl Kite, 6YO bay gelding Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2414-1950m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $41 Opening price: $35 Best price: $41

13) THE OFFER (IRE) Trainer: G Waterhouse Jockey: D Oliver (13) 54kg

Career: 27: 8-2-3. Prizemoney: $1,442,379 Biggest win: Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick in April 2014.

Breeding: Montjeu-Valdara, 7YO bay gelding Distance: 2:1-0-0 Track: 1:0-0-0 Win range: 3200-1600m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $35 Opening price: $26 Best price: $81

14) GRAND MARSHAL (GB) Trainer: C Waller Jockey: J Cassidy (15) 53.5kg

Career: 25:7-5-2. Prizemoney: $1,431,792 Biggest win: Group 1 Sydney Cup at Rosehill in April.

Breeding: Dansili-Margarula,6YO brown gelding Distance: 1:1-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 3200-1609m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $35 Opening price: $35 Best price: $61

15) PREFERMENT (NZ) Trainer: C Waller Jockey: H Bowman (11) 53.5kg

Career: 15: 3-4-1. Prizemoney: $1,503,405 Biggest win: Group 1 Victoria Derby

Breeding: Zabeel-Better Alternative, 4YO bay horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 2:2-0-0 Win range: 2500-2000m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $10 Opening price: $35 Best price: $35

16) QUEST FOR MORE (IRE) R Charlton D Lane (21) 53.5kg

Career: 19: 6-4-3. Prizemoney: $395,340 Biggest win: 2015 Northumberland Plate (3200m) at Newcastle, holding off Max Dynamite.

Breeding: Teofilo-No Quest, 5YO bay gelding Distance: 3:2-1-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 3237-1670m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $101 Opening price: $35 Best price: $61

17) ALMOONQITH (USA) Trainer: D Hayes & T Dabernig Jockey: D Dunn (10) 53kg

Career: 21:5-3-1. Prizemoney: $476,225 Biggest win: Group 3 Geelong Cup on October 21, Group 3 Nad Al Sheda in Dubai in February.

Breeding: Dynaformer-Bohemian Lady, 6YO bay horse Distance: 1:0-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2810-1600m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $15 Opening price: $101 Best price: $101

18) KINGFISHER (IRE) Trainer: A O’Brien Jockey: C O’Donoghue (9) 53kg

Career: 15:3-2-2. Prizemoney: $726,780 Biggest win: 2015 Listed Saval Beg Stakes (2800m) at Leopardstown

Breeding: Galileo-Mystical Lady, 5YO bay horse Distance: 3:2-1-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2800-1609m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $41 Opening price: $35 Best price: $35

19) PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) Trainer: D Weir Ms Jockey: M Payne (1) 53kg

Career: 23:6-6-2. Prizemoney: 2500-1300m Biggest win: Moonee Valley Gold Cup in 2014

Breeding: Pentire-Royal Successor, 6YO bay horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 6:1-3-0 Win range: 2500-1300m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $71 Opening price: $61 Best price: $81

20) BONDI BEACH (IRE) Trainer: A O’Brien Jockey: B Prebble (18) 52.5kg

Career: 5:2-3-0. Prizemoney: $438,897 Biggest win: 2015 Group 3 Curragh Cup (2816m)

Breeding: Galileo-One Moment In Time, 4YO bay horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 0:0-0-0 Win range: 2816-2414m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $21 Opening price: $35 Best price: $35

21) SERTORIUS Trainer: J Edwards Jockey: C Newitt (5) 52.5kg

Career: 41:10-10-4. Prizemoney: $1,269,422 Biggest win: Group 2 Sandown Classic 2013

Breeding: Galileo-Pretty Penny, 8YO bay horse Distance: 1:0-0-1 Track: 6:1-2-1 Win range: 2400-1200m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $201 Opening price: $101 Best price: $201

22) THE UNITED STATES (IRE) Trainer: R Hickmott Jockey: J Moreira (3) 52.5kg

Career: 12:5-2-1. Prizemoney: $349,022 Biggest win: Group 3 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on October 24.

Breeding: Galileo-Beauty Is Truth, 6YO chestnut horse Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 1:0-0-0 Win range: 2500-1408m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $20 Opening price: $26 Best price: $101

23) EXCESS KNOWLEDGE (GB) Trainer: G Waterhouse Jockey: K McEvoy (24) 51kg

Career: 18: 5-5-2. Prizemoney: $535,747 Biggest win: Group 2 Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Breeding: Monsun-Quenched, 6YO brown horse

TAB Fixed odds (current): $26

24) GUST OF WIND (NZ) Trainer: J Sargent Jockey: C Schofield (19) 51kg

Career: 9:3-0-0. Prizemoney: $849,900 Biggest win: Group 1 Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick in April.

Breeding: Darci Brahma-Starrystarrynight, 4YO bay mare Distance: 0:0-0-0 Track: 2:0-0-0 Win range: 2400-1400m

TAB Fixed odds (current): $26 Opening price: $35 Best price: $35

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