53 remain in Cup contention

A look at who remains, and some high-profile withdrawals, from the Melbourne Cup.

Fifty-three horses remain in the running for this year's $10 million Melbourne Cup following Tuesday's second acceptance deadline.

Locally-trained Sir Delius and international raider Al Riffa, who have headed markets for the past few weeks, head the list of entries for the 3200-metre Group 1 that will be run on Tuesday, November 4.

Chris Waller is the most heavily-represented trainer among the remaining contenders with nine but has pulled the pin on his two highest-profile mares.

Via Sistina, who shared 59kg topweight honours with Al Riffa, was not paid up for, nor was ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana.

Valiant King, a longshot last-start winner of the Group 3 The Bart Cummings – which carries a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption – is the shortest-priced of Waller's remaining nominations.

Al Riffa is one of 11 horses trained north of the equator still a chance to line up, which is five more than the corresponding stage last year.

Among them is Parchment Party, who is set to become the first US-trained runner to contest the race.

Japanese pair Chevalier Rose and Golden Snap, Germany's Flatten The Curve, French galloper Presage Nocturne and Al Riffa's Joseph O'Brien-trained stablemate Goodie Two Shoes and are among the other Northern Hemisphere entries.

Also there is the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde, who has finished seventh and fifth in the past two editions of the Melbourne Cup.

Absurde's former stablemate Vauban, who is now trained by Sir Delius's trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is also set for a third Cup Day appearance and will round out his preparations in this Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

The Caulfield Cup is one of four remaining races that carry a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption, joined by the following weekend's Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) and next Wednesday's Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).