The Melbourne Cup barrier draw has occurred, with favourite Half Yours securing a favorable position at barrier 8. Other prominent contenders Presage Nocturne and Valiant King drew well at 9 and 10, respectively. However, topweight Al Riffa faces a challenge from barrier 19, despite having in-form jockey Mark Zahara. Analysts suggest the main chances are unlikely to drift in betting following the draw. Barriers 7, 12, 19, and 23 historically have the lowest success rates. Barriers 5 and 11 are the most successful.

Highlights

* Half Yours drew well in barrier 8, while Presage Nocturne (9) and Valiant King (10) also have favorable positions.
* Al Riffa (19) faces a challenge.
* Barriers 5, 11, 14 and 10 have been the most successful in the race’s history.
* Barriers 7, 12, 19 and 23 have been the least successful.

Melbourne Cup Dreams: Barriers Drawn, Fates Sealed?

The air crackles with anticipation, the tension is palpable! The Melbourne Cup barrier draw has taken place, and the fate of our hopeful steeds hangs in the balance. Does a good barrier guarantee glory? Does a poor one spell doom? Let’s delve into the drama and dissect the results!

Favourites Find Fortune (Mostly)

Caulfield Cup champion Half Yours has landed a dream draw, set to explode from barrier 8. Could this be the year for Tony and Calvin McEvoy? The bookies certainly think so! Presage Nocturne (9) and Valiant King (10) are also sitting pretty in what appear to be favorable starting positions.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Al Riffa, burdened with the top weight and the hopes of international punters, drew a less-than-ideal barrier 19. He’ll need luck, and plenty of it. But remember, he has the in-form Mark Zahara in the saddle!

“After the barrier draw, I don’t think the main chances will drift,” Racing.com’s Clint Hutchinson declared, suggesting confidence remains high in the leading contenders.

The Full Field and Their Fortunes

Here’s the complete list of contenders and their assigned barriers:

(Saddlecloth No. – Horse (Barrier) – Trainer – Jockey – Weight)

• 1 AL RIFFA (19) – Joseph O’Brien – Mark Zahra – 59kg
• 2 BUCKAROO (12) – Chris Waller – Craig Williams – 57kg
• 3 ARAPAHO (15) – Bjorn Baker – Rachel King – 56.5kg
• 4 VAUBAN (2) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Blake Shinn – 56.5kg
• 5 CHEVALIER ROSE (5) – Hisashi Shimizu – Damian Lane – 55.5kg
• 6 PRESAGE NOCTURNE (9) – Alessandro Botti – Stephane Pasquier – 55.5kg
• 7 MIDDLE EARTH (13) – Ciaron Maher – Ethan Brown – 54.5kg
• 8 MEYDAAN (22) – Simon & Ed Crisford – James McDonald – 54kg
• 9 ABSURDE (4) – Willie Mullins – Kerrin McEvoy – 53.5kg
• 10 FLATTEN THE CURVE (17) – Henk Grewe – Thore-Hammer Hansen – 53kg
• 11 LAND LEGEND (16) – Chris Waller – Joao Moreira – 53.5kg
• 12 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (11) – Ciaron Maher – Ben Melham – 53.5kg
• 13 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (13) – Kris Lees – Tim Clark – 53kg
• 14 HALF YOURS (8) – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Jamie Melham – 53kg
• 15 MORE FELONS (23) – Chris Waller – Tommy Berry – 53kg
• 16 ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (6) – Brian Ellison – Harry Coffey – 53kg
• 17 FURTHUR (7) – Andrew Balding – Michael Dee – 52kg
• 18 PARCHMENT PARTY (3) – William Mott – John Velazquez – 52kg
• 19 ATHABASCAN (1) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – Declan Bates – 51.5kg
• 20 GOODIE TWO SHOES (20) – Joseph O’Brien – Wayne Lordan – 51.5kg
• 21 RIVER OF STARS (14) – Chris Waller – Beau Mertens – 51.5kg
• 22 ROYAL SUPREMACY (21) – Ciaron Maher – Robbie Dolan – 51kg
• 23 TORRANZINO (18) – Paul Preusker – Celine Gaudray – 51kg
• 24 VALIANT KING (10) – Chris Waller – Jye McNeil – 51kg

History Whispers: Which Barriers Breed Champions?

For some, a bad barrier can indeed diminish their chances. History tells a tale of woe for those drawn in barriers 7, 12, 19, and 23. These have been the least fruitful, with only one winner emerging from each throughout the Cup’s illustrious history. This casts a shadow over Further (7), Buckaroo (12), Al Riffa (19), and More Felons (23).

Conversely, some barriers seem to possess a touch of magic:

• Barrier 5: A phenomenal 9 wins!
• Barrier 11: A lucky 7 wins!
• Barrier 14: Another strong contender with 7 wins!
• Barrier 10: Yet another 7 wins
• Barrier 8: A respectable 5 wins

Call to Action!

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FAQ

Okay, here are 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on the provided text about the Melbourne Cup, along with their answers:

1. Which horse is considered the favorite and what barrier will it start from?

• Answer: Half Yours is the favorite and will start from barrier 8.

2. Which other horses are considered market fancies, and what barriers did they draw?

• Answer: Presage Nocturne will start from barrier 9, and Valiant King will start from barrier 10.

3. Which horse drew the widest barrier and what are its chances?

• Answer: More Felons drew the widest barrier (23). It’s chances are poor given the barrier has one of the least successful records in the race.

4. What is the barrier number that Al Riffa drew, and what potential impact could this have on its chances?

• Answer: Al Riffa drew barrier 19. The article suggests this barrier is one of the least successful, implying it will need “a touch of luck” and could negatively impact Al Riffa’s chances.

5. Which barriers are statistically the least successful in the Melbourne Cup?

• Answer: Barriers 7, 12, 19 and 23 are the least successful.

6. Which barriers are statistically the most successful in the Melbourne Cup?

• Answer: Barrier 5 (9 wins), Barrier 11 (7 wins), Barrier 14 (7 wins), and Barrier 10 (7 wins).

7. Which horse drew the best barrier?

• Answer: Athabascan drew the best barrier, which is barrier 1.

8. Who is the jockey riding Al Riffa?

• Answer: Mark Zahara is the jockey riding Al Riffa.