Wide draw for Cup favorite

With Tim Yeatman

‘Wizard’ Joao Moreira will need all his magic after Melbourne Cup favorite Buckaroo drew barrier 21 in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

The Caulfield Cup runner-up is a $5 chance at the Melbourne Cup but could slip past the gate.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair Vauban (11th hurdle) and Absurd (7th hurdle) also performed well as they aim to capture the Melbourne Cup in 2024.

Impressive Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator will jump hurdle 12, hoping to join the likes of Media Puzzle and Americain to do the double, while Bendigo Cup winner Sea King will jump hurdle one.

Japanese raider Warp Speed ​​will jump from the third barrier, while Ciaron Maher’s Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire drew the widest barrier and will jump from the 24th barrier, with The Map next to him at the 23rd barrier.

Maher and fellow trainer Chris Waller will ride nine of the 24 horses that will compete in the race.

Maher has four entries and Waller has five, headlined by pre-post favorite Buckaroo.

In addition to Circle Of Fire, Maher is also represented by Okita Soushi, Interpretation and Saint George, while Waller also saddles Land Legend, Kovalica, Valiant King and Manzoice.

Waller’s other runner, Kinesiology, and Matthew Smith’s Waltham did not make the finals.