Fame Game’s Melbourne Cup Odds Shorten

Fame Game is into 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $3.80 following the barrier draw for the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on Tuesday afternoon.

Sky Hunter has been one of the early market movers in 2015 Melbourne Cup betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Sky Hunter has been one of the early market movers in 2015 Melbourne Cup betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Fame Game has been the clear favourite in Melbourne Cup betting markets following his fast-finishing sixth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and punters remain confident that he is the horse to beat after he was allocated barrier 12.

The only other horse that is available at single figure Melbourne Cup odds is Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris, who is currently priced at $8.50 to deliver trainer Ed Dunlop his first win in the $6 million event.

Trip To Paris went into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a $26 chance, but his price in Melbourne Cup betting shortened dramatically after he stormed home late to finish second behind Mongolian Khan.

One of the best-backed runners following the 2015 Melbourne Cup barrier draw has been Cox Plate runner-up Criterion, who has been backed from $15 into $13.

Criterion is one of the biggest wildcards in the Melbourne Cup field as there are doubts over his ability to run out a strong 3200 metres, but jockey Michael Walker will have the opportunity to put the Sebring entire to sleep in the early stages of the race when he jumps from barrier four.

Another big market mover has been Godolphin-owned Sky Hunter, who has been backed from $67 into $51.

Sky Hunter has had only one race start since he took out the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (2410m) earlier this year, but trainer Saeed Bin Suroor is hopeful that the Motivator gelding can end the racing operations run of outs in Australia’s biggest race.

Aidan O’Brien-trained Kingfisher and The United States both drew ideally at the Melbourne Cup barrier draw and they have both shortened in the Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.

Kingfisher ($34 into $31) has flown under the radar ahead of the Melbourne Cup, but he has impressed onlookers with his work ahead of the Group 1 event, while The United States ($21 into $19) only snuck into the field following the withdrawal of stablemate Amralah.

The big drifter in Melbourne Cup betting following the barrier draw has been Big Orange, who is $41 out to $51 after being allocated barrier 23.

Big Orange stamped himself as a Melbourne Cup contender when he recorded a narrow victory in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3218m) at Goodwood on July 30, but he was beaten badly by Max Dynamite in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3299m) at York on August 31.

Our Ivanhowe ran a corker of the race in the Caulfield Cup and connections are confident that he will relish the step-up to 3200 metres, but he has drifted from $17 out to $21 after drawing barrier 22.

Hokko Brave ($21 out to $26), Who Shot Thebarman ($17 out to $19), The Offer ($41 out to $51), Quest For More ($67 out to $71) and Gust Of Wind ($26 out to $31) have also been on the drift in the Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes following the barrier draw.

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About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.