Fiorente’s ideal barrier draw in the 2013 Melbourne Cup has lead to the galloper topping the betting market for the race.
The five-year-old has drawn barrier five for the $6 million race, meaning he will be in the box seat come Tuesday.
Fiorente is leading the 2013 Melbourne Cup betting after drawing barrier five. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Fiorente has already showed impressive form this spring, winning the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes second-up. He then went on to post a close fourth placing in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes two runs back, before finishing a strong third in the $3 million Cox Plate last start.
Fiorente has won three of his 15 race starts and has earned more than $1.5 million in prize money during his career.
Having finished second in the Melbourne Cup last year in his first ever Australian run, Fiorente will be out to go one better in this year’s race.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse will be desperately hoping to win her first Melbourne Cup when she lines the five-year-old up for his fifth spring start on Tuesday.
While Waterhouse is yet to comment on the barrier draw, she made it very clear earlier in the week that Fiorente, who will be ridden by jockey Damien Oliver in the Cup, was on track for a winning performance.
“He’s come through (the Cox Plate) super,” said Waterhouse.
“Damien (Oliver) rode him the other day and …. he said he’s unbelievable. He says his recovery rate is enormous and he said he’s very relaxed.
“He’s a really happy horse.
“He’s doing well and he doesn’t have to do much more.
“His credentials are impeccable.”
Fiorente is presently paying odds of $7 with online bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au.
Mount Athos has been relegated to the second line of Melbourne Cup betting after drawing barrier 22.
The Luca Cumani-trained gelding finished a gutsy fifth in last year’s Melbourne Cup after missing the kick and suffering interference mid race.
His most recent start was in the Listed March Stakes at Goodwood in Great Britain on August 24, 2013, where he placed a close second to Harris Tweed.
