Jamie Melham waits on Melbourne Cup berth for Future History
Future History is 25th in the entry order for the 24-horse race, leaving the defending champion jockey needing another withdrawal.
Jamie Melham has booked Future History for the A$10.2 million Melbourne Cup, but her chance to defend the title depends on another horse withdrawing. The Gregory Hickman-trained import remains one position outside the field.
The withdrawals of Saint George and The Euphrates have left Future History 25th in the entry rankings. So You Are holds the final available berth after receiving a 1kg penalty for winning the Group 3 Bendigo Cup.
The final field is still to be settled. Flemington will host the barrier draw following the last Derby Day race.
Melham won both the Melbourne and Caulfield cups on Half Yours last year. The horse will not defend his Melbourne Cup crown, having been sent for a spell following a fall in the Caulfield Cup. Melham will also miss Derby Day after unsuccessfully challenging a careless riding suspension.
Trainer Ciaron Maher has seven horses among the top 22 entries, despite Saint George being ruled out by vets after mandatory scans. Joseph O’Brien has five runners within the qualifying positions.
With The Euphrates withdrawn, Vauban is the sole remaining contender for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The nine-year-old is returning for a fourth Melbourne Cup attempt.
