Fiorente assured of Melbourne Cup favouritism

By Mike Hedge

MELBOURNE, Nov 2 AAP - A second Melbourne Cup chance has been handed to imported stayer Fiorente who is assured of favouritism for Tuesday's race after drawing barrier five.

The runner-up last year only two weeks after arriving in Australia, Fiorente is a $7 favourite in one of the widest Cup markets in recent history.

Fiorente shook off his closest challenger, Mount Athos, at the draw when the English horse drew barrier 22 in the field of 24.

At a draw that is largely irrelevant but often disastrous, several of the visiting runners had their chances affected, including 2011 runner-up Red Cadeaux who drew 23, Saturday's Lexus Stakes winner Ruscello who drew 24 and Voleuse De Couers who will start from 21.

In a race in which only five runners are Australian-bred and nine have European trainers, the mixed half dozen from the Lloyd Williams' stable had astonishing good luck.

The only one of the Williams' team to draw outside 10 is the Sydney Cup winner Mourayan who will jump from 19.

The other five are Masked Marvel (2), Sea Moon (7), Fawkner (8), Seville (9) and last year's winner Green Moon (10).

Williams' son Nick, who is a part owner with his father of all six, said each of them had a claim on the $6 million race, but said he couldn't select one above the other.

"We couldn't be happier to have the horses we've got there and I could make a case for any and all of them," Williams said.

"And don't ask me to split them because I've got no idea."

But he said Green Moon would be the sentimental choice.

"If you asked me which one I was barracking for I'd say Green Moon because I'd love him to go back-to-back for the historical significance," he said.

The less-than-coveted inside gate went to 2011 winner Dunaden who will run in his third Cup.

His French compatriot Verema is drawn two gates further out, the English runner Dandino is in four and Brown Panther, owned by England soccer international Michael Owen has six.

While Fiorente fared well, his Gai Waterhouse-trained stablemate Tres Blue will be among the widest in the run to the first turn from barrier 20.

Among the token Australian-bred contingent, the shortest-priced is Hawkspur who is in barrier 18 ahead of Fawkner.

Of the remaining three, Super Cool has 13, Ethiopia 14 and Dear Demi, possibly the best value of all at $19, has 16.