Four European raiders primed for Melbourne Cup

Harry Eustace believes Sea King has most to fear from his fellow European raiders as he goes for gold in the Melbourne Cup.

The 24-strong field features two runners from Britain in Sea King and Brian Ellison’s Onesmoothoperator, while the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Vauban and Absurde form the Irish challenge.

Eustace has a direct form reference with Onesmoothoperator as he finished a nose behind Sea King when the pair were sixth and seventh in Britain’s Ebor race.

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The merit of Mullins’ runners is well known, with Vauban having finished second to Kyprios in the Irish St Leger last time out and Absurde a cosy Listed winner at Chester.

Absurde came seventh at Flemington last year when Vauban proved a bitter disappointment in 14th, and neither has had an Australian prep run, unlike Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator and Eustace’s Bendigo Cup hero Sea King.

“I might be a little biased but I think the European raiders look to have massive chances. Onesmoothoperator won well at Geelong and our guy was obviously ahead of him in the Ebor,” Eustace said.

“In the last few years of the Cup, it’s been all about the quality horses, and I’ve got a huge amount of respect for the Mullins horses, Vauban and Absurde.

“Vauban has been mixing it with the champion stayer Kyprios and Absurde is an Ebor winner who ran a blinder in this race last year.

“But it is a handicap at the end of the day, and this year, with the way it’s cutting up, there could be a surprise winner, and I suppose we’re just hoping it’s us.”

Sea King will be ridden for the first time by British female star jockey Hollie Doyle at Flemington, with the five-year-old drawn in stall one in what is his first attempt at two miles.

Eustace said: “On paper, it wouldn’t be the first berth you’d pick. However, given he was a little keen in the Bendigo Cup, it might just suit us to jump from stall one and allow Hollie (Doyle) to get covered up nicely and early.”

Buckaroo heads the Cup betting for trainer Chris Waller, while former Aidan O’Brien runner Interpretation, Godolphin’s Zardozi and Land Legend, who raced in Britain for James Ferguson previously, head the home hopes.