Melbourne Cup favourites Admire Rakti and Lucia Valentina have kept their place at the top of betting charts with favourable barrier draws for the $6.2 million race.
Japanese stayer Admire Rakti, the favourite since winning the Caulfield Cup, will start from barrier eight while Lucia Valentina has gate two.
Signoff, who secured a belated entry into Tuesday’s 3200-metre handicap by winning the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, has barrier 16.
The Mike Moroney-trained Araldo will start from the widest barrier in the 24-horse field.
Godolphin’s two runners, Cavalryman and Willing Foe, have drawn gates three and 17 respectively.
Cups king Bart Cummings, chasing a 13th win in the race and his first in a training partnership with his grandson James, will have veteran stayer Precedence come from gate 20.
Cox Plate runner-up Fawkner drew directly outside Admire Rakti in barrier nine.
As he did in the Caulfield Cup, the Marco Botti-trained Seismos will make his bid from the rails alley.
German stayer Protectionist has gate 11 with Ryan Moore to return to Australia to ride after winning last week’s Cox Plate on Adelaide.
Royal Diamond and Mutual Regard, Johnny Murtagh’s first runners as a trainer in the race, have drawn six and 12 respectively.