Star jockey William Buick is bullish about favourite Vauban's chances of Melbourne Cup redemption, while Chris Waller has dismissed concerns over leading contender Buckaroo's wide draw.
Buckaroo, the Caulfield Cup runner-up, spearheads a powerful team of five runners for champion trainer Waller in Tuesday's $8.5 million feature at Flemington.
The son of Fastnet Rock is a $7 second-favourite behind Vauban ($6.50), having drifted in betting since drawing barrier 21 for the race that stops a nation.
But Waller has backed internationally renowned jockey Joao Moreira to weave his magic, having ridden Buckaroo to top-two finishes in each of his past three starts, all at Group 1 level.
"There's no fairer race," Waller said of the 3200m handicap contest.
"Barrier draws are a talking point pre-race, but post-race they're very rarely spoken about, so I'm not too concerned about the draw for Buckaroo.
"He's got a great international jockey aboard and he's nicknamed 'The Magic Man' for one reason - he is magic.
"He can do some amazing things, and we'll be calling on that tomorrow with Buckaroo running a strong 3200m."
Waller has the largest contingent of any trainer, one more than Ciaron Maher, with both champion mentors seeking to add a second Cup to their growing lists of Group 1 triumphs.
Maher's four fancies include last-start Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Okita Soushi ($14), to be ridden by Victoria Derby-winning jockey Jamie Kah.
Waller will also saddle up The Metropolitan winner Land Legend, Kovalica and Manzoice, a late entrant after Mahrajaan was ruled out by vets on Saturday.
But the Sydney-based trainer rates $101 outsider Valiant King the best stayer of his group.
"He's a genuine two-miler, and the stamina counts," Waller said.
"The beauty of the Melbourne Cup every year is there's surprises, and not always the favourites win."
Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old Vauban is poised to jump as Cup favourite for the second straight year, despite disappointing 12 months ago when finishing in the back half of the field.
The Irish master, who led Max Dynamite to podium finishes in 2015 and 2017, is back for another crack with Vauban and stablemate Absurde.
UK-based Buick is no stranger to the Cup, having ridden the previous year's winner Cross Counter in the 2019 edition.
Most recently Buick rode Without A Fight in 2022, prior to him completing the Cups double last year under Mark Zahra.
Buick has developed a strong association with Vauban this year and said "it would mean everything" to win the Cup.
"He's a high-class horse and for whatever reason he just didn't run to form in the Cup last year," Buick said.
"Everyone involved in the horse knew he was a lot better than what he gave.
"When he came in he had a fair level of form, but this year he's stepped up again.
"He's carrying the weight for it, but his form is rock-solid in the UK and Ireland, and two miles is his optimum trip.
"He has that tactical speed to get into position, he relaxes, and equally he has the finishing kick as well over two miles.
"I've never won the Melbourne Cup, but in my experience that ticks a lot of boxes"
Zahra will ride Maher's Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire out of the widest gate as he chases his third straight Melbourne Cup triumph, following famous wins aboard Gold Trip in 2022 and Without A Fight last year.
Mullins' Absurde will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who is seeking to equal the record of four Cup triumphs by a jockey, held jointly by legendary pair Harry White and Bobbie Lewis.
Kah is one of a record four female jockeys in the field, alongside Hollie Doyle (Sea King), Winona Costin (Positivity) and Rachel King (The Map).
The field was reduced to 23 on Cup eve when longshot Athabascan was ruled out after a vet check found him to have a cardiac arrhythmia.
