With Tim Yeatman

‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira will need all his magic after Melbourne Cup favorite Buckaroo cleared the 21st barrier for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

The Caulfield Cup runner-up has a $5 shot at the Melbourne Cup but could slip away after the wide gate.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair, Vauban (barrier 11) and Absurde (barrier seven), also drew well as they target Melbourne Cup redemption in 2024.

Impressive Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator will jump from barrier 12 as he looks to join the likes of Media Puzzle and Americain to do the double, while Bendigo Cup winner Sea King will jump from barrier one.

Japanese raider Warp Speed ​​will jump from barrier three and Ciaron Maher’s Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire drew the widest barrier and will jump from barrier 24, with The Map alongside him on barrier 23.

Maher and fellow trainer Chris Waller will saddle nine of the 24 horses that will line up in the race.

Maher has four runners while Waller has five, led by pre-post favorite Buckaroo.

In addition to Circle Of Fire, Maher is also represented by Okita Soushi, Interpretation and Saint George, while Waller will also saddle Land Legend, Kovalica, Valiant King and Manzoice.

Another runner from Waller, Kinesiology and Matthew Smith’s Waltham did not make the final field.