2011 Sydney Cup Final Field

As expected the overseas invaders were rife throughout the 2011 Sydney Cup field with 11 of the 17 acceptors having origins outside of Australia.

Ireland and New Zealand are the best represented with four apiece while the UK has two and France one.

They are some of the best chances in the event as well with the likes of Hawk Island and Mourayan from Ireland well and truly entrenched at the top of the Luxbet betting market.

The best local hope looks to have fallen to Gai Waterhouse on her quest to find her first Melbourne Cup winner.

Once Were Wild drew worst of the lot in gate 17 but should still be a contender, especially if the stable stick with their aggressive ‘catch me if you can’ tactics which have worked so well previously.

Waterhouse has another chance in the race as well with Older Than Time an $18 chance with Luxbet.

Older Than Time won four in a row this preparation before suffering his first defeat when fourth last start.

The 3200m is the big test for a lot of these runners though with not a lot of experience at the trek across the field.

A predicted dead or slow track at Randwick will only add to the difficulty of the trip meaning the gutsiest horses will be at the front of the field.

Hawk Island is top weight with 57kg but connections are super confident after he easily lugged 61kg to victory last Saturday across a Heavy 10 Randwick surface.