Who are the riders to look out for in Tuesday’s great race? Racing writer Hayden King casts his eye over the hoops who could make the biggest impact.

MARK ZAHRA

The WA-born hoop comes alive for this festival and is in the form of his life. Steered home four consecutive winners at the opening meeting of the carnival, bagging two Group 1s for good measure. That quartet of winners was a record-equalling feat for most successes commensurate with that day, meaning he hits Melbourne Cup Day on top of the world. Victories aboard Gold Trip and Without A Fight in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the race mean he’s already a legend of this race but a third would further his addition to folklore. This year, he unites with Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, whose old man, Aidan, is regarded as one of the al

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