Four O'Donnell chances have work cut out
OTI Racing director Simon O'Donnell is confident his horses can overcome poor barrier draws and perform strongly tomorrow.
The former Australian Test cricket all-rounder and St Kilda forward has four runners in the $6 million feature - Brambles (barrier 21), Gatewood (22), Au Revoir (23) and Lidari (10).
He joked that the co-owners who selected the gates at Saturday night's barrier draw function would be fired, but said nothing would diminish his Melbourne Cup excitement.
"We're genuinely excited to be part of the 24," O'Donnell said.
"To have four of the 24, you multiply that excitement by four.
"We're thrilled to be here. We understand how hard it is to be competitive in this race.
"The gates aren't ideal, but some gates contribute to winning a Melbourne Cup and we're hopeful that ours do."
None of OTI's horses are among the favourites.
Brambles, Au Revoir and Lidari are all $51 with the TAB, while Gatewood is quoted at $71.
Gatewood won the 2012 Geelong Cup, but was unable to force his way into the Melbourne Cup.
Trainer John Gosden said it would be crucial for the British stayer to adjust to the race's style.
"It's not an end-to-end gallop," Gosden said.
"We tend to run our races more even in Europe. This is a slightly more French style with collecting horses for a surging finish.
"At the same time, it's a track that takes no prisoners.
"It's a long run to the first bend, a long back straight and a long straight. To that extent you're just hoping the horse has the rhythm and the class to go with them."
The Melbourne Cup has become O'Donnell's passion and he experienced jubilation and heartbreak in 2008 when Bauer finished the narrowest of seconds to Viewed.
Since then he has cheered Kibbutz (ninth) and Basaltico (18th) in 2009, Manighar (seventh) in 2010, Drunken Sailor (12th) in 2011, My Quest For Peace (10th) in 2012 and Ibicenco (16th) and Ruscello (23rd) last year.
"There were a number of seconds (in 2008) where we thought we'd won the Melbourne Cup," O'Donnell said.
"If that feeling is anything to go by, if you happen to win one, you'll then want to win another one and another one.
"That's the beauty of this race. It's iconically Australia, it emotionally attaches you to it."
