More nonsense has erupted over whip use and Corey Brown is the target this time...Latest reports say he is expected to be investigated for illegal use of the whip on Shocking at the finishing post in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. The Sydney Morning Herald says Brown faces a hefty fine or suspension if a stewards' inquiry finds his ''celebratory gesture'' and alleged unnecessary use of the whip breached controversial new rules on whipping. Well, what a joke this is...haven't racing club officals and stewards got better things to attend to? Racing continues to shoot itself in the foot, egged on by extremists in the animal rights movement.

The VRC Oaks has a certain scent...Most bookmakers are so over-exposed with Faint Perfume that punters have virtually no chance of getting any value out of her, except through skilful use of the exotics. In latest fixed odds betting, FP was around the $1.60 mark.

TAB Sportsbet has the Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume $1.70 fav to win the Crown Oaks at Flemington on Thursday. Betting opened in late September with Faint Perfume considered one of the main chances at $10. Spokesman Matt Jenkins says: 'The money today has been constant for the favorite with 80% of the total investment on Faint Perfume. The biggest bet has been $7,000 at $1.75 but there have been a lot of bets just under that amount...There has also been a real push for Melito in the last 24 hours with bets of $3,000 at $18 and $3,000 at $15.'

CROWN OAKS

Faint Perfume $1.70

Valdemoro $9.50

Silent Surround $10.00

Livia (doubtful) $13.00

Melito $13.00

Miss with Attitude $15.00

Well Rounded $18.00

Savsbelle $26.00

Zapurb $31.00

Money Angel $51.00

Princess Rage $61.00

Perfect Rhythm $101.00

Rhiannon's Joy $101.00

Lots of hard luck stories in the wake of Shocking's Cup win...Fairytale horse, and media darling, Alcopop, didn't get much of a run, according to jockey Dom Tourneur. The lightly raced South Australian galloper heavily supported from $5.50 to start the $4.80 fav. He ran 6th. DT says Pop was badly bumped and belted and, at about the halfway point, got slammed by Kibbutz, who had been tightened for room by the eventual winner, Shocking. He adds: 'I had a good run in transit, but it was a rough-act affair.'

Melbourne Cup ballot victim Vigor will run in Sat's $1 million Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has the ride.

Mopping-up after the Cup...TAB Sportsbet reports:

Shocking

There was a plunge yesterday on Shocking with bets of $40,000 and $30,000 at $12 and another bet of $28,000 at $11. One of the first bets we took this morning was $7,000 Shocking at $10. Fifteen minutes before race start there was a late flurry for Shocking and Alcopop. Bets on Shocking included two bets of $10,000 at $11 along with bets of $6,000 and $5,000 at $11.Shocking was $21 before winning on the weekend and the best price offered by TAB Sportsbet was $61.

Alcopop

Started favorite after bets of $100,000 at $6 last night and $40,000 and $20,000 at $5.50 just before the start of the race jumping $5.25.

Bart Cummings runners

Viewed was only slightly better supported than stablemate Roman Emperor today. Viewed was as short as $4.60 this morning but drifted to $5.50 when late support came in for Alcopop and Shocking.

TAB Sportsbet held $8.7 million on the 2009 Melbourne Cup which is up 12% on last year.

David Hayes was upset by the forced scratching of Cup hope Changingoftheguard on raceday morning. Three Racing Victoria vets decided the import was lame. Hayes's vet disagreed and so did the trainer. 'They see lameness that is not there,' Hayes fumed. 'The horse is not lame.'

'Guard's' scratching adds to the farce that surrounds the Melbourne Cup this year with the highly-regarded Vigor not taking his place in the field, even though VRC committee members had a chance to toss out a scrubber and put him in. Now, the Guard incident happens. It isn't the first time David Hayes has argued with vets about the lameness or otherwise of one of his Cup runners. With computers now capable of just about anything, racing officialdom and the TABs still cannot come up with a formula to allow more than 24 runners to be listed for a race. The UK racing setup does it very easily. In 2009, we still cannot manage to do it...or just don't want to be bothered.

Tom's tip for the Cup...Big-betting bookie Tom Waterhouse is a Shocking fan. He reckons the Mark Kavanagh trained last-start winner is way over the odds. TW says: 'I think Shocking will win and 'I expect Viewed and Alcopop to be well backed by the rank and file punters...And I'll even end up laying Shocking by the time the race comes around. He looks as though he is going to start at great odds on the tote though.'

Sportingbet Australia boss Michael Sullivan reported a bet yesterday of $35,000 at $5.50 on Alcopop, and he thinks the South Australian could start favourite. He says: 'I always expected the Bart Cummings factor would ensure Viewed ran favorite but the money we are seeing come for Alcopop could well change that.'

Latest Cup news from TAB Sportsbet:

Shocking has been the best backed runner today from favourite Viewed. The biggest bets on Shocking which have all been today are $40,000 and $30,000 at $12 along with $28,000 at $11. Alcopop, who was as much as $301 in early markets, has had support today with bets of $7,000 and $5,000 at $5.50. One customer backed Alcopop early having $100 at $201. Basaltico has been the best backed of the roughies. In the last 2 days we have taken bets of $4,050 at $51, $4,000 at $41 and $2,700 e/w at $41. Also today $5,000 Warringah at $35 and $2,000 Munsef e/w at $61.

7-03.00 EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP 3200 M
Of $5500000 and $150000 trophies. 1st $3300000 and trophies of $125000 to owner $10000 to trainer $10000 to jockey $5000 to strapper, 2nd $835000, 3rd $420000, 4th $220000, 5th $150000, 6th $115000, 7th $115000, 8th $115000, 9th $115000, 10th $115000.(GROUP 1).No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 VIEWED Bart Cummings Brad Rawiller 9 58 1.0 (119)...$5.50
2 C'EST LA GUERRE (NZ) John Sadler Nicholas Hall 7 55.5 (111)...$31.00
3 FIUMICINO (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Steven King 24 55.5 (112)...$61.00
4 MASTER O'REILLY (NZ) Danny O'Brien Vlad Duric 16 55 (110)...$15.00
5 MOURILYAN (IRE) Herman Brown Glyn Schofield 14 54.5 (112)...$21.00
6 ROMAN EMPEROR (NZ) Bart Cummings Hugh Bowman 15 54 (114)...$8.50
7 ISTA KAREEM (NZ) Colin Little Luke Nolen 23 53.5 (106)...$101.00
8 CRIME SCENE (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor Kerrin McEvoy 11 53 (109)...$61.00
9 MUNSEF (GB) Ian Williams Zac Purton 5 53 (108)...$51.00
10 ZAVITE (NZ) Anthony Cummings Mark Zahra 3 53 (107)...$81.00
11 ALCOPOP Jake Stephens Dom Tourneur 12 52.5 2.5 (108)...$4.80
12 HARRIS TWEED (NZ) Murray & Bjorn Baker Craig Newitt 20 52.5 (107)...$151.00
13 KIBBUTZ (NZ) Jarrod McLean Chris Symons 8 52.5 (104)...$61.00
14 NEWPORT Paul Perry Peter Wells 18 52.5 (104)...$31.00
15 WARRINGAH (GB) Chris Waller Damien Oliver 17 52.5 (105)...$41.00
16 GALLIONS REACH (NZ) Richard Yuill Dwayne Dunn 6 52 (102)...$251.00
17 SPIN AROUND Steven Cooper Mark Du Plessis 4 52 (102)...$251.00
18 BASALTICO (IRE) Luca Cumani Danny Nikolic 10 51.5 (102)...$41.00
19 CAPECOVER (NZ) Alexander R Fieldes Noel Harris 19 51.5 (102)...$61.00
20 DAFFODIL (NZ) Kevin Gray Chris Munce 21 51.5 (110)...$16.00
21 SHOCKING Mark Kavanagh Corey Brown 22 51 (105)...$10.00
22 ALLEZ WONDER Bart Cummings Michelle Payne 13 50.5 0.5 (111)...$31.00
23 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) David Hayes Glen Boss 1 50.5 (108)...$21.00
24 LEICA DING Darren Weir Craig Williams 2 50.5 0.5 (105)...$21.00

Glen Boss reckons trouble-plagued import Changingoftheguard is at his best for the Melbourne Cup. After a long workout on 'Guard' at Sandown, Boss declared his Melbourne Cup tilt was on target. He says: 'He's back in the ball game...He gave me a triple A feel today, he's bounced back. He's obviously a tough horse.' At $21 with TAB Sportsbet, Changingoftheguard is the shortest priced of the six internationals.

Lots of confidence from the Munsef camp on Cup eve...The 8YO is a 40/1 shot but trainer Ian Williams is bubbling with confidence. He says: 'He's a big-performing horse back home and I have to stand by him 110 per cent. I wouldn't swap him for anything else in the race.'

With 48 hours to go, Viewed and Alcopop are sharing favoritism for the Melbourne Cup. Betstar has the pair at $5.00 (4/1) each, ahead of Roman Emperor $8.50 (15/2). The markat mid-afternoon on Sunday:

01. Viewed 5.00
11. Alcopop 5.00
06. Roman Emperor 8.50
21. Shocking 10.00
04. Master OReilly 13.00
20. Daffodil (NZ) 18.00
02. Cest La Guerre 21.00
23. Changingoftheguard 23.00
05. Mourilyan (GB) 26.00
24. Leica Ding 26.00
14. Newport 34.00
18. Basaltico (GB) 34.00
15. Warringah 41.00
19. Capecover (NZ) 41.00
22. Allez Wonder 41.00
08. Crime Scene (UAE) 51.00
09. Munsef (GB) 51.00
10. Zavite 51.00
03. Fiumicino 61.00
13. Kibbutz 61.00
07. Ista Kareem 81.00
12. Harris Tweed (NZ) 101.00
17. Spin Around (NZ) 101.00
16. Gallions Reach (NZ) 201.00

VRC shame...It seems very obvious that the VRC is not really interested in having the BEST field that's available running in the Melbourne Cup. Its decision not to use its discretion to include the well-performed Vigor was a dereliction of its duty. And to claim, as it did, that no runner deserves being ditched is to avoid the facts of the form guide. The bookies seem to know which runners shouldn't be there. Just take a look at the prices on offer.

Trainer Danny O'Brien has done his best to hide his disappointment at Vigor's exclusion. He says he and the owners are disappointed at missing out as they were confident for most of the day he would come in at No. 24. The party was spoiled by the connections of the higher-ranked but out-of-form New Zealand galloper Gallions Reach paying the final fee. O'Brien says: 'But I don't regret not running him in the Mackinnon...He's not the sort of horse that can back up. We took our chances.'

Racing is poorer for Vigor's absence from the big race. Racing's image is poorer. But isn't this just another poor decision by administrators who sometimes seem sadly out of touch?

Chris Munce copped a suspension for careless riding on Sikka at Rosehill on Saturday, ruling him out of next weekend's Emirates Stakes day. Munce pleaded guilty and was given a five meeting suspension. It starts on Nov 6 and ends on Nov 18 when he returns at the Gosford meeting.

Latest Melbourne Cup news from TAB Sportsbet:

Viewed has been the best supported runner today from Master O Reilly. Shocking has been a big firmer into $11 from $21 after an impressive win today. Alcopop has been well backed during the week with one bet of $8,800 @ $6.50. Bart Cummings galloper Roman Emperor also attracted interest during the week with a bet of $13,500 @ $11. One customer is looking at collecting $196,000 if Alcopop can win the Melbourne Cup. $2,000 was placed on the double So You Think (Cox Plate) into Alcopop at $98.

7-03.00 EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP 3200 M
Of $5500000 and $150000 trophies. 1st $3300000 and trophies of $125000 to owner $10000 to trainer $10000 to jockey $5000 to strapper, 2nd $835000, 3rd $420000, 4th $220000, 5th $150000, 6th $115000, 7th $115000, 8th $115000, 9th $115000, 10th $115000.(GROUP 1).No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 VIEWED Bart Cummings Brad Rawiller 9 58 1.0 (119)...$5.50
2 C'EST LA GUERRE (NZ) John Sadler Nicholas Hall 7 55.5 (111)...$26.00
3 FIUMICINO (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Steven King 24 55.5 (112)...$61.00
4 MASTER O'REILLY (NZ) Danny O'Brien Vlad Duric 16 55 (110)...$15.00
5 MOURILYAN (IRE) Herman Brown Glyn Schofield 14 54.5 (112)...$16.00
6 ROMAN EMPEROR (NZ) Bart Cummings Hugh Bowman 15 54 (114)...$8.00
7 ISTA KAREEM (NZ) Colin Little Luke Nolen 23 53.5 (106)...$101.00
8 CRIME SCENE (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor Kerrin McEvoy 11 53 (109)...$61.00
9 MUNSEF (GB) Ian Williams Zac Purton 5 53 (108)...$31.00
10 ZAVITE (NZ) Anthony Cummings Mark Zahra 3 53 (107)...$81.00
11 ALCOPOP Jake Stephens Dom Tourneur 12 52.5 2.5 (108)...$4.80
12 HARRIS TWEED (NZ) Murray & Bjorn Baker Craig Newitt 20 52.5 (107)...$121.00
13 KIBBUTZ (NZ) Jarrod McLean Chris Symons 8 52.5 (104)...$61.00
14 NEWPORT Paul Perry Peter Wells 18 52.5 (104)...$31.00
15 WARRINGAH (GB) Chris Waller Damien Oliver 17 52.5 (105)...$26.00
16 GALLIONS REACH (NZ) Richard Yuill Dwayne Dunn 6 52 (102)...$251.00
17 SPIN AROUND Steven Cooper Mark Du Plessis 4 52 (102)...$251.00
18 BASALTICO (IRE) Luca Cumani Danny Nikolic 10 51.5 (102)...$31.00
19 CAPECOVER (NZ) Alexander R Fieldes Noel Harris 19 51.5 (102)...$101.00
20 DAFFODIL (NZ) Kevin Gray Chris Munce 21 51.5 (110)...$16.00
21 SHOCKING Mark Kavanagh Corey Brown 22 51 (105)...$11.00
22 ALLEZ WONDER Bart Cummings Michelle Payne 13 50.5 0.5 (111)...$31.00
23 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) David Hayes Glen Boss 1 50.5 (108)...$15.00
24 LEICA DING Darren Weir Craig Williams 2 50.5 0.5 (105)...$26.00

Zipping and Efficient OUT...Kirklees OUT...Cima de Triomphe OUT...The 'death roll call' was in full cry for the Melbourne Cup on Derby Day. Cup fav Viewed underwent a searching vet test after his 3rd in the Mackinnon. He was galloped on but suffered only a minor wound. The vets gave him the all-clear. Zipping, who got caught under the barriers before the start of the Mackinnon, came through unscatched but owner Lloyd Williams pulled him out of the Cup. Cima de Triomphe led and weakened in the Mackinnon and thus ended his Cup hopes.

Mid-afternoon on Saturday...and there was a quick reaction to Shocking's runaway win in the Lexus 2500m. The 4YO was a firmer into $9.00 for the Melbourne Cup. Viewed and Alcopop continued to share favoritism. The TAB Sportsbet market at 3.30pm following the news that Zipping, Efficient and Kirklees will be non-runners:

VIEWED 5.50 2.12
ALCOPOP 5.50 2.12
ROMAN EMPEROR 8.00 2.75
SHOCKING 9.00 3.00
VIGOR 13.00 4.00
MASTER OREILLY 15.00 4.50
DAFFODIL 15.00 4.50
MOURILYAN 21.00 6.00
LEICA DING 21.00 6.00
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD 21.00 6.00

What a shocker! Shamoline Warrior's last-minute scratching has smashed Victoria Derby appeal. The pre-post hotpot has a lung infection and an elevated temperature. Latest betting sees Rockferry the new fav at 11/4.

In another shock, it's been announced that Godolphin galloper Kirklees will not run in the Melbourne Cup, moving Vigor a step closer to getting a start next Tuesday. Godolphin's trainer Saeed Bin Suroor made his first appearance at Sandown on Saturday morning and ruled his horse out because he wasn't satisfied with the horse's appearance.Vigor has been scratched from the Mackinnon Stakes.

South African trainer Herman Brown has lost his bid to have Bankable ready for the Grp 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemingtonon Sat week. The horse had a colic attack on Thursday night.

Nothin' like a bet...Queensland Racing stewards have fined and suspended Bobby El-Issa after a probe into betting by the jockey on his mounts at a recent race meeting. El-Issa was found guilty of three charges of betting at the Yeppoon race meeting last Tuesday, Oct 27.

Shamoline Warrior continues to dominate Vic Derby betting. he was at 9/4 on Friday afternoon, ahead of Rockferry and Monaco Consul at 4/1.

It looks like the bookmakers are convinced Efficient will not run in the Melbourne Cup. Most are already adjusting markets to reflect his absence from the field. Sportingbet has eassed Efficient out to $8.50 while Betchoice is offering $7. Both bookies list Efficient as an unlikely starter. Centrebet's Neil Evans said: 'We are probably going to proceed as though Efficient won't be there on Tuesday.' Meantime, bookies report big money pouring in for last year's winner Viewed. He's at $5.00 favoritism with Centrebet. Mark Read's IASbet has Efficient at $10.00.

Latest betting on the Melbourne Cup (www.iasbet.com)

ALCOPOP 5.00 2.00
VIEWED 5.50 2.12
ROMAN EMPEROR 7.50 2.62
EFFICIENT 10.00 3.25
DAFFODIL 15.00 4.50
MASTER OREILLY 15.00 4.50
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD 17.00 5.00
VIGOR 17.00 5.00
ZIPPING 17.00 5.00
KIRKLEES 21.00 6.00
LEICA DING 26.00 7.25
MOURILYAN 26.00 7.25
SHOCKING 26.00 7.25
ALLEZ WONDER 31.00 8.50
CEST LA GUERRE 31.00 8.50
WARRINGAH 31.00 8.50

Trainer Herman Brown wants Mourilyan ridden with utmost patience in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. The stayer has been heavily backed in the last week and Brown and jockey Glyn Schofield are confident he'll run well. Brown says: 'He totally switches off until about the 1000 metres of his races, then he wakes up and starts to look around and think 'come on let's go'. He's like a sleeping lion.'

What's the latest on Efficient's troublesome off-foreleg? Owner Lloyd Williams says: 'There is a bit of thickening there...It's the same injury he was suffering last year but it is not as bad as it was last year. I would think we will see him on Cup day but I am not a vet. If there is any doubt, then of course he won't start.' Efficient is likely to have his final Cup workout at Macedon on Saturday morning. Racing Victoria vets will examine him later in the morning. The final Melbourne Cup declaration fee of $45,375 is due by 5pm. As there are no emergencies declared for the Cup, stewards will be anxious to ascertain Efficient's condition before final payment time.

Melbourne Cup second fav Efficient is under an injury 'watch'. Racing Victoria vets examined Efficient on Thursday and later it was admitted the 2007 Cup winner is suffering from 'an old injury' to his off foreleg. The news comes only days after owner Lloyd Williams denied the horse had any problems. Racing Victoria says: 'The stable are managing an old injury in the horse's off foreleg which has been present for the past 12-18 months...Efficient has raced with success with the condition, including a last start win in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington...The stable's veterinary staff will monitor Efficient in the lead up to Tuesday's Melbourne Cup and a further examination by RVL veterinarians will take place prior to Efficient starting in the cup. The stable reassured the stewards that they won't accept for the Melbourne Cup if the veterinary advice indicates that it is not in the best interests of the horse to compete'.

Latest Melbourne Cup market from Betstar:

Alcopop 6.00
Efficient 6.50
Viewed 6.50
Roman Emperor 10.00
Master OReilly 15.00
Daffodil (NZ) 17.00
Vigor 17.00
Changingoftheguard 21.00
Zipping 21.00
Kirklees (UAE) 26.00
Mourilyan (GB) 26.00
Shocking 26.00
Warringah 26.00
Allez Wonder 34.00
Cest La Guerre 34.00
Leica Ding 34.00
Basaltico (GB) 51.00
Dandaad 51.00
Fiumicino 51.00
Kibbutz 51.00
Munsef (GB) 51.00

Top bookies are just about conceding the Victoria Derby to pre-race fav Shamoline Warrior. Alan Eskander's Betstar posted Shamoline Warrior at $3 and isn't concerned about the 3YO drawing gate #9. 'He was always going to get back early in the race, so it won't hinder him at all,' says Eskander. 'Rockferry is obviously the one that has drawn perfectly.' Centrebet's Neil Evans reports that Shamoline Warrior is into $2.70 with Rockferry out to $6.

Bendigo Cup winner Zupacool will be a starter in the Grp 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) on Emirates Stakes day at Flemington. Co-trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon will be hoping he can again strike firm going. Luke Nolen got a lucky inside run at the 200m to enable Zupacool to rip through and win the Cup from Cross The Start and Daka's Gem. Kiwi stayers Gallions Reach (5th) and Capecover (7th) missed out on their final chance to stake a claim in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.

Crystal Mile winner Rangirangdoo has been installed the early fav at around 5/2 ($3.60) for Sat's Grp 1 2000m LKS Mackinnon Stks at Flemington. TAB Sportsbet has Vigor the second fav at 4/1 ($5.00). The market on Wednesday afternoon was:

R5 MACKINNON STAKES

RANGIRANGDOO 4.60 into $3.60
VIGOR 5.00
SCENIC SHOT 7.50
DRUMBEATS 8.00
ZIPPING 8.50 into $7.00
VIEWED 9.00
MASTER OREILLY 9.00
RACING TO WIN 13.00
MISS MAREN 13.00
CIMA DE TRIOMPHE 14.00
MANDELA 35.00
SIR SLICK 41.00
NEWPORT 81.00

RANGIRANGDOO

$3,200 @ $4.60
$1,500 @ $4.20
$1,200 @ $4.20

Now $3.60

ZIPPING

$3,000 @ $8.50

Now $7.00

Other bets

$700 @ $10.00 Viewed

Kiwi trainer Alexander Fieldes has assured stewards that Bendigo Cup topweight Capecover is '100 per cent fit', despite earlier claiming the horse had feet problems. Stewards say Capecover, who is 27th in order of entry for a Melbourne Cup start, must undergo a veterinary examination on arrival at Bendigo on Wednesday.

Speed Gifted is out of the Melbourne Cup. Trainer Lee Freedman says the imported stayer had jarred up in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley surface and it would be impossible to have the horse right by next week.

Alcopop and Efficient are sharing favoritism at 5/1 ($6.00) for the Melbourne Cup with one week to go to the big race. The latest Betstar market:

Alcopop 6.00
Efficient 6.00
Viewed 6.50
Roman Emperor 10.00
Daffodil (NZ) 16.00
Master OReilly 16.00
Vigor 18.00
Zipping 18.00
Mourilyan (GB) 21.00
Cest La Guerre 26.00
Changingoftheguard 26.00
Shocking 26.00
Warringah 26.00
Allez Wonder 34.00
Kirklees (UAE) 34.00
Leica Ding 34.00
Fiumicino 51.00
Munsef (GB) 51.00