This was published 8 years ago
Last Cup chance in Lexus Stakes
AAP
Eight of the 10 runners in the Lexus Stakes will be staking a claim for automatic inclusion in the Melbourne Cup.
The winner of Saturday's 2500m-Group Three race is guaranteed a start with Ecuador and Havana Cooler the only two Lexus runners not among the Cup entries at the latest declaration stage.
Irish horse Thomas Hobson was at No.24 in the Cup ballot on Friday and the horse most at risk of missing a start if connections of the Lexus winner decide to run.
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The Willie Mullins-trained Thomas Hobson is a stablemate to 2015 Cup runner-up Max Dynamite and Wicklow Brave.
Two horses already in the field - Jon Snow and Harlem - have not passed veterinary inspections and will be re-examined on Saturday.