In a long and successful training career, Tony McEvoy is a step closer to achieving his Melbourne Cup dream.
His Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours drew barrier eight which has seen the gelding retain outright favouritism in Tuesday's 3200-metre Group 1 feature at Flemington.
Half Yours leads the betting at $6 in the 24-runner event that has five horses under the $10 mark.
"What this barrier allows us to do is not make any decisions," McEvoy said.
"At Caulfield we were chasing him a little bit to ride Caulfield, but with Flemington you can be patient.
"If you draw 20 or 24, you're out there but in the back quarter. We can be midfield and be patient and that is the beautiful thing about a good barrier."
Of the other fancies, the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo drew barrier 12 with stablemates Valiant King in 10, River Of Stars in 14, while rougher chance More Felons has gate 23.
"It is a great result as you take a risk when you've got a genuine weight-for-age contender," Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said of Buckaroo.
"We could go to other options but we're rolling the dice and going in the Melbourne Cup.
"Hopefully he can get a more economical run than last year."
Racing and Sports expert Trent Crebbin said most of the leading fancies would be relatively happy with their draws.
"Especially the Waller pair of Buckaroo and Valiant King," Crebbin said.
"Buckaroo covered far too much ground from 20 last year and 12. This year's race looks more suitable.
"Top jockeys Mark Zahra (Al Riffa) and James McDonald (Meydaan) will have decisions to make from 19 and 22 respectively, especially with nearly a full minute of racing before they reach the first bend."
Valiant King holds the second line of betting at $7 with Buckaroo at $8 and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa at $9.
Ciaron Maher has three runners, one of which is Smokin Romans who will now carry 54-kilos after jockey Ben Melham was given permission to ride the horse ½-kilo over the allotted weight.
