​Melbourne Cup: Can 'Flying' Frankie Detorri Finally Do It?

He's finished runner-up twice before in the Melbourne Cup and been dudded with an outside barrier draw (24) in this year's race but Wicklow Brave trainer, Irishmen Willie Mullins, still thinks Frankie Dettori can do it.

"He's been riding out of his skin this year and he's due a Melbourne Cup," he said.

Their charger, Wicklow Brave ($16) is a former jumping horse and has been labelled a "clone" of 1994 winner, Vintage Crop, also a former jumping horse.

"He's improved out of all recognition this year. Why, I don't know, but he seems to have," said Mullins of the horse.

"I think there is a little bit more improvement (to come), which we'll need after winning the (St) Leger to compensate for the extra weight that he got."

Dettori and Wicklow Brave will have to overcome the favourite from Great Britain, Hartnell ($5), which will start from the middle of the field (barrier 12). With three first place finishes and two seconds in its last five starts, the John O'Shea trained six year old gelding has unrivalled form coming into the Cup.

It's main rival on odds is Oceanographer who just a few weeks ago was being offered odds of 101/1 by some bookmakers. A fast finish in the Lexus Stakes (2500m) on Derby Day, however, has seen the five year old gelding come right in to $6.50. Patchy form makes this horse anything, but two firsts from its last five starts suggests an upset win is a strong possibility.

The only Australian-bred horse in the field is third favourite, Jameka ($8). No four year old mare has carried this much weight to victory. With a 1st, 2nd and 1st in her last three starts, however, trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Nicholas Hall come into the Cup on a hotstreak. Jockey Hall will be hoping to emulate his father, Greg, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1992 on the Lee Freedman-trained Sub Zero.