Shake It Off has returned to her best form and has won three of her past four races including her two most recent starts at The Meadows.
The daughter of Fernando Bale has won two of three starts over this course and distance with the most recent win coming just four starts ago where she led all the way in 34.41 seconds.
She’s undefeated in two starts when exiting box 8.
Excavation was stiff not to be competing in the Melbourne Cup Final tonight after not being able to cross from box 8 in his heat but still running a super race for a close second in 29.06 seconds.
The Jason Thompson-trained dog dominated the G1 Top Gun two starts back at The Meadows when winning by 7.5 lengths in 29.52 seconds.
Four starts back he won the G1 Adelaide Cup so there is no doubting he’s in ripping form.
He has the early speed to either lead or settle handy which should make him tough to beat.
Canya All Class is racing in excellent form with eight wins from his past 10 starts.
The son of Shima Shine qualified for the G1 Bold Trease Final with a strong effort where he showed electric speed early to lead before showing fight late to win in the quickest heat time of 41.55 seconds.
Two starts back in the Top Gun Stayers Final he recovered from an uncustomary slow start to motor in the middles stages and win his first G1 title.
He can get on the arm from box 2.
This is a cracking edition of the Melbourne Cup with class drawn in every box!
I’m going with one of Australia’s best chasers, if not the best, in Explicit.
The Jason Thompson-trained son of Bernardo qualified for the final with a slick heat win in 29.05 seconds.
Just three starts ago he broke the mythical 29 second barrier for this course and distance when he won a Melbourne Cup Prelude in 28.97 seconds.
He has the two dogs to his outside covered for early speed so should enjoy a nice cart across from the 6.