Yeah, it's quite simple really. Seeing as he was the favourite, obviously a lot of trifecta money would have been invested on him. All of that money is simply taken out of the pool and refunded to the punters. And the dividend for the trifecta would obviously be bigger with Mr Celebrity in the field but unplaced, than it would be with him out of the field.

That's not right Sportz, ONLY the WINNER of the Saab is exempted - to the second placegetter it means twiddly dee.

It used to be the case that the second placegetter got exempted but they have changed the rules re exemption etc.

There are just two Australian races that offer exemption into the Melbourne Cup, and they are the Cox Plate and the Saab and then it's only the winners of those two races.

Yep. You're right there. He only just missed out on 3rd yesterday too.

When did they change that??? It's been the first two from the SAAB for as long as I can remember.

Sportz - I assume it was this year, if not then last year, but the balloting conditions are:

The following horses, if any should be a final acceptor for the 2005 Emirates Melbourne Cup, shall be exempt from any ballot on this race:
- 2005 VRC Saab Quality winner,
- 2005 Doncaster Cup (UK) winner,
- 2005 Irish St Leger (IRE) winner,
- 2005 Sankei Sho All Comers (JPN) winner,
- 2005 MVRC Cox Plate winner.

The other thing that has changed is in regard to penalties, whereby horses winning WFA, Set Weights or Set Weight & Penaties can now be given a weight penalty. That never used to be case either.

PENALTIES
The winner, after declaration of weights, of
- any handicap flat race of the advertised value of $60,000 or over to the winner, (2005 VRC Saab Quality excepted) or
- any flat race run over a distance of 2300 metres or further of the advertised value of $60,000 or over to the winner, (2005 VRC Saab Quality excepted) to carry such additional weight (if any) for each win as the Handicapper shall determine, (not exceeding in the aggregate 4½ kgs).

Yeah, now that you mention it, I remember them mentioning it after last year. In recent years, there hasn't really been the need for 2 horses to qualify from the race as less and less good quality horses are racing on Derby day. Funny thing, as soon as they change it, we actually get two top horses going for one spot.

There's still a chance that Leica Falcon could get in without winning the race. Quite a few horses are dropping out of the running and by Cup time, he's probably going to be pretty close to the top 24.

Will they declare Mr C as non runner or winner if he won that race yesterday?

Correct me if I am wrong as im new here,but did it not be the case that the Derby winners connections have the option of paying for a start in the Cup?Stylish Century comes to mind here.I'm against 3yo running as they are too immature,but didnt he run a great race?2nd from memory(which is fading with age!)

Sorry but the starter should never have released the field if Mr Celebrity has his leg on the stallsa. Right decision in my opinion..........and I can do more than speculate and say that Mr Celebrity WOULD HAVE WON if it had a fair chance. Anyone who looks at the race surely would have to agree. If I was was you I'd be taking the 12's very happily and counting my lucky stars that Mr Celebrity didn't get a fair crack.

And no, I did not back Mr Celebrity, I had the toppy.

I didnt see mr c,s race,but years ago I had a substantial bet on a nag called Arena in the CC which missed the start by about 10 lengths,yet WAS NOT declared a non runner???It was also ridden by a certain hoop being critisized in another thread.There are certainly some dubious decisions made in all states by the powers that be.Can anyone tell me how Taufans Melody kept his CC win after knocking half the field out of the race??