Small WFA fields are neither a new phenomenon nor a bad thing.

I remember Kingston Town in a small field in the Caulfield Stks one year. 4 genuine top class WFA horses then a cockroach called Moist that was maiden class and went around at 1000/1. Got in the way of a couple when tiring at the 800m. My point is ... better a small quality field than puff the numbers out with hopeless flesh. Melbourne Cup week is notorious for big fields ( the TAB love it ), and very ordinary horses ( the serious punters hate it ). Excluding the Group races of course.

Grand Armee can't be held responsible for being so good. Elvstroem was flat chat winning two starts back and finished 2 lengths ahead of Vouvray. Grand Armee beat Vouvray by nearly 6 and pulled up the last bit AND went within a second of the course record on a dead track AND made the running himself.

I put it to you that had Elvstroem been parked second behind GA at Rosehill yesterday he would have finished a gallant second beaten about 3 lengths. GA is a top WFA performer, Elvstroem a rung below. The Elvstroem camp will be very pleased to hear the champ is staying home for a $2 million race at Rosehill rather than traipse to dreary Melbourne for a mere $1 million.