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Hartnell remains an easing favourite for the Melbourne Cup pending a decision on whether he will take on 3200m at Flemington on Tuesday week.

Godolphin have stated a decision will be made no later than Monday’s second acceptances on whether Hartnell takes his place in the Melbourne Cup field after he was trounced by Winx in the Saturday’s WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Despite his eight lengths loss Godolphin will have to consider the Cox Plate’s standing as one of the best Melbourne Cup guides in recent years.

Melbourne Cup winners Green Moon and Efficient were both wel beaten failures in the Cox Plate in their final lead-ups while Fiorente finished third in his year.

Hartnell’s super wining form before the Cox Plate includes his effortless win over subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Jameka in the Turnbull Stakes, admittedly over 2000m but an indication of how much the import relishes the big Flemington track.

Hartnell drifted from $4.60 to as much as $6 after the Cox Plate but is now at a general quote of $5.00. Jameka is the second favourite at at $6.00.

Grand Marshal’s odds for the Melbourne Cup more than halved after his impressive win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup today.

Granb Marshal firmed from $51 to $17 with his stablemate Who Shot Thebarman also firming from $26 to $21 after finishing second. Kiwi stayer Pentathlon tightened from $101 to $51 after finishing third.

“Grand Marshal now looms as a genuine contender for the Cup after that win. He couldn’t have been more impressive and finished off strongly,” said TAB’s Shaun Anderson.

Sydney Cup winner Gallante drifted from $21 to $35, Excess Knowledge is out from $35 to $51

Meanwhile Sacred Elixir has surged to favouritism for the Victoria Derby, in from $8.00 to $4.60 after his strong win in the Moonee Valley Vase on Saturday.

However Morvada was the biggest Derby firmer from $51 to $13 after his impressive second.

So Si Bon drifted slightly from $7.00 to $7.50 after finishing third with Prized Icon out from $8.00 to $9.00.

Yankee Rose has taken a firm grip on Crown Oaks favouritism after her third in the Cox Plate.

History says she must be hard to beat at Flemington on Thursday week as Tristanagh, Samantha Miss. Miss Finland and Slight Chance all raced in the in the Cox Plate with credit and won the Oaks at her their next starts.

Melbourne Cup

$5.00 Hartnell (out from $4.60)

$6.00 Jameka

$10 Almandin

$13 Bondi Beach, Heartbreak City,

$15 Big Orange, Exospheric, Scottish

$17 Grand Marshal, Almoonqith, Wicklow Brave

$21 Curren Mirotic, Qewy, Who Shot Thebarman

$26 Grey Lion, Oceanographer, Our Ivanhowe

Victoria Derby

$4.60 Sacred Elixir (in from $8.00)

$7.00 Good Standing

$7.00 Rocketeer

$7.50 So Si Bon (out from $7.00)

$9.00 Prized Icon (out from $8.00)

$9.00 Inference

$10 Seaburge

$11 Swear

$13 Morvada (in from $51)

$13 Beach Life, Captain Duffy, Kent, Tumultuous

$17 Highlad, Retaliation, Theanswermyfriend, Wine Bush

$26 All Out Of Love, Hollywood Mo, Silvera, Veladero

Crown Oaks

$2.50 Yankee Rose (in from $3.60)

$5.00 Harlow Gold

$7.00 Eleonora, Tiamo Grace

$10 Smart As You think

$13 Sebring Dream

$15 Moqueen, Savvan, Whispering Brook

$17 Bella Sorellastra, Missrock, Sezanne

$26 Cross Stitch, La Luna Rossa, My Girl Chilly, Waterloo Sunset