Melbourne Cup concerns for Sea King – Oliver

Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Damien Oliver has expressed concern over Sea King’s chances in the main event at Flemington on Tuesday.

After his strong win in the Bendigo Cup, online bookmakers are paying +1300 for the Harry Eustace-trained galloper to take out Australia’s most famous race.

However, Oliver believes the draw in barrier one could pose some problems for a horse that isn’t the sharpest out of the gates.

“Sea King is the one I’m concerned a little bit about,” the legendary former jockey said on Monday.

“We saw in the Bendigo Cup, he didn’t have a lot of gate speed, was ridden to hold a position and then raced quite keenly.

“Declan (Bates) was able to manoeuvre his way out and make an early move, which really played into the horse’s hands.”

Oliver singled out Okita Soushi (+1200) and Just Fine (+5000) as the likely pacesetters in the two-mile feature.

“Just Fine looks the obvious leader, but you saw when he won in The Bart Cummings, it was a slowly run race that he dominated from the front,” he said.

“Okita Soushi, they’ll take advantage of him racing forward, light weight on his back. Athabascan can capitalise on a good draw.”

Vauban and Buckaroo are vying for Melbourne Cup favouritism at around +600 apiece, with Onesmoothoperator not far behind at +750 odds.