Trigger drawn low in Melbourne field

Double Trigger and Vintage Crop run for Europe in the 135th Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow.

The Mark Johnston-trained Double Trigger has a favourable draw in six, although Johnston admitted: "I don't know what to make of it - I wouldn't have reacted any differently had we been drawn in one or 24." Double Trigger heads the handicap with 9st 7lb, a weight that no winner has carried since 1969.

Vintage Crop became the first Northern Hemisphere runner to capture the prize in 1993 and was seventh last year. His trainer, Dermot Weld, said: "I wouldn't say he is better than last time but he is certainly as good."

Hamdan Al Maktoum's Jeune aims to become the first since 1975 to win in successive years. He was fourth to Nothin' Leica Dane in Saturday's Victoria Derby. Other familiar names are the former Johnston inmate Quick Ransom and Lanfranco Dettori, who rides Bullwinkle.