Racing: Vinnie Roe to reinforce Weld's Melbourne team

Vinnie Roe looks almost certain to tackle tomorrow's Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Dermot Weld, his trainer, has been worried that the ground might be too firm for the six-year-old who was jarred up when fourth two years ago.

Vinnie Roe looks almost certain to tackle tomorrow's Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Dermot Weld, his trainer, has been worried that the ground might be too firm for the six-year-old who was jarred up when fourth two years ago.

However, with showers expected, Weld is expected to let Vinnie Roe join his stable companion, the 2002 winner Media Puzzle, in the line-up. "I'm not looking for anything like a slow track," Weld said. "All I want is a safe track." As to Media Puzzle's chances, Weld said: "That's the unknown question, but he improves when he comes here."

Darren Beadman will team up with Sir Michael Stoute's Distinction for the first time in a race. The rider seeks a third Melbourne Cup win, while Distinction has been targeted at this race all season and has been given just four runs, most recently when winning at Doncaster in September.

"Distinction was enormous last week when I was legged up on him for the first time," Beadman said, "and nothing had changed on Saturday when the two of us lurched around Sandown. He is a gentleman. A real gentle giant. Those kinds of attributes in a stayer amount to a horse that will give it his all."