Melbourne Cup 2023 win would be Sweet for Stackhouse

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse is hoping for third time lucky when he partners Daqiansweet Junior in the Melbourne Cup.

Daqiansweet Junior will be Stackhouse’s third ride in the 3200m Cup which is run at Flemington on Tuesday.

The Chosen One was Stackhouse’s maiden Cup ride and finished fourth in 2020 while the following year he partnered Knight’s Order into 19th place.

Stackhouse is confident Daqiansweet Junior can finish in the top 10 and potentially around the major prizemoney after running sixth behind Gold Trip in last year’s Cup.

Daqiansweet Junior has had three starts at Tuesday’s Cup trip.

He won the 2022 Adelaide Cup and followed up at his next start to run third in Sydney Cup with his only other 3200m run being in last year’s Melbourne Cup.

Stackhouse said trainer Phillip Stokes had taken a different approach to Daqiansweet Junior’s preparation for the Cup this year, preferring to keep him a little fresher.

“Stokesy said he found out a lot about him after he ran in the Melbourne Cup last year,” Stackhouse said.

“He’s so much better this time around and he’ll get the two miles, no worries at all.

“I didn’t ride him last year, but Stokesy has prepared him differently for this race this year and he goes into it a lot fresher.”

Daqiansweet Junior has drawn barrier 12 in Tuesday’s Cup and Stackhouse said that will give him options from the start.

“I’m quite happy with the barrier, as it gives us a few options because we don’t really want to be out the back, following them around which could take the race away from us,” Stackhouse said.

“It gives us some options, I feel, to be midfield and maybe get in.

“The horse is very well, so I’m very excited.”

Stackhouse said the whole experience of riding in the Melbourne Cup was something different.

“Going up the straight the first time, it’s pretty ‘narly’ as everyone is fighting to get their spots,” Stackhouse said.

“But it’s a great race and I’m very excited to be a part of it.”

Stackhouse rated Vauban as the horse to beat having watched the stayer work at Flemington last week.

“It looked pretty impressive, but he’s drawn barrier three and if he steps slow and if he doesn’t have any speed, he could be back in the pack and have not much luck,” Stackhouse said.