Champion mare Black Caviar will face a hollow field in Saturday's $1 million Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington when she attempts to extend her unbeaten sequence to 16 wins.
Photo by Racing and Sports
As expected the field fell away when declared today with only six horses paid up to challenge the world's best sprinting mare including three of her Peter Moody-trained stablemates.
Moody kept the numbers up by also leaving stablemates Mid Summer Music, Curtana and Panipique in the field.
The other acceptors are former Horse Of The Year Scenic Blast, Queensland sprinter Buffering and Response.
Black Caviar has drawn barrier four in the field of seven.
A capacity field of 16 plus four emergencies has been declared for the $1 million Emirates Stakes, the other feature Group One event on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Cox Plate runner-up Jimmy Choux has drawn barrier 13 while last year's Emirates Stakes winner Wall Street has gate two.
Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller is well represented with his trio Albert The Fat, Danleigh and Red Tracer.
Other acceptors include Epsom Handicap winner Secret Admirer, the in-form Testa My Patience, Toorak Toff and Love Conquers All, Woorim, King's Rose and Pinwheel.
Several riding engagements for Saturday's meeting were thrown into confusion after leading jockeys Damien Oliver, Corey Brown and Chris Symons were suspended on careless riding charges at Flemington on Tuesday.
Oliver, the star of Derby Day at Flemington when he rode three winners, was booked for Albert The Fat in the Emirates Stakes and Bauer in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Oliver was outed for 12 meetings until November 15 after stewards completed an adjourned inquiry into interference in last Staurday's Victoria Derby.
Brown was suspended for 14 meetings until November 17 for his ride on third-placed Lucas Cranach in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
Their suspensions start after Thursday's Oaks meeting. Brown's suspension rules him out of a guest riding appearance at the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton next week.
Symons was outed for nine meetings until November 12 for his ride on And Rock in Tuesday's Lexus Hybrid Plate at Flemington.
