The girls have had the edge over the boys in the $500,000 The Andrew Ramsden since the 2800-metre event became part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup pathway in 2019.
The first edition that carried a ballot exemption was won by imported gelding Steel Prince, but mares have won three of the past four; Oceanex (2020), Realm Of Flowers (2021) and Lunar Flare (2023).
The girls are well-placed to add to that record this year with Adelaide mare The Map favourite and Little Mix, Let’sbefrankbaby and Dashing Duchess the other mares engaged.
They are chasing the ballot exemption that will qualify them for a crack at joining 2021 winner Verry Elleegant and 2022 third placegetter High Emocean as the only mares to run top-three in the Lexus Melbourne Cup in the post-Makybe Diva era.
Oceanex and Steel Prince have made it to the starting stalls on Melbourne Cup Day after winning the Ramsden, finishing 11th and ninth respectively on the first Tuesday in November.
The Map heads to Flemington via the race that Oceanex used as a stepping stone to Ramsden success, the 2500-metre Group 3 race at Morphettville now known as the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Like The Map, Oceanex won that race, while Steel Prince and Point Nepean also won the start before their Ramsden victory.
Lunar Flare won the Ramsden Stakes off a third placing in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m), while Realm Of Flowers headed to Flemington off a fifth placing in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Excelleration, Verifier, Samuel Langhorne and Let’sbefrankbaby are the other last-start winners engaged in this year’s race.
The Map ($2.90) heads betting from Ciaron Maher-trained import Lionel, a $6 chance, and recent results suggest the winner will come from that pair.
The longest-priced winner of the ballot-exemption era has been Oceanex ($6.50), who defeated $1.80 favourite King Of Leogrance in what is one of three years that the second favourite has beaten the favourite.
Steel Prince was $2.90 when he edged out Surprise Baby ($2.40), while Lunar Flare was $5 when she defeated $2.50 favourite White Marlin.
Realm Of Flowers also won as second favourite, a $3.20 chance in the year $3.10 favourite Miami Bound finished third, while Point Nepean was on the $6 fourth line the year Splendiferous ran sixth as $4.40 favourite.
MARES IN THE ANDREW RAMSDEN (since 2019)
2019 – Sheezdashing 5th at $8
2020 – Oceanex WON at $6.50, Super Girl 3rd at $26, Sopressa last at $11
2021 – Realm Of Flowers WON at $3.20, Miami Bound 3rd as $3.10 fav, Lion’s Share 7th at $101, Salto Angel (filly) last at $26
2022 – Splendiferous 6th as $4.40 fav
2023 – Lunar Flare WON at $5, El Patroness 4th at $21
