Who are the favourites to win Melbourne Cup?

Two of the top three horses in the market for this year's Melbourne Cup are a bit of a mystery, as they have not raced in Australia prior to the race.

The favourite is English thoroughbred Deauville Legend, training in England by James Ferguson. Deauville Legend won the Great Voltigeur Stakes over 2,385m at York in August.

Behind him is another English galloper, the Irish-bred Without A Fight, trained by Simon Balding for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Without a Fight has won two races over a 2,787m distance this year, but like Deauville Legend has not run over 3,200m.

Splitting the pair is the David Payne-trained local galloper Montefilia, who was a flashing fourth in the Caulfield Cup.