OTI Racing have four outside chances in tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup 2014 field including John Gosden’s UK raider Gatewood, but will the galloper’s outstanding form back home hold up when he returns to Australian racing?

It was a disaster day for the Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell Australian ownership syndication OTI on Saturday with horror gates being drawn for three of their four chances in this year’s $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The best drawn of the four was the Peter Moody-trained Lidari in 10 with Ben Melham to ride.

After that it was all out near the car park with the fellow Moody-trained Brambles (21), French visitor Au Revoir (23) and William Buick’s mount Gatewood in 22.

Gatewood will come into 21 for Melbourne Cup Day following the early scratching of Sea Mon (18), which is actually one of the most successful Melbourne Cup barriers in the past 30 years with the last winner form the gate being Shocking (2009).

Galileo seven-year-old Gatewood is looking to be the first of that age to win since Makybe Diva with her third in 2005 and contests his first Melbourne Cup this year.

Back in 2012 he was here for the race and looked on track with a Geelong Cup win second-up before failing to make the field when sixth to Kelinni in the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day.

He stayed on down under for an autumn bid with Chris Waller, who has three Melbourne Cup runners this year, but was very disappointing on the Sydney tracks running sixth or worse in all four of his runs that campaign.

Connections sent him home and Gatewood has thrived since, especially this preparation producing six straight top two performances.

He was last seen running second to Cocktail Queen in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville Lucien Barriere (2500M) on August 31 carrying 58.5kg and will appreciate the drop back to 55kg on Saturday with Buick staying on.

While OTI are yet to win a Melbourne Cup despite their strong hand of international imports in recent years, managing part-owner Henderson had a majority share of the 1995 Lee Freedman-trained Melbourne Cup winner Doriemus under the Pacers Australia Syndicate banner.

With OTI he came devastatingly close back in 2008 when Bauer was nosed out of the win by Bart Cummings’ 12^th and most recent winner, Viewed.

So can Gatewood atone and get the job done in a major Melbourne Cup upset this year?

Melbourne Cup Horse Form: #10 Gatewood

• Barrier: 22 (into 21)
• Weight: 55kg
• Jockey: William Buick
• Trainer: John Gosden
• Owners: O T I Management P/L, Mr G Strawbridge, Mr J C Higgins, Travaglini Racing, Mr P R Mcgrath, Uthmeyer Racing, Mrs L F Huddy, Glenlogan Park
• Age: 7yo
• Gender: Stallion
• Breeding: by Galileo (IRE) from Felicity (IRE)
• Career: 25-8-8-2
• Win: 32%
• Place: 72%
• Last 6: 11212x
• Prize Money: $669,249
• Track: 1-0-0-0
• Distance: 0-0-0-0
• Current 2014 Melbourne Cup Odds: $71

Why Gatewood Can Score an Upset 2014 Melbourne Cup Result

• Comes in from barrier 22 to 21 which may be wide but has actually produced three Melbourne Cup winners in 30 years including Shocking (2009)
• William Buick travels over for the ride
• Is Australian owned (OTI)
• Is a Group winner in the spring down under (2012 Geelong Cup)
• In devastatingly form at home with eight top two runs on the trot
• 55kg is more than manageable as he carried 59.5kg to victory two back over 2500m in and 58.5kg for a close second over the same distance last start
• Excellent 72% Place Rate

Why Gatewood Won’t Win the Melbourne Cup 2014

• While his European form is excellent his form down under when here in 2012 and 2013 was very disappointing
• Better internationals in this field including #11 Mutual Regard ($11)
• Has had just the one run at Flemington when unplaced in the 2012 Lexus Stakes
• Yet to step out over the two miles
• No European since Vintage Crop (1993) has won the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up run down under for the season

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