Simon O'Donnell is a Nine Network expert on cricket, which he played at the international level, and he is also a notable figure in Australia's horse racing industry.

MELBOURNE CUP

It may be a sense of deja vu in the 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup. Viewed looks to be peaking at the right time and may give the master trainer, Bart Cummings, his 13th Cup victory.

Whoever beats him I think will be the winner. Take nothing away from the defending champion who has added a Caulfield Cup to his trophy cabinet and even carrying 58 kilograms, looks the one to beat.

The fairytale story in the Melbourne Cup would be Alcopop taking the honoured trophy across the border to South Australia. He's still at backable odds and there seems to be a question mark on the trainer and the jockey's ability to win a big one at this stage of their careers.

The horse is exciting. We have to wait until race time to find out just how exciting.

The international brigade will I think be headed by Mourilyan. He is the toughest and most seasoned two miler of the group and if any of the internationals are going to figure prominantly, I believe he will be the one.

I've tried very long and hard to convince myself that Shocking can win the Melbourne Cup. Yes, I think he can, but in saying that, Alcopop doing what he did to him in the Herbert Power handicap, he should be a lot shorter than what he is if you can believe Shocking can win.

For a roughie there are many and varied. I don't think it's the toughest Cup we've seen from a class horse perspective, but it will still be very difficult to win and I wouldn't talk anyone out of their favourite pick of any of the 24 runners.

From a personal perspective, it's great to have Kibbutz in the race. The 2007 derby has had plenty of issues over the last two years and the young trainer in Warrnambool Jarrod McLean has done a masterly job to get him to where he is and we hope that he can run a very competitive race over the two miles. We believe he can stay and if that is the case, we may be able to figure somewhere in the finish.

Our recent purchase of Basaltico, under his present owners and trainer Luca Cumani, is tough, he's fit and he's preparation has been faultless sicne he arrived which has been very important for the internationals to be competitive here in Australia. He's ticked enough boxes to say he may be able to go one better than Bauer did last year.

Simon says:
1. Viewed $5.00 win, $2.00 pl
2. Alcopop $5.50 win, $2.10 pl
3. Shocking $11.00 win, $3.50 pl

* Odds provided by centrebet.com, 8.00pm November 2nd (AEDT).