Five days is a long time in racing, and anything can happen, but at the time of publishing (Thursday), the Merriman family-bred, locally-owned, and Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace-trained Right You Are was set to contest Australia’s greatest race, the Melbourne Cup.

Owners: M O Merriman, Mrs E C Merriman, Mrs J M Merriman, S E Merriman, Chasing Drama, G Paolucci, E M Whitehead, Ms G P Whitehead, Mrs R A Abbey, B J Abbey, Ms J G Downer, C M Downer, Think Leica Winner, M Arceri, May At The Bool, Wilawl Go Racing, A A J Grant & Mrs D Paolucci.

The $8 million event, run over the 3200m at Flemington, is the toughest staying test in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most coveted races in the world.

The race that stops a nation always brings together champion gallopers, and Right You Are won’t look out of place.

A seven-year-old by So You Think out of Leica Ding, Right You Are was bred and raised locally, and the gelding has since started 26 times for ten wins, earning connections just shy of $1.1 million in prize money.

Last start, he contested the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m), and jockey Michael Dee sent him to the front as the pair led into the home straight.

For a moment, he looked like a top-three chance, but the backmarkers finished hard and fast.

Still, Right You Are hung on gamely to finish fifth, earning connections $150,000 when beaten just 4.2 lengths by eventual winner Without A Fight (Mark Zahra) from the Sam and Anthony Freedman yard.

Right You Are proved he was tough as nails that day, and there is no doubt that many local eyes will be on him if he does turn out on the first Tuesday in November.

MELBOURNE CUP POSSIBLE FIELD (by likely handicap order)

1 – GOLD TRIP (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) James McDonald 58.5kg

2 – ALENQUER (Mike Moroney) Damien Oliver 56.5kg

3 – WITHOUT A FIGHT (Anthony and Sam Freedman) Mark Zahra 56.5kg

4 – BREAKUP (Taisuya Yoshioka) Damian Lane 55kg

5 – VAUBAN (Willie Mullins) Ryan Moore 55kg

6 – SOULCOMBE (Chris Waller) Joao Moreira 53.5kg

7 – ABSURDE (Willie Mullins) Zac Purton 53kg

8 – RIGHT YOU ARE (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) 53kg

9 – VOW AND DECLARE (Danny O’Brien) Billy Egan 53kg

10 – CLEVELAND (Kris Lees) Michael Dee 52kg

11 – ASHRUN (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) 51.5kg

12 – DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (Phillip Stokes) 51,5kg

13 – OKITA SOUSHI (Joseph O’Brien) 51.5kg

14 – SHERAZ (Chris Waller) 51.5kg

15 – KING FRANKEL (Annabel Neasham) 51kg

16 – LASTOTCHKA (Mick Price/Micheal Kent Jnr) Craig Wiliams 51kg

17 – MAGICAL LAGOON (Chris Waller) 51kg

18 – MILITARY MISSION (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott) Rachel King 51kg

19 – SERPENTINE (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott) Jye McNeil 51kg

20 – VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (Liam Howley) 51kg

21 – FUTURE HISTORY (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) Hollie Doyle 50kg

21 – MORE FELONS (Chris Waller) Jamie Kah 50kg

23 – TRUE MARVEL (Matthews Smith) 50kg

24 – VALIANT KING (Joseph O’Brien) 50kg

Others listed in ballot order:

25 – LADIES MAN (Allan Sharrock) Dean Yendall 50kg

26 – ATHABASCAN (John O’Shea) 50kg

27 – UNITED NATIONS (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) 50kg

28 – FANCY MAN (Annabel Neasham) 50kg

29 – HASTA LA WAR (Sue Murphy) 50kg

30 – KALAPOUR (Kris Lees) 50kg

31 – INTERPRETATION (Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace) 50kg

32 – MOSTLY CLOUDY (Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young) 50kg