Tally and Ladies First are not paid up for the Cup while Patrick Erin and Runaway have been scratched from the Lexus.

The last horse to complete the Lexus-Cup double was Shocking in 2009. Brew in 2000 is the only other Lexus winner to claim the Cup in the past three decades.

Until 2005, both first and second placegetters in the race were guaranteed a Cup start but since then only the winner automatically makes the field.

How the Lexus winners have fared in the Cup:

1987: Scarvila (15th Melbourne Cup) 2nd: Colour Page (did not run in Cup)

1988: Copatonic (14th) 2nd: Tawriffic (12th)

1989: Coshking (20th) 2nd: Gopak (12th)

1990: Mount Olympus (5th) 2nd: Kingston Rule (Won)

1991: Rasheek (6th) 2nd: Dr Grace (20th)

1992: Big Barron (10th) 2nd: Val D'Arno (13th)

1993: Tennessee Jack (6th) 2nd: Maraakiz (7th)

1994: Pindi (16th) 2nd: Starstruck (10th)

1995: Coachwood (5th) 2nd: Dupain (9th)

1996: Few Are Chosen (19th) 2nd: Centico (16th)

1997: Backslapper (did not run in Cup) 2nd: Grandmaster (10th)

1998: Star Binder (did not run in Cup) 2nd: Second Coming (23rd)

1999: The Warrior (6th) 2nd: Rose O'War (8th)

2000: Brew (Won) 2nd: Mr.Nelson (19th)

2001: Maythehorsebewithu (5th) 2nd: Spirit Of Westbury (17th)

2002: Requiem (22nd) 2nd: Miss Meliss (10th)

2003: Big Pat (10th) 2nd: Fawaz (18th)

2004: Don Raphael (20th) 2nd: Catchmeifyoucan (8th)

2005: Strasbourg (18th)

2006: Maybe Better (3rd)

2007: Sculptor (9th)

2008: Moatize (6th)

2009: Shocking (Won)

2010: Maluckyday (2nd)

2011: Niwot (8th)

2012: Kelinni (4th)

2013: Ruscello (23rd)

2014: Signoff (4th)

2015: Excess Knowledge (7th)

2016: Oceanographer (12th)

2017: Cismontane (13th)

2018: A Prince Of Arran ?