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David Hayes' chances of winning a second Melbourne Cup have been bolstered by rain in Melbourne.
Hayes has five runners in the race but the shortest of those is The Fuzz at $31.
Blue Monday is at $41, Lazer Sharp $51, last year's equal favourite Tawqeet is $51 and Black Tom is a $151 outsider.
Although Tawqeet and Black Tom won't appreciate a soft track, Hayes' remaining trio will all benefit from the rain, with 25mm falling over the last 24 hours.
Blue Monday is a two-time winner in slow ground in the UK, while Lazer Sharp won his only start on slow ground and won the SA Derby with ease on a dead track.
The Fuzz is two from two on slow to heavy ground and has also won on a dead track.
Hayes believes Blue Monday is on track for a big run, rounding off his Cup campaign with a fast finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
He said the two lightweights will appreciate the give in the ground and can also run big races at odds.
Flemington track manager Terry Watson rated the course a slow seven yesterday but said the state-of-the-art drainage system would handle water far better than the old Flemington.
With no more rain he expects the track to be rated in the dead range – four to five.
The rail will be out 2m in the straight and 3m from the 1500m to the home turn.