We come to the final day of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington and it throws up an outstanding sprinting contest in the VRC Sprint Classic.

The Sprint Classic is just that but the Mackinnon is very thin on the ground this year and given that the favourite, Blair House, for Charlie Appleby looks to have a stranglehold on the race.

Godolphin have had a great spring - particularly with their travelling brigade - and they can back up their Melbourne Cup success with another valuable prize in a race where the local defence is plain to say the least.

Extra Brut, the Derby winner, ran a good time there in a high pressure Derby but he can be risked turning out so quickly on the back of that and the rest of the locals are handicappers...

Latrobe nicked an Irish Derby from the front and comes off an Irish St Leger last time where he ran well but on evidence to date he lacks the toe of Blair House.

5/4 is just fine!

For our each way play we will stay blue and fall for the flashy run on horse from last time in Kementari.

He rattled on home from a hopeless spot around the Valley and the straight course promises to suit him much better.

He has lacked the knockout punch all spring but he is strongly tied to Pierata - little between them in the Missile over this trip early in the prep - and Pierata comes off running a figure last start that would go along way to winning this.

If we tie Kementari to him through previous results/starting prices and toss in the fact that he is potentially drawn to advantage tracking Redzel all the way, then the early market looks open to a good each way bet on Special K.

THE MELBOURNE MAIL

Bet Of The Day: Race 8 #3 Blair House @ $2.25

Each Way Play: Race 7 #7 Kementari @ $7.50