Far cry, ante-post favourite for the Melbourne Cup, left for Australia yesterday morning.

Martin Pipe's stayer has finished second in the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup on his two starts this season to earn a quote of 8 to 1 from William Hill and 10 to 1 from local layer Michael Eskander for the November 7th contest.

"I saw him loaded last night," Pipe said. "He was collected at 11 o'clock. He came from his quarantine box and was loaded onto the lorry.

"He flew off at about seven o'clock this morning. He loaded OK and everything was fine - it's a great adventure."

Far Cry will be sharpened up by the use of some headgear when he lines up for the Flemington race.

Pipe went on: "He'll wear blinkers or a visor, probably a visor. Just to make him concentrate a bit more.

"We saw some videos of racing in Australia last night - it is very, very tough but it is exciting to go."

Melbourne Cup betting: William Hill: 8-1 Far Cry, 10-1 Mont Rocher, 12-1 Arctic Owl, Coco Cabana, Freemason, Oxford Dollar, 14-1 Bohemiath, 16-1 bar.

Michael Eskander betting: 10-1 Far Cry, 121 Arctic Owl, Freemason, Mont Rocher, Oxford Dollar, 14-1 Citra's Prince, 16-1 Bohemiath, Coco Cobanna, Enzeli, 20-1 bar.