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A week of heavy rain has left trainer Kerry Parker hopeful rather than confident of coming away with a result at Kembla Grange on Tuesday and veteran galloper Tenorino ($14 on TAB) is his best chance on Melbourne Cup day.

Parker had set a strong team for Cup day and has runners in all of the quaddie legs at his home track, which was subject to a stewards’ inspection on Monday afternoon. The track passed the inspection and was rated a heavy (9) for what is traditionally one of the biggest days of the year at Kembla.

Coronavirus restrictions will ensure there is only a limited crowd on course in 2020 but Parker is hoping they’ll still have plenty to cheer about late in the day.

The local horseman is keen to end the day on a high note with Tenorino in the TAB Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m). The eight-year-old was third at the same track and distance last month.

“He went super last start and is always a chance in those sorts of races so hopefully he’s ready to do it on Melbourne Cup day,” Parker said. “He has only got a short sprint so you don’t want to hit the lead too early on him.

“I think he is a genuine each-way hope again. We know he handles it but doesn’t win out of turn. He is an honest little racehorse.”

Another of Parker stable veterans that had been set for Cup day is Virgilio ($7.50), however, the son of Snippetson’s chances took a hit when the rain came.

Virgilio has been placed in just one of his four attempts on heavy ground and lines up in the AC Air & Electric Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

“He can be hard to place but this looked like a lovely race for him until the rain came,” Parker said. “The sting out of the ground doesn’t worry him but when it gets really heavy it’s a different story.

“One thing I do know, he went super at Kembla last start so he can repeat that on a heavy track he should run well.”

Parker will use the 1.5kg provincial claim of apprentice Cejay Graham on Virgilio to bring his top weight down to 59.5kg.

Parker also saddles up Whakaaro ($81) in the WIN Network Maiden Plate (1400m) and Don Luigi ($14) in the Go Hire Maiden Handicap (1200m). He believes both gallopers will need to lift on the heavy track. Race one jumps at 12.05pm.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here