1. Hartnell (12) 57.5kg - Damian Lane. 25-1. GBR. James Cummings. Authorized-Debonnaire. Unlucky last start when severely checked in G1 2000m C’field G1 Caulfield Stks. Lining up for 3rd start in race for Godolphin. Third last year and been set for race. Early fav for the race who's blown like the wind. Few top weights win the race. 2. Almandin (14) 56.5kg - Frankie Dettori. 6-1. DEU. Robert Hickmott. Monsun-Anatola. Powerful win 2500m listed JRA Trophy, then ran nice race when worked home well for 3.5l 4th in 2500m G3 Bart Cummings. Had to work wide, but seemed a bit disappointing. Winner last year and should run well. 3. Humidor (13) 56kg - Blake Shinn. 17-2. NZL. Darren Weir. Teofilo-Zalika. Battled on ok in 2400m G1 Caulfield Cup behind Boom Time when beaten 2.75l. Then pulled off amazing effort running Winx to a lg nk in Cox Plate in track record time. Distance is the query, but goes into the race with cracking form behind him. Trainer is winning everything. 4. Tiberian (23) 55.5kg - Olivier Peslier. 30-1. FRA. Alain Coutetil. Tiberius-Toamasina. Sh hd winner of 2500m G3 Prix de Reus, then sk nh win of 2500m Deauville G2 De Deauville. Won 4 of last 5. No European has won this race without an Aust lead up run. Still, winning form is good form. 5. Marmelo (16) 55kg - Hugh Bowman. 8-1. GBR. Hughie Morrison. Duke Of Marmalade-Capriolla. Big winner of 3000m G2 Prix Kergorlay last August. At only run here, put in a blinder flashing home after a tough run when 6th, beaten 2.75l in G1 2400m Caul Cup behind Boom Time. Ran fastest finishing sectionals of the race. The Kergorlay has been a great form guide for the Cup. Protectionist and Americain have done the double. 6. Red Cardinal (24) 55kg - Kieren McEvoy. 14-1. IRL. Andreas Wohler. Montjeu-Notable. 2 runs back, just got home in 3219m Belmont Park G3 Cup Invitational in June. Then beaten 6.25l by Marmelo in 3000m Deauville G2 Prix Kergorlay Aug. 20 after a hives attack in Germany. Winner at 3000m in Germany too. Looks to be a tough stayer in the hands of a trainer who's won this race in the past. Alley is a nightmare. 7. Johannes Vermeer (3) 54.5kg - Ben Melham. 9-1. IRL. Aidan O'Brien. Galileo-Inca Princess. Two runs here were full of merit. Top effort first up in 2000m G1 Caul Stks going down nk. Then extemely unlucky in 2400m G1 Caul Cup when dragged back through field by tired horses. Ran on strongly to run 3rd. Not won beyond 2000m, so the trip is puts a bit of a cloud over his chances. They wouldn't bring him down if they didn't rate him. 8. Bondi Beach (1) 54kg - Michael Walker. 60-1. IRL. Robert Hickmott. Galileo-One Moment In Time. Third time out in Cup. Saddle slipped and trapped wide and poor run 2000m open Hcp behind Aloft at F'ton. Then finished down the track behind Almandin in LR 2500m Jra at F'ton. Won the G3 2816m Currah Cup in 2015, but seems to be a light of other days. 9. Max Dynamite (2) 54kg - Zac Purton. 14-1. FRA. Willie Mullins. Great Journey-Mascara. Beaten 17.5l in 3229m hurdle at Galway on August 3. Returned to flat for big win over 3420m in a Killarney Hcp later that month, when he raced on pace. Second in Cup two years back. Old timer in wily hands. Will love the trip, but looks to have his work cut out though. Worked well last Tuesday. 10. Ventura Storm (6) 54kg - Glen Boss. 30-1. IRL. David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig. Zoffany-Sarawati. 2nd beaten 6.5l by Winx in G1 2000mTurnbull Stakes. Then into Caul Cup where beaten 6.5l when 13th behind Boom Time. Didn't get the greatest run though. The wide open spaces of Flemington will better suit him. 11. Who Shot Thebarman (20) 54kg - Tommy Berry. 40-1. NZL. SCRATCHED. 12. Wicklow Brave (8) - 54kg - Stephen Baster. 60-1. GBR. Willie Mullins. Beat Hollow-Moraine. Beaten 14.25l Curragh G1 Irish St Leger behind Order Of St George on Sept 10. One run here, walked out of gates in 2400m G1 Caul Cup. Ran into trouble two furlongs out when finishing 5.5l away. Only beat 2 home in last years Cup. Age against him. 13. Big Duke (5) - 53.5kg - Blake Avdulla. 20-1. IRL. Darren Weir. Raven's Pass-Hazarayna. .75l winner of 2600m R’wick St Leger Stakes. Cismontane finished 3rd. Then went to the Valley for the 2500m G2 M. Valley Cup where he was beaten 2.25l in finishing 4th. Never really got a clear run when needed. Has run 3rd at two miles. In hands of trainer with red hot form. 14. US Army Ranger (22) 53.5 - Jamie Spencer. 60-1. IRL. Aidan O'Brien. Galileo-Moonstone. Form of late has been dismal. 11.25l behind Stradivarius in Goodwood G1 Goodwood Cup Aug 1 when 8 of 14. Then last Leopardstown G3 Enterprise Stks Sept 9. Hasn't won in 9 starts since 2nd in Epsom Derby. If he could strike that form, he'd take some beating here. 15. Boom Time (9) - 53kg - Cory Parish. 25-1. AUS. David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig. Flying Spur-Bit Of a Ride. Worked hard while close to lead in torridly run 2400m C’field G2 Herbert Power when 4th beaten 2.5l. Then went into 2400m G1 Caul Cup where he put in a massive run. Settled mid field then flash late along the rail to win going away. Another stable in hot form. Looks value. 16. Gallante - (18) - 53kg - Michael Dee. 100-1. IRL. Robert Hickmott. Montjeu-Crazy Volume. Flogged 18.5l C’field G3 Foundation Cup behind Harlem. Then beaten 3.75l when 7th of 12 by Vengeur Masque in 2400m Geelong G3 Geelong Cup. Has won at the distance but put in a shocker this race last year. 100-1 for a reason. 17. Libran (7) - 53kg - Dwayne Dunn. 40-1. IRL. Chris Waller. Lawman-True Crystal. Ran on from well back 5th beaten 4.5l behind Big Duke 2600m R’wick St Leger Stakes in Syd. Then came from last to finish 2nd to Who Shot The Barman 2500m M Valley G2 M. Valley Cup. Has run 2nd at the distance in G1 company in Syd. Very astute trainer. 18. Nakeeta (19) 53kg - Glynn Schofield. 30-1. GBR. Iain Jardine. Sixties Icon-Easy Red. Ran on to finish 4th beaten 4.75l by Jaameh in 2800m Hcp at Newmarket. Then put in career best performance in beating a massive field in the Ebor. Scotland's first starter in the Melbourne Cup. Gets in with a light weight, but still has the "not run here in prep" hoodoo to over come. The Ebor has provided a solid form line in the past. Last year's winner finished second in the cup. 19. Single Gaze (11) 53kg - Kathy O’Hara. 40-1. AUS. Nick Olive. Not A Single Doubt-Redaluca's Gaze. Nice solid run when 4th beaten 2.75 2000m C’field G1 Caulfield Stks. Then put in herculean effort when she carted the field to the tear away leader in 2400m G1 Caul Cup when 1.25l second to Boom Time. The big ask will be the 3200m. She's a very honest mare though and would prove a popular winner. 20. Wall Of Fire (15) - 53kg - Craig Williams. 12-1. IRL. Hugo Palmer. Canford Cliffs-Bright Sapphire. Came home nicely when 2nd beaten .75l behind Defoe 2671m Newbury G3 Geoffrey Freer. At only run here, gave a mighty effort under a big weight when 2nd 2400m C’field G2 Herbert Power. Drops 11 lbs on that run. Has failed at only two attempts at this distance, but Herbert Power form is a solid guide to the cup. Must be a chance. 21. Thomas Hobson (21) - 52kg - Joao Moreira. 13-1. GBR. Willie Mullins. Halling-La Spezia. Stayed on the speed and took lead in straight but ran out of steam when 5th 3270m York G2 Lonsdale Cup Aug 25. Much better effort though in 3600m Doncaster G2 Doncaster Cup when ran home nicely for 1.25l second. Has the services of the "Magic Man" and distance will be right up his alley. Will he have the ping though? 22. Rekindling (4) 51.5kg - Corey Brown. 16-1. GBR. Joseph O'Brien. High Chaparral-Sitara. Battled away when 2nd beaten 4.75l Curragh G3 St Leger Trial behind Order Of St George. Did ok at latest run when 4th beaten only 2 lengths behind Capri 2922m Doncaster G1 St Leger. Lightly raced, drawn well, and will enjoy the postage stamp weight on his back. 23. Amelie’s Star (10) 51kg - Dean Yendall. 22-1. AUS. Darren Weir. Testa Rossa-Zazita. Finished well for nice 2 Length win 2500m F’ton G3 Bart Cummings. Raced close in the 2400m G1 Caul Cup but compounded in the run home when 5.5l 7th. a nice mare in the hands of great trainer, but he'll have his work cut out here. 24. Cismontane (17) 50kg - Beau Mertens. 40-1. NZL. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Viviane-Volksraad. Led them up when 3.5l 3rd in Syd 2600m R’wick St Leger Stakes. Again in front when 3rd beaten half a length 2500m M Valley G2 M. Valley Cup. Won his way into the Cup with a fighting, all the way win in the 2500m F’ton G3 Lexus last Saturday. Gets in with about 7 stone 12 and loved to bowl along in front. If tey decide to roll forward, he'll lead them for a long way. This is a race rarely won from the front though.
Thanks, Cyc. Know the barrier position can be important, but I reckon if the horse is good enough it should overcome any so-so draw? A lot depends on the jockey, of course. Had a winner or two in the old MC in the past and have already had my ante-post bet a few days ago. Recent form excellent, breeding vis-à-vis stamina not immediately apparent, but a closer look will show the Galileo line on one side, and on the other, the Sir Tristram and Sir Ivor lineage. No more clues till later! Here's one of your picture clues too, as though you needed it! please log in to view this image
Early wake up call for me on Tuesday morning. A great watch this race. Marmelo and dear ol Wicklow Brave ew for me.
Excellent write-up Cyc Quick question mate - many of these have seen the rear end of Winx disappearing into the distance, I assume connections reckon the great mare wouldn't get the trip, right?
It's hard to say how she go if trained for the 2 miles Oddy. She's been especially aimed at the 2040m at the valley for 3 years now. But maybe a hint at what she may be capable of came in her Qld Oaks. It was her first hint of what was about to unfold. It was only 2200m but it wasn't a bad win. She was four from the back at the 600.
And still they talk about Willie Mullins' Max Dynamite. Of the 11 at the Werribee quarantine centre, he's the one they're talking about the most.
HUMIDOR was second to WINX in the Cox Plate and VENTURA STORM was runner up to her in the Turnbull Two against the field for me; WALL OF FIRE and VENTURA STORM
Agree on Wall Of Fire Stick. Maybe the higher weighted horses will feel the pinch this year. There just seems to be so many light weight chances.
Hadn't looked at this race at all but something drew me to Red Cardinal. On looking at his form he has run only twice over 2 miles, and won both times. I suspect his run at Deauville was a prep run as he had beaten Nearly Caught by 1¼l 3 months earlier over 2 miles and that horse finished 3½l in front of him at Deauville. For an interest I'm going 3 against the field as I have no idea what I'm doing here Red Cardinal 16/1 Betway (see above) Marmellow 8/1 BS because he finished first in that race and won readily Tiberian 28/1 Betfred, beat Talismanic who won at the Breeders Cup
I always find that the great thing about Melbourne Cup day is that a few hours later the Haldon Gold Cup takes place at Exeter
Oh ****! I should not meddle in Cyclonic's affairs! Seriously, I am hoping for a good run from Humidor, on at a reasonable price. Only bet for a week or two:
Tomorrow is the day US Army Ranger finally gets his head in front? Sorry couldn’t even write it without laughing
Max Dynamite ew 12s seems a good bet.Decent draw and his second here two years ago reads well. Willie would have liked to have got a few more runs into him but no better man for getting one ready for the day. With Skybet paying six places I'll be dissapointed if I didn't get some money back.
Yes, hearty congratulations to young Joseph O'Brien, what a feat! Great run from Rekindling and beautifully ridden by Corey Brown too. Second ran a fine race as well. Now back to bed!
