2007 Melbourne Cup Thread

[starz]

The first Tuesday in November, the Great Race that stops a nation.
The acid test of Champions and every jockey, trainer and owners dream.

I'll try and post some news & updates in the lead up to the race.
Feel free to contribute, let's keep it on track though.

One of the most famous races in the world, over a billion viewers through 126 countries will see if Delta So many stories and everything on the line, who will it be?
I like Zipping, Efficient and Gallic the Lloyd Williams team.

Here's some stats & facts of the 147 year history of the race:

PAST 5 WINNERS
2006
DELTA BLUES Y Iwata, K Sumii
2005
MAKYBE DIVA G. Boss, D L Freedman
2004
MAKYBE DIVA G. Boss, D L Freedman
2003
MAKYBE DIVA G Boss, D Hall
2002
MEDIA PUZZLE D Oliver, D Weld


DUAL WINNERS:
Archer 1861 - 62;
Peter Pan 1932 - 1934;
Rain Lover 1968 - 69;
Think Big 1974 - 75;

TRIPLE WINNERS:
Makybe Diva 2003 - 04 - 05;

There have been 8 winners as top weight including the big 3:
Carbine, Phar Lap and Makybe Diva

AGE OF WINNERS:
3 year old - 23 (last 3yo - Skipton (1941)
4 year old - 41
5 year old - 41
6 year old - 26
7 year old - 9
8 year old - 2

70 Cup favourites have finished in the first three placings.
The favourite has won 29 times.

JOCKEYS COLOURS:
17 cup winning jockeys have worn black as their main colour.
Navy blue and royal blue has 14 wins (The colours of Efficient, Zipping and Gallic in 07)

WINNING BARRIERS:
Barrier 11.... 6 winners
Barriers 5, 6 and 19..... 5 winners
Most Unsuccessful Barriers:
Barrier 18 – Nil
Barrier 7 – One winner Backwood (1924)

MOST WINNING NUMBER:
No 4 with 11 wins

WINNERS OF THE CUP DOUBLES, MELBOURNE/CAULFIELD
TOTAL 11: Poseidon 1906, The Trump 1937, Rivette 1939, Rising Fast 1954, Even Stevens 1962, Galilee 1966, Gurner's Lane 1982, Let's Elope1991, Doriemus1995, Might and Power 1997, Ethereal 2001

TRAINER WITH MOST WINS:
Bart Cummings 11 wins

The Cup is made up of 34 pieces of hand-beaten eighteen carat gold and a
lathe-produced base.

 

[starz]

Early pre-post markets have Efficient down as favourite.

Cup favouritism a heavy burden

AS if trying to overcome the Phar Lap curse isn't enough for Fiumicino and Efficient.

Even more burdensome - if that is possible - is the "favourites" tag each must shoulder over the next two months into the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups.

With more than 250 entries received last week for both Cups, bookies have framed their first markets on the big races with Fiumicino early Caulfield Cup favourite and Efficient at the top of Melbourne Cup betting.

Nick Moraitis, popular owner of Fiumicino, experienced every racing enthusiast's dream when his champion Might And Power won the coveted Cups double in 1997, but he doesn't like to talk up his chances of more triumphs this spring.

"I've been involved in racing for a long time and I've learned to take nothing for granted," Moraitis said of Fiumicino's Cups prospects. "I never look too far ahead or get my hopes up because it can lead to disappointment. So many things can go wrong in this game."

Perhaps Moraitis was also aware of the poor record of "August favourites" in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Since Might And Power's dual triumphs, only 1999 Caulfield Cup winner Sky Heights and 2004 Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva were race favourites at the start of spring.

Over the last decade, some of the early Cups favourites either didn't make it to the post or proved spectacular flops. Remember the likes of Kaapstad Way, Mutafaweeq, Wild Iris, Plastered, Headturner?

If this doesn't dent the confidence of punters wanting to back Fiumicino and Efficient, what about the Phar Lap curse?

Fiumicino and Efficient have earned their lofty ratings in Cups betting through their impressive classic wins last season - Fiumicino ran away with the AJC Australian Derby and Efficient was dominant in the Victoria Derby.

But the last horse to take either Derby and then return as a four-year-old to win the Melbourne Cup was the legendary Phar Lap in 1930.

Efficient's owner, Lloyd Williams, is a great student of racing and he knows just how difficult it will be for his stayer to win the Melbourne Cup.

"He will have to be four to six lengths better than he was a year ago," Williams said of Efficient.

TAB's Glenn Munsie acknowledged the poor record of early favourites in the Cups but doesn't expect that will stop punters wanting to back either Fiumicino or Efficient to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

"They are Derby winners, lightly raced, look like true stayers, and should be given a weight that ensures they are in the race," Munsie said.

"Punters will know that unless either horse suffers an injury or terrible form lapse, there's a pretty good chance these two will start in the Cups, so they are going to get a run for their money."

Fiumicino begins his Cups preparation with a barrier trial at Warwick Farm today. He is due to resume racing in the Group Two $200,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 25.

Efficient was an original entry for the Aurie's Star Handicap at Moonee Valley tomorrow but owner Lloyd Williams has decided to wait until next week's Group Two $200,000 J.J. Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Form guru Mark Morrissey has been framing Cups markets for almost 20 years and says that punters love the challenge of trying to find the Cup winner three months before the race is even run.

"It's become a great Aussie tradition," Morrissey said of early Cups betting. "When you think about it, there's a bit of an art to betting on the Cups in August.

"Not only do punters have to identify the right horse, they have to take the odds that horse will qualify for the race.

"Trying to back horses in August for a race in November is not easy but that is part of the mystique of it all.

"Really, there is nothing like Cups betting. We do get a lot of interest from punters on races like the Golden Slipper and Doncaster Handicap when we first put those markets up for autumn but those holds are nothing compared with what we bet on the Cups."

The record of Cups favourites over the last decade does make for sobering reading.

Back in 1997, punters wanted Marble Halls and Yippyio for the Cups. Might And Power, who won both races, was at $15 in early betting.

Marble Halls was immature and had stamina limitations, struggled to cope with the grind of a Cups preparation and was well beaten in both races.

Yippyio contracted travel sickness on the way to Melbourne and almost died. He did not race again for nearly a year.

Tie The Knot was all the rage for the 1998 spring carnival but was luckless in both Cups.

The Caulfield Cup that year was won by English stayer Taufan's Melody. He started at $81 but as much as $251 was bet about the veteran gelding back in August.

Similarly, bookies first offered $201 about Jezabeel for the Melbourne Cup.

The 2000 Cup winners were also early outsiders. Diatribe was listed originally at $41 for the Caulfield Cup and Brew at $201 for the Melbourne Cup.

In 2002 champion Northerly won the Caulfield Cup while bookies let Dermot Weld's unknown stayer Media Puzzle under their guard that year, betting as much as $151 when Melbourne Cup markets were first framed.

Even the great Makybe Diva was rated only a $51 chance before she won the first of her three Melbourne Cups in 2003.

But the Phar Lap curse and the poor record of favourites won't deter punters. It never has. So, who is your early pick for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups?
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,,22217292-5006070,00.html

 

[not quite rite]

Early pre-post markets have Efficient down as favourite.

maybe better watched its trial the other day looked impressive

 

[justthedukes]

is there anywhere you can place bets on for the cup atm? Fixed Odds though

 

[starz]

is there anywhere you can place bets on for the cup atm? Fixed Odds though

As of last week, most betting agencies have fixed odds up for the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.
TAB sportsbet ran a promotion of doubling the Japanese horses odds up to a liability of $1 million each.

AAP -
Punters swarmed to the promotion by the TAB offering double the price on the Japanese runners in this year's Melbourne Cup with the inflated odds on last year's winner Delta Blues and Pop Rock closing only a few hours after betting opened.

 

[starz]

LEICA Falcon is back from injury -

The rising six-year-old's trainer Richard Freyer was cautious but optimistic that Leica Falcon can return to form this Spring which would end a frustrating 22 months on the sidelines.
"Everything has gone along very well since the operation and I bought him to the races (from his Corowa stables) to give him that feel of race day again," Freyer said.
"It's been a long wait but there's no reason why he can't get back to the form of a couple of years ago."
Leica Falcon was the favourite for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups last winter before he received a 12-centimetre tear in his near-fore tendon during training. He underwent stem cell surgery at the Goulburn Valley Equine Clinic last August.
Freyer said Leica Falcon had been "stretching out perfectly" in his work and had not gained too much weight. The son of Nothin' Leica Dane was the subject of an estimated $2 million offer after his fifth in the 2005 Caulfield Cup, with a fourth in Makybe Diva's memorable farewell in the Melbourne Cup just 17 days later. From just 10 starts, he had won five races and $456,525 in prizemoney.

 

[starz]

Some bad news on top prospect Xcellent -

Xcellent — potentially the best horse to come out of New Zealand in years — had a shoulder injury that would prevent the now six-year-old racing this spring. Xcellent has raced only once since the 2005 Melbourne Cup, where he was third behind Makybe Diva.
Preparing for the following autumn, Xcellent suffered tendon injuries which kept him out of racing until this June when Moroney took him to Brisbane for the Stradbroke Handicap.
Moroney was having further scans on Xcellent yesterday to determine if there was ligament damage or whether it was muscle strain. Either way, Xcellent will be rested, putting him out of contention for the spring.

 

[starz]

It's a Boy for The Diva!

Makybe Diva has her first foal
August 17, 2007

Champion mare Makybe Diva was the ultimate professional on the racetrack and is showing the same sort of attitude to motherhood following the birth of her first foal, a colt, on Friday.

The three-time Melbourne Cup-winning mare foaled at 3.16am (AEST) on Friday morning at Coolmore Stud in the NSW Hunter Valley following a "textbook" 15-minute labour.

The newborn is a son of 2001 Epsom Derby winner Galileo and Coolmore's farm manager Peter O'Brien said he was a lovely type.

"He's a strapping bay colt with a white blaze and three white ankles," O'Brien said.

"He's very similar to his grandfather Sadler's Wells.

"She is as proud as Lucifer at the moment standing with her little boy."

The foal arrived about a week after his due date which O'Brien said was not unusual, especially for first-time mothers.

He reported Makybe Diva handled the Labor process exceptionally well but admitted it was a relief when the valuable colt arrived safe and sound.

"You would swear she'd had ten foals before," O'Brien said.

Owner Tony Santic was delighted by news of the arrival and said his main concern was that mother and foal came through the birth well.

"It's fantastic news ... naturally all you want to hear is both the mare and foal are fit and healthy," Santic said.

"This little fella has some big shoes to fill. I am sure Mum will be very protective, she'll take to motherhood like she did to racing I have no doubt."

Santic has yet to decide whether he will retain the colt and race him or sell him and said he won't be rushing into a decision.

"Let's get them through the next stage first, there's plenty of time to make that decision," he said.

Makybe Diva and her foal will remain at Coolmore Stud in the short-term and she will be served by another of their stallions, Encosta De Lago, in mid-September.

Her three-quarter brother Musket will race in the Fairfield RSL Hcp (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

 

[AAMI]

Re: It's a Boy for The Diva!

Makybe Diva has her first foal

What odds can you get for him winning this year's Melbourne Cup?

 

[- PC -]

I love these threads. BF has helped me get 2 out of 3 Tris since I've been posting

Always pick bits of info up on here, with my own ideas and its great

 

[over the top]

Re: It's a Boy for The Diva!

What odds can you get for him winning this year's Melbourne Cup?

I would say you could almost get up to $10 at some bookies

itll b bakd in like a bitch come cup day tho

 

[over the top]

Can anyone tell me what i could get on maldivian for the cup? won me the tri yesterday

 

[eastaugh36]

Anyone know any news on Soulacroix, the overseas horse now with Freedman. He'd have to be considered now that he has been here for the year to acclimatise.

 

[starz]

Flu halts horses' Cup run

LAST year's Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues may be barred from the race this November because of an outbreak of equine influenza in Japan.

Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran may have to prevent Japanese horses Delta Blues and last year's Cup runner-up Pop Rock from entering Australia because of quarantine rules.

Race meetings across Japan were cancelled over the weekend because of an equine influenza breakout detected in 29 horses so far.

Mr McGauran said Australian rules required at least two months from when a horse was presented for export and any possible exposure to the virus.

"EI (Equine influenza) is highly contagious and can spread rapidly through stables and studs,' he said.

"Australia will not take any risks with horses being imported from countries where EI is present."

The Japanese horses would only be able to compete in the Cup if they had not been to a stable, race track or other property where infected horses have been identified, he said.
- Daily Telegraph

 

[starz]

Update on Leica Falcons return, he ran home very well over an unsuitable distance, a nice first up run.

Freyer happy with Falcon's first flight

THE longest 12 months in the 60 years of a most patient man, Corowa trainer Richard
Freyer, ended satisfactorily yesterday when the horse originally favoured to win the first Melbourne Cup of the post-Makybe Diva period ran 12th in a 16-horse sprint at Caulfield.
He has had "days out" at racetracks in the Murray region, and even one to Caulfield last month, but yesterday was the first test. He had not even had a barrier trial.
In the mounting yard after the Commissionaires Handicap, Freyer gave an unhurried response to his star galloper's run. "I'm happy,"
Freyer said Leica Falcon could fly again, although it might take a couple more runs, beginning with a 1700-metre race at Caulfield in two weeks, before he was a winning chance. "I don't think we could have expected any more," he said of the 1200-metre opener. "If it was a maiden plate at Albury today I don't believe he could have won."
Can the stayer still be what he promised when he burst on to the scene when fourth in the 2005 Melbourne Cup? "I think he can, I'm quite sure he can," Freyer said, explaining that the six-year-old should have no mental problems because he had not been in pain from his injury. Pre-race, Freyer said he wanted the Falcon "just to catch a few stragglers". He did that, and his final 200 metres were the third fastest in the race, enough for bookmaker Michael Eskander to keep him safe at $26 for the cup. - Age

 

[starz]

Check this out it’s a classic. The Japanese version of commentary for last years Melbourne Cup that went live through Japan. Choose which band works best
http://jra.jp/topics/column/kaigai/meta/06_melbourne_l.asx
http://jra.jp/topics/column/kaigai/meta/06_melbourne_h.asx

 

[- PC -]

List of the 258 Nominations in alphabetical order

No Horse Trainer    Rating  
1 ACCUMULATE (NZ) Bart Cummings      
2 ACTIVATION (NZ) Dale Sutton      
3 ADMIRAL'S CRUISE (USA) Brian Meehan      
4 AFTERSHOCK (NZ) Donna Logan      
5 AL EILE (IRE) John Queally      
6 ALL THE GOOD (IRE) Gerard Butler      
7 ANAMATO David Hayes      
8 ANNA JOY (NZ) Peter G Moody      
9 ANNENKOV (IRE) Peter G Moody     (102) 
10 ASSENT Graeme Rogerson     (77) 
11 AUTUMN JEUNEY Michael O'Leary      
12 BADDAM (GB) Mike Channon      
13 BAK DA CHIEF (NZ) Darrell Hollinshead      
14 BALLYGORAN (NZ) Bart Cummings      
15 BANC DE FORTUNE John Hawkes      
16 BARLINNIE (NZ) Peter G Moody     (70) 
17 BAUER (IRE) Luca Cumani      
18 BAY STORY (USA) Brian Ellison     (94) 
19 BELLAMY CAY (GB) Dermot K Weld      
20 BEST ALIBI (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
21 BEST BEWARE Lindsey Smith      
22 BLACK TOM David Hayes      
23 BLESSED (NZ) Peter G Moody      
24 BLUE KSAR (FR) Saeed Bin Suroor      
25 BLUE MONDAY (GB) David Hayes     (110) 
26 BLUTIGEROO Colin Little     (115) 
27 BOOK OF MUSIC (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
28 BRAVE LANCER (NZ) Neville McBurney      
29 BROMLEY (NZ) Graeme Rogerson      
30 BRUT FORCE Graeme Rogerson      
31 BRYANNBO'S GIFT (NZ) Anne-Marie Ruttley      
32 BUGATTI ROYALE (USA) Peter Morgan     (89) 
33 CANCANELLE Robbie Griffiths      
34 CAPE BRETON (NZ) Danny Williams      
35 CAPE KINAVERAL (NZ) Graeme Rogerson      
36 CARNEGIE DANCER (NZ) Bruce Wallace      
37 CASUAL PASS Mathew Ellerton     (115) 
38 CEEJAY (NZ) Bruce McLachlan      
39 CEFALU (CHI) Lee Freedman     (101) 
40 CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) Andre Fabre      
41 CHARACTER (NZ) Peter G Moody     (62) 
42 CHASE THE SUN (NZ) Denise Jeffcoat      
43 CHINA CAUSEWAY Michael Kent      
44 CHOLULA (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith     (86) 
45 CINQUE CENTO Peter G Moody     (114) 
46 CLASSIC DE LAGO David Hayes      
47 COCKERELLI (NZ) Troy Corstens     (65) 
48 COMPLETION (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (75) 
49 CONQUISTADOR (NZ) Bruce Wallace      
50 COTHAM Graeme Rogerson

 

[- PC -]

51 CRIME SCENE (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
52 DANEVER David Hayes     (94) 
53 DANTE'S PARADISO (NZ) James Bester      
54 DANZIBAA Paul Perry      
55 DEACON (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (64) 
56 DEFINING (GB) David Hayes     (93) 
57 DELTA BLUES (JPN) Katsuhiko Sumii      
58 DENTATUS Diane Poidevin-Laine      
59 DERRINGER John Salanitri     (92) 
60 DESERT MASTER Brian Jenkins     (94) 
61 DESERT MOVE (IRE) Lee Freedman     (82) 
62 DESERT ONSLAUGHT Nigel Blackiston     (63) 
63 DOLPHIN JO Terry & Karina O'Sullivan     (92) 
64 DOURO VALLEY Danny O'Brien     (103) 
65 DRACS BACK Darren Weir      
66 EFFICIENT (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (115) 
67 EIGHTH ARMY (NZ) Lee Freedman     (77) 
68 EL CAZADOR Steve Richards     (62) 
69 EMBANK (NZ) Leon Corstens     (73) 
70 EMIRATES SKYLINE (USA) Saeed Bin Suroor      
71 EMPIRES CHOICE (NZ) Bart Cummings      
72 EQUAL SIGN (NZ) Tony Malseed      
73 EREMEIN Allan Denham      
74 ESKIMO DAN (NZ) Bevan Laming      
75 ESKIMO QUEEN (NZ) Michael Moroney      
76 EVERSWINDELL (NZ) John Sargent      
77 EXINITE (NZ) Kris Lees      
78 EXPUNGE Mick Price     (95) 
79 EXTEND Graeme Rogerson     (68) 
80 FALSETTO (NZ) Mick Price      
81 FALSTAFF (IRE) Lee Freedman     (106) 
82 FAME (NZ) Dale Sutton     (73) 
83 FERERONOCHE Sue Jaensch      
84 FIANCHETTO (NZ) Bart Cummings      
85 FILANTE EXPRESS Jim Lee      
86 FIRST WORLD Rick Hore-Lacy     (70) 
87 FIUMICINO (NZ) John Hawkes      
88 FOORAM (NZ) John O'Shea      
89 FOR CRUYFF'S SAKE Mick J Smith      
90 FORMAL DECREE (GER) Saeed Bin Suroor      
91 FOUR POSTER Louise Bonella     (83) 
92 FOXHAVEN (GB) Patrick Chamings      
93 GALISTIC (IRE) Patrick J Flynn      
94 GALLIC (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (114) 
95 GALLIONS REACH (NZ) Richard Yuill      
96 GIANT'S GATE Mack Griffith      
97 GLISTENING (GB) Lee Freedman     (95) 
98 GOD'S HAND Bart Cummings      
99 GOOD SAMARITAN (NZ) Anthony Cummings      
100 GRAPHICAL (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (89)

 

[- PC -]

101 GROWL (NZ) Almond Lee      
102 GUILLOTINE (NZ) David Payne      
103 HARD TOP (IRE) Sir Michael Stoute      
104 HEADTURNER John Hawkes     (109) 
105 HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS (GB) Paul Cole      
106 HITCHCOCK (USA) Aidan O'Brien      
107 ICE CHARIOT Ron Maund      
108 ILLUSTRATION (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (91) 
109 INSTRUCTOR (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (68) 
110 INTERLOCKING (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (59) 
111 ISTA KAREEM (NZ) Colin Little     (100) 
112 ITSTHEONE (NZ) Lee Freedman     (87) 
113 IWANTITALL (NZ) Rick Hore-Lacy      
114 JAMBALAYA (CAN) Catherine Day-Phillips      
115 JAMBEROO Bede Murray      
116 JOEY JO JO Lee Freedman      
117 JUNIPER GIRL (IRE) Michael Bell      
118 KERDEM (IRE) David Hayes      
119 KINCHARM (NZ) Kevin Moses      
120 KING IN WAITING (IRE) John Oxx      
121 KING OF ASHFORD (NZ) Lee Freedman     (109) 
122 KING OF THE SUN Anne-Marie Ruttley      
123 KITZ LANE (NZ) Lee Freedman     (74) 
124 KOCAB (GB) Andre Fabre      
125 KOKO BENE Peter Morgan     (65) 
126 LACHLAN RIVER (NZ) John Morrisey      
127 LADY ATIRE (NZ) Michael Moroney      
128 LANCETTIER (ARG) David Hayes     (93) 
129 LAP OF HONOR (NZ) David Payne      
130 LAVEROCK (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
131 LAZER SHARP David Hayes      
132 LEICA FALCON Richard Freyer     (108) 
133 LILAKYN (NZ) Guy Lowry      
134 LOANHEAD (NZ) Damien Williams      
135 MAGONIUS Lee Freedman     (69) 
136 MAHLER (GB) Aidan O'Brien      
137 MALDIVIAN (NZ) Mark Kavanagh     (102) 
138 MANDELA (NZ) Richard Yuill      
139 MARSH SIDE (USA) Michael Dickinson      
140 MASTER O'REILLY (NZ) Danny O'Brien     (92) 
141 MASTERCRAFT Leon Corstens     (64) 
142 MAYBE BETTER Brian Mayfield-Smith     (114) 
143 METTRE EN JEU (NZ) Lee Freedman     (96) 
144 MIGHTY (GB) Jane Chapple-Hyam      
145 MISS FINLAND David Hayes     (119) 
146 MOJO PIN Brian Mayfield-Smith     (92) 
147 MONT ALLEZ (NZ) Pat Carey      
148 MOONLOUSHE (NZ) Peter G Moody     (82) 
149 MR DANE (NZ) Bruce Wallace     (82) 
150 MUDAWIN (IRE) Jane Chapple-Hyam

 

[- PC -]

151 NEW GUINEA (GB) Saeed Bin Suroor      
152 NEW KID IN TOWN (NZ) Lee Freedman     (99) 
153 NEWPORT Paul Perry      
154 NO WINE NO SONG Kevin Moses      
155 OBRIGADO (FR) Neil Drysdale      
156 OH OKLAHOMA Tim Martin      
157 ON A JEUNE Peter Montgomerie     (106) 
158 OUR FLYING BEAUTY Bart Cummings     (71) 
159 OXIGENADA (ARG) David Hayes     (98) 
160 PACINO Clinton McDonald      
161 PALIO ARCHWAY Brendan McCarthy     (84) 
162 PEERLESS Tim Martin      
163 PENTECOSTER (NZ) Cliff Brown     (65) 
164 PERFECT DROP Guy Walter      
165 PEVENSEY (IRE) John Quinn      
166 PHANTOM AGENT Diane Poidevin-Laine      
167 PHILOSOPHE (NZ) Kim Waugh      
168 POMPEII RULER Mick Price      
169 POP ROCK (JPN) Katsuhiko Sumii      
170 POST THYME (NZ) Lee Freedman     (74) 
171 PRINCE ARTHUR Bart Cummings      
172 PRINCESS COUP Mark Walker      
173 PURDE (NZ) David Hayes      
174 PURE AND SIMPLE (NZ) Michelle Mateara      
175 PURPLE MOON (IRE) Luca Cumani      
176 RABBUKA Gai Waterhouse      
177 RAGS TO RICHES (NZ) Liam Birchley      
178 RAILINGS Roger James      
179 RED LORD Anthony Cummings      
180 REGAL CHIVAS Leon Corstens     (81) 
181 RENA'S LADY Gary Portelli      
182 RENEWABLE (NZ) Graeme Rogerson     (100) 
183 RESPECT (NZ) Paul Cave      
184 ROANOKE Anthony Cummings     (93) 
185 RUM CORPS Robert Smerdon     (98) 
186 SADDLER'S STORY Robbie Laing     (65) 
187 SAMURAI WAY (GB) Luca Cumani      
188 SANTAGOSTINO Mark Walker      
189 SARRERA Michael Moroney     (105) 
190 SCATTERGUN (NZ) Brian Smith      
191 SCENIC SHOT Daniel Morton     (102) 
192 SCORPION (IRE) Aidan O'Brien      
193 SCRIPTWRITER (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
194 SCULPTOR (NZ) Peter Mckenzie      
195 SEAFARER David Hayes     (78) 
196 SEFRAH (NZ) David Hayes     (76) 
197 SENTIRE (NZ) Robbie Laing     (95) 
198 SEPIA Graeme Rogerson      
199 SEPTIMUS (IRE) Aidan O'Brien      
200 SHUAILY (PER) Lee Freedman      
201 SIR JAMES (NZ) Bart Cummings      
202 SIRMIONE Bart Cummings      
203 SKIDDAW PEAK Michael Moroney     (77) 
204 SKY CONQUEROR (CAN) Darwin Banach      
205 SOM TALA (GB) Mike Channon      
206 SONIC QUEST Lee Freedman     (98) 
207 SOULACROIX (GB) Lee Freedman      
208 SOUTHERN COURAGE (NZ) Mick Price      
209 SPEELBERG (NZ) Troy Corstens     (69) 
210 SPHENOPHYTA (NZ) Lee Freedman     (112) 
211 STAGE GIFT (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor      
212 STAND TALL (NZ) Russell Cameron      
213 STORMHILL Tim Martin      
214 STRATEGIC MOUNT (GB) Paul Cole      
215 TACIT AGREEMENT (USA) Danny O'Brien      
216 TAIKOREA (NZ) Howie Matthews      
217 TAKRIYMA (IRE) Michael Kent      
218 TANGALOOMA (NZ) Kim Waugh      
219 TAWQEET (USA) David Hayes     (119) 
220 TAYLLAROO Shane Oxlade     (65) 
221 TEMPLE HILLS (NZ) Peter G Moody     (96) 
222 TESTAFIABLE David Kelly     (103) 
223 THE BAVARIAN Colin Little      
224 THE CHIEFTAIN Guy Walter      
225 THE FUZZ (NZ) David Hayes     (87) 
226 THE HUNGRY MILE Erwin Takacs      
227 THE WOLVERINE (NZ) Troy Corstens     (67) 
228 TOMMIFRANCS Gerald Ryan     (90) 
229 TOSHO KNIGHT (JPN) Kazutaka Yasuda      
230 TRICK OF LIGHT (GB) Michael Kent      
231 TRIGONOMETRY David Hayes     (69) 
232 TUBULAR BELLS Andrew J Payne     (100) 
233 TUESDAY JOY (NZ) Gai Waterhouse      
234 TUNGSTEN STRIKE (USA) Amanda Perrett      
235 TURBO LINN (GB) Alan Swinbank      
236 UBERALLES (NZ) Mark Walker      
237 UTILITY (NZ) Pat Carey     (96) 
238 VALENTINO EDDIE Kerry Parker      
239 VERCORS (NZ) Graeme Rogerson      
240 VIETNAM Liam Birchley      
241 VINDICATING (NZ) Bede Murray      
242 VIVA MACAU (FR) John Moore      
243 VIVA PATACA (GB) John Moore      
244 VIZ VITAE (NZ) David Hayes      
245 VOLCANIC STAR Tom Hughes      
246 WATCHES Michael Kent      
247 WILLIN (NZ) Barry Dunn      
248 WILLY LEICA Alan Bailey      
249 WINNERSAREGRINNERS (NZ) David Hayes     (71) 
250 XCELLENT (NZ) Michael Moroney     (114) 
251 YEATS (IRE) Aidan O'Brien      
252 YOLO (NZ) Peter G Moody     (89) 
253 ZATTERO Kris Lees      
254 ZAVITE (NZ) Anthony Cummings     (89) 
255 ZILZIE (NZ) Peter G Moody      
256 ZINGARA Cliff Brown      
257 ZIPPING Graeme Rogerson     (114) 
258 ZULU KING (NZ) Brian Mayfield-Smith

 

[starz]

A star is born
Pictures of Makybe Diva's foal

 

[sethlad]

Q.Did you hear why MD's foal was born a week late?

A.Connections threatened that she wouldnt foal until they got the right penetrometer reading in the foaling paddock

seth

 

[starz]

I was hoping we could keep the rubbish posts out of out of here, obviously some are below that.
Track rating & performance was never an issue and she proved that donkey-licking the field three years in a row on firm-good and slow tracks in the heavy rain & extreme heat.

The only thing stopping owner/trainer from running Diva in 2005 was her well-being. That was also proven and re-iterated all the way through in the lead up to and after the race when she was retired.


And like I said, even though the third Melbourne Cup in 2005 was rated a slower track than last year in 2006 when Delta Blues won, Diva still ran a faster time, carried more weight and ran in much tougher weather.

Bottom line, if you're just here to post rubbish stay out, if you’ve got something to add by all means, thanks.

 

[sethlad]

You really do have absolutely no sense of humour Starz
Its a joke,you dont have to trot out the same stuff over & over.
Everybody knows how precious you are about MD
Lighten up!!

seth

 

[starz]

Re: It's a Boy for The Diva!

What odds can you get for him winning this year's Melbourne Cup?

I heard someone in the UK placed a bet with a bookie that Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf's child would win a Grand Slam one day something like 1000/1.
You could say the same about one of diva's foals winning a Melbourne cup, unlikely but at huge odds worth a shot.
Only catch is waiting that many years, i think the tennis bet would be safer.