2007 Melbourne Cup Thread

[Ricketts]

Get on Purple Moon for the Melbourne Cup before he runs in the Caulfield Cup i reckon. Internationals go alright when they have the run in Australia - Delta Blues, Pop Rock, Eye Popper, Media Puzzle. That said he's only $11, and the only one who can stop Maybe Better i reckon, and he's $7.

 

[- PC -]

Maybe Better
Purple Moon
Maldivian
Master O Reilly
Scorpion
Efficient


Are under observation by me for my trifecta and win bets

 

[Ricketts]

Get on Purple Moon for the Melbourne Cup before he runs in the Caulfield Cup i reckon. Internationals go alright when they have the run in Australia - Delta Blues, Pop Rock, Eye Popper, Media Puzzle. That said he's only $11, and the only one who can stop Maybe Better i reckon, and he's $7.

Caulfield Cup run was good enough for me.

These two are the only possible chances by a long way IMO.

 

[- PC -]

Maldivian to be sent to the paddock and miss the Melbourne Cup

Sky Racing from Kavanagh

 

[dominguez]

Caulfield Cup run was good enough for me.

I thought it was a very good run considering he was a mile back on the turn then got blocked twice in the straight.

 

[starz]

Updates

Master O'Reilly - Carried just 50.5kg in the CC and put in a great performance to run away from the field and win easily. He's firing and now heads the betting in an ever-changing market.

Purple Moon - Good first up run, connections and punters happy with the run.

Duoro Valley - In form, a nice second behind Master O'Reilly, flying under the radar.

Maldivian - Injured, out now out for the Spring. His form was up and down beaten by Zipping & Marasco at 1600m. Then beaten by Duoro Valley, bounced back with a dominant win in the JRA Cup and followed up winning the Yalumba over Miss Finland.

On a Jeune - Another very nice run over 2000m finished the best from last to get fifth and will love 3200m and the long Flemington straight (if he gets in) via Geelong cup?
Trainer Andrew Payne has got him in top form after being well below his best last year.

Blue Monday - Ran well and just missed a place.

Maybe Better - Rolled around in the CC and will improve for the Melb Cup. May lack sprinting power in the last 200m to win but was holding a bit back yesterday.

Princess Coup - The best horse out of NZ with Xcellent injured, ran very well yesterday backing up from winning NZ's top WFA race. Glen Boss is in good form.

Miss finland, Zipping with Efficient will run in the Cox Plate next Saturday.

 

[starz]

Maldivian, Eskimo Queen out of Cup

Maldivian (right) and second-favourite Eskimo Queen are led from the track by clerks of the course after barrier mishaps forced their withdrawal from the Caulfield Cup.

Kavanagh, who threw up his hands in despair as the drama unfolded, watched in disbelief as blood dripped from a 15-centimetre gash on Maldivian's neck, ending 12 months of dreams and hopes and has now cancelled all the horse's spring engagements.

He has a strong hand in Saturday's W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, but has lost what seemed his best Melbourne Cup chance.
"That's it for him," he said of Maldivian's spring program.
Maldivian, after veterinary attention for the next few days, will be sent to a spelling paddock to recover for an autumn return to action.

 

[- PC -]

Thanks for the report on the runners starz...helps me in my trifecta multis

 

[starz]

Thanks for the report on the runners starz...helps me in my trifecta multis

No worries mate

 

[starz]

Top Melbourne Cup & Cox Plate prospects in eye-catching work-outs

Efficient flying at the Valley

Ridden by race jockey Steven Arnold, Efficient yesterday wore blinkers in public for the first time when he sizzled around Moonee Valley, seven days out from the Cox Plate. He was one of a handful of stars to gallop yesterday, but none matched the four-year-old's finishing sprint.
After a relatively leisurely 1200 metres canter/gallop, Efficient sat four lengths off unraced stablemate Sorted and gave him windburn on the turn when he flashed by. It was a hit-out that, in hindsight, may well be remembered as a Cox Plate winning gallop.
Moments later, Williams had further reason to smile and to look forward not only to Saturday but to the Melbourne Cup in 16 days. Zipping, who won the Moonee Valley Cup last year before running fourth in the Melbourne Cup, cruised past stablemate Aggregate in his gallop for Dan Nikolic.
He, like Efficient, was coming off an unplaced and confusing run in the Turnbull Stakes, but he showed he was ready to peak on the two days of the year that matter most to Williams. "I live for Melbourne Cups and Cox Plates," he said.
While Zipping and Efficient were out to impress yesterday, Miss Finland, a likely rival in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, was having a bit of fun. Never asked for her top speed by jockey Craig Williams, Miss Finland remained in cruise mode, but it was exactly what her trainer David Hayes had desired.

 

[starz]

Purple Moon in the pink

ENGLISH import Purple Moon was a big eye-catcher for the Melbourne Cup after a promising sixth place in the Caulfield Cup yesterday.

Sara Cumani, the wife of trainer Luca Cumani, said she was disappointed with the interference Purple Moon received but said that as far as the Melbourne Cup was concerned, the horse's run was "fantastic".

"I am sort of thrilled because with a bit more luck in running, he could have done better," she said of the horse that finished sixth. "I think he should have definitely finished third as he was shut off after getting caught behind two slow ones and he wasn't really in a good position after making such a good start."

David Hayes was also delighted with two former imports — Tawqeet, who won the race last year, and Blue Monday, who firmed from $34 to $11 for the Melbourne Cup after carving out an impressive 11.99 seconds final 200 metres to finish fourth, one place ahead of Tawqeet.

 

[starz]

Master O'Reiily charges into favouritism

DANNY O'Brien is brimming with confidence of adding the Melbourne Cup to the impressive Caulfield Cup won yesterday in dramatic circumstances by Master O'Reilly.
O'Brien viewed winning the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) as a bonus because he always believed Master O'Reilly would be better suited over the 3200m. Eskander's BetStar installed Master O'Reilly as the new favourite for the $5 million Cup as he romped away with a 2 1/4 length win from stablemate Douro Valley.

The five-year-old firmed from $9 to $5 favourite while English stayer Purple Moon, a luckless sixth, shortened from $15 to $6.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will tomorrow announce the penalty for Master O'Reilly.
"It's a dream come true for me and my stable. We have done a lot of hard work over the past few years to get up to these big races," O'Brien said. "To get both these horses to come here today and perform like they have is ... I'm speechless. We have won Group 1s before, but this is one of the majors and to win one of them is something all trainers want to do.
"Hopefully, there are bigger rewards in a couple of weeks' time. This is the best form race for the Melbourne Cup and you can't get a better trial than that."
O'Brien said he expected Master O'Reilly and Douro Valley would not start again before the Melbourne Cup.

 

[The Dustbin]

Not convinced about MO. Won a weak Caulfield Cup, will the form hold up like previous years???

I'm still keen on Efficient, Zipping, Miss Finland and Tawqeet. Out of those 4 I'm favouring Efficient. Just starting to hit top gear, sizzled in a track gallop yesterday. Blinkers added could be the difference.

Efficient probably doesn't have the brilliance to win the Cox Plate over the 2040m, but at Flem over 3200m..... that is a different story.

 

[sethlad]

Re: Melb Cup best price/flucs thread

Obvious firmers are the 1st 6 home in the CC.


EFFICIENT10 Bfair & Ctrebet
M BETTER 22 Bfair....$12 IAS
P MOON : $8 Bfair.....$7 elsewhere
ZIPPING 15.5 Bfair....$15 Ctrebet

MF 10 Bfair.......$9.5 Sptngbet
E QUEEN48 Bfair......$26 Ctrebet
B MONDAY 30 Bfair.....$21 IAS
MASTER O'REILLY 6.6 Bfair......$5.5 Ctrebet & TAB
MAHLER16 Bfair......$17 elsewhere

SCORPION 15.5 Bfair......$15 Ctrebet
P COUP22 Bfair.......$15 IAS
D VALLEY28 Bfair....$19 Ctrebet
TUNGSTEN STRIKE36 Bfair.........$41 IAS
TAWQEET32 Bfair.......$26 Sptingbet

seth

 

[sethlad]

Updated Order of Entry

Heres the latest OOE as at 22/10

http://www.racenet.com.au/MCup_OrderofEntry.pdf

Lots of Geelong Cup runners needing to win

seth

 

[sethlad]

Re: Melb Cup best price/flucs thread

The arrival of the Irish pair sees the usual support although perhaps surprisingly its the 3yo Mahler who's been better backed.

Now $14 Betfair & Centrebet although most Aus onliners betting $11

seth

 

[starz]

Maybe Better backed to win $2 million in Cups double

The Brian Mayfield-Smith-trained stayer Maybe Better has been the subject of an amazing cups double bet placed with Sportingbet Australia.

A unnamed punter has made a bet of $25,000 to $2,050,000 on the five-year-old gelding at the odds of $82 to become the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to win the historic Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double.

Easy come - easy go.

 

[starz]

Payne staking all on big race

GEELONG trainer Andrew Payne has reaffirmed his plans not to race On A Jeune again before the $5 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Payne said he was satisfied with the horse's run in Saturday's David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield and will now begin preparing the seven-year-old for his fourth start in Australia's most famous race.

Like he did in the Benalla Cup two weeks ago, On A Jeune ($13) hit the finish line strongly to finish sixth and Payne said he was happy by the hit-out.

``I thought the speed of the race wasn't really set up for him to get home over top of them,'' Payne said.

``He didn't get clear until straightening, which is against him because he needs some room to wind up. But, he's had a really nice gallop and I feel like he's going into Melbourne Cup in a good way.''

Payne said after Saturday's race, he convinced On A Jeune's owners not to start the horse in this Saturday's group two Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

``I don't think it would suit him to have another hard race before the Cup,'' Payne said.

``While it was tempting because I feel he can win that race, I said to the owners let's sacrifice that and aim for the big one.

``Lead-up races are terrific but then you find that on Cup day they run disappointing and I think that the lead-up races take a lot more out of the horses than the trainer thinks.''

Payne will continue to work On A Jeune at the Geelong racecourse for the next fortnight.

 

[- PC -]

Did I read Maybe Better pulled up slightly foot sore?

 

[go fullta]

dont you think we read the papers starz??

 

[starz]

Princess Coup could be queen of the turf on Cup Day

Amid the fallout from the Caulfield Cup carnage at Caulfield on Saturday, Princess Coup's New Zealand owners had a quiet drink and cast an eye to the first Tuesday in November.

The Mark Walker-trained mare stamped her Melbourne Cup credentials with a third to Master O'Reilly in the 2400m feature, marred by the pre-race scratchings of hot favourite Maldivian and New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen.

Said Princess Coup's part-owner Ray Coupland: "She's pretty special and we always thought she would be competitive over here.

"That was a quite a good trial for a Melbourne Cup, we thought."

Bookmaker Michael Eskander shortened Princess Coup to $8 for the Melbourne Cup, behind Master O'Reilly ($5), British raider Purple Moon ($6) and Miss Finland ($7).

TAB Sportsbet in Australia was more cautious, posting her at $13 on the fifth line of betting alongside the Graeme Rogerson-trained Zipping.

Coupland and co-owner John Bromley, who pocketed A$200,000 for third, were vindicated in their decision to engage top Australian jockey Glen Boss who gave Princess Coup a sweet trip on the rails from barrier 17.

Boss was back on the plane to ride in Hong Kong last night and was honest in his assessment.

"She ran her heart out and I think there is improvement in her but maybe not enough to win a Melbourne Cup," he told the Sunday Age newspaper.

"The horses who ran in the first three had the best runs in the race.

"My horse was taking ground off the second horse [Douro Valley] on the line but not the winner. He did us with his turn of foot."

Boss copped a 13-meeting suspension for his ride, stewards ruling he caused interference to Black Tom and Tawqeet when he shifted in soon after the start.


He is eligible to resume riding on November 3, when Princess Coup contests the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, three days before the Melbourne Cup.

"We booked Glen for all three rides last week and he's very keen," Coupland said.

Princess Coup looked a huge chance before the turn on Saturday but got held up briefly behind the tiring Anamato as the Danny O'Brien stablemates took charge, Master O'Reilly scoring by two lengths from Douro Valley who held second by 1 1/4 lengths.

Coupland said Princess Coup had question marks over 3200m on pedigree, being by Encosta De Lago out of the Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road.

"She'd had enough with 200m to go and still ground it out. She was the most puffed I'd ever seen her after a race," he said.

"On breeding you wouldn't think Melbourne Cup but she won the New Zealand Oaks [2400m] by four lengths easing down, and Mark [Walker] is pretty confident. You've got to have a go, don't you?"

Coupland, a prolific owner in New Zealand, has not had a Melbourne Cup runner.

Walker was a happy trainer.

"We'll go to the Mackinnon and the Melbourne Cup now," he said.

"She finished it off well and we've just got to hope she pulls up well."

The other New Zealand-trained runners disappointed: Mandela 11th and 2005 Caulfield Cup winner Railings 14th.

Mandela's trainer Richard Yuill was "dumbfounded" by the run and said there was nothing amiss yesterday. "The only thing I can think of is I was a bit kind to him last week [in training].

"Initially, I thought the Melbourne Cup was a waste of time but we'll possibly head to the Saab [over 2500m on November 3] and take it from there."

Railings did not race generously after Greg Childs pushed forward from the wide draw under instructions.

Blinkers may be used for the Mackinnon and Melbourne Cup.

 

[starz]

Did I read Maybe Better pulled up slightly foot sore?

You did indeed


Leg injury casts doubts on Maybe Better

BRIAN Mayfield-Smith's 12-month plan to win this year's Melbourne Cup received a big blow yesterday when Maybe Better was found to have acute soreness in his off-fore fetlock.

Maybe Better, who ran third in last year's Melbourne Cup, disappointed on Saturday when ninth in the Caulfield Cup and faces an adjusted training program if he is to make the Melbourne Cup in 15 days, according to Mayfield-Smith.

"We'll examine him closely over the next few days and just adjust his training while there's some soreness there. He'd certainly want softer ground at Flemington," he said.

Mayfield-Smith said he would run Maybe Better in the Mackinnon Stakes three days before the Cup, on November 6, if his off-fore improved. "I wouldn't jeopardise the horse's welfare by going straight into a Melbourne Cup with him. You want to know how he is and so you've got to face up to reality and run him in the Mackinnon and know exactly where you are."

The Flemington trainer said the Caulfield track was too hard on Saturday and that he would be praying for rain before the Flemington carnival.

 

[starz]

Sculptor is Melbourne Cup-bound

Sculptor kept his Melbourne Cup hopes alive when he won the Hospice Cup at Wanganui yesterday with topweight of 58kg.

The opposition in the Melbourne Cup will be much tougher than the Group Two New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on November 17, but Mckenzie says Sculptor is now weighted out of racing at home.

If he remains in New Zealand he's going to be carrying 58-59 kilos no matter what he lines up in here now," McKenzie told NZPA.

"What's the point of staying? There's nothing left for him here at this point in time."

Sculptor is among the Melbourne Cup lightweights at 50.5kg and although the horse is not guaranteed a start in the $A5 million event on November 6, McKenzie thinks it is worth a shot.

"He drops 7-1/2 kilos from yesterday which is a lot," McKenzie said.

"He's not a big horse. He's a pretty light-framed horse so he's not really suited to big weights."

McKenzie said Sculptor would be flown to Melbourne on Tuesday week and would contest the Group Three Saab Quality (2500m) three days before the Melbourne Cup.

The winner of the Saab escapes any Melbourne Cup ballot but McKenzie said even if Sculptor did not win there remained a reasonable chance of gaining a start.

Sculptor was today 32nd in the Melbourne Cup elimination order.

There are up to 24 starters in the Melbourne Cup and with two more payments still to made for the race McKenzie was hopeful the attrition rate would allow Sculptor a run.

"The handicapper told me on Friday that he thought I was about six or seven away from getting a start."

McKenzie said if a Melbourne Cup start did not eventuate there were other good options for Sculptor.

They included the group three $A250,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on November 10.

There was nothing flash about Sculptor's winning time over 2000m yesterday but he was well rated by Lisa Cropp.

McKenzie said he and Cropp decided before the race to attempt to lead as they could not see an obvious pacemaker.

"So having drawn the outside (in a 10-horse field) the best thing to do was to go to the front and dictate the pace," McKenzie siad.
"And that's what happened."

He was third in last year's Brisbane Cup (3200m) two days after running fourth in the Queensland Derby and more recently was fourth in the Queensland Cup (3200m) in July.

McKenzie said the Queensland campaign this winter would stand in Sculptor in good stead for Melbourne.

"He's clocked up the miles. I think he would be pretty right on the day if he gets in the field."

 

[starz]

Melbourne Cup shaping as O'Brien versus O'Brien

Leisurely stroll: Francesca Cumani yesterday walks Purple Moon

TWO horses that were not even in the country when the dramatic Caulfield Cup unfolded loom as the main dangers to Master O'Reilly.

That's the view of Danny O'Brien, who is aiming to become the 10th trainer to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.

O'Brien rates Mahler and Scorpion, both from the Irish stable of Aidan O'Brien, as definite dangers in the $5 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.

"They are the ones to watch. They are quality horses," said O'Brien, who also has a healthy regard for English stayer Purple Moon after his luckless sixth in the Caulfield Cup.

"Purple Moon sweated up badly before the race and ran home well after not having much luck in the straight.

"But all we have to do is stay at home for the next two weeks, then walk across the road, and ever since I've had Master O'Reilly I've been dying to get him to two miles.

"He ambles into the race, changes legs and then pricks his ears on the post. He is one of those horses with the oxygen capacity that when the others are getting tired, he's warming up."

----------

Master O'Reilly took no harm from his dominant BMW Caulfield Cup win, one likely to earn him a 1.5-2kg penalty from Racing Victoria Limited chief handicapper Greg Carpenter today.

Carpenter said Master O'Reilly was in a unique position as he had already been rehandicapped 1.5kg for his success in the Winning Edge Stakes.

"Any penalty will be tempered by the fact he's already been rehandicapped," Carpenter said. "It was a very dominant win, but Scorpion, Mahler, Tungsten Strike, Efficient, Zipping and Gallic add a new dimension to the race."

O'Brien said he would be comfortable if Master O'Reilly received a rehandicap in the 1.5-2kg range.

"To counteract that, he comes back to his home track at Flemington and he'll be a better horse out to two miles," he said.

"He is a horse that really seems to thrive on racing. His final run last preparation was his best and that was his sixth run of his prep. We planned all along to have the Melbourne Cup be his sixth run."

O'Brien said he was likely to run Caulfield Cup runner-up Douro Valley in the Mackinnon Stakes before the Melbourne Cup.

 

[Ron]

Re: Updated Order of Entry

Heres the latest OOE as at 22/10

http://www.racenet.com.au/MCup_OrderofEntry.pdf

Lots of Geelong Cup runners needing to win

seth

Next to Douro Valley they have 2nd G2 2400m.
Now i realise that the field was utter shit and probably should have been a G2, looks like even they agree with me.