Melbourne Cup Max - 2010

The Cup Field 2010

2010-10-31T03:29:00.001-07:00

Melbourne Cup field:
1. Shocking (M Rodd)
2. Campanologist (K McEvoy)
3. So You Think (S Arnold)
4. Zipping (N Hall)
5. Illustrious Blue (G Boss)
6. Mr Medici (D Beadman)
7. Shoot Out (C Brown)
8. American (G Mosse)
9. Tokai Trick (F Fujita)
10. Buccellati (S King)
11. Descarado (N Rawiller)
12. Harris Tweed (B Rawiller)
13. Manighar (D Oliver)
14. Master O'Reilly (V Duric)
15. Monaco Consul (TBC)
16. Profound Beauty (P Smullen)
17. Zavite (M Walker)
18. Bauer (C Munce)
19. Holberg (L Dettori)
20. Precedence (B Shinn)
21. Red Ruler (M De Plessis)
22. Linton (TBC)
23. Once Were Wild (TBC)
24. Maluckyday (J Cassidy)

The Geelong Cup

2010-10-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

1st: Americain
2nd: Moudre
3rd: Eceptionally
4th: Mr Charlie
5th: Macedonian
6th: Count Encosta

Once were Wild trained by Gai Waterhouse ran 8th
Drunken Sailor trained by Luca Cumani ran 11th

Here is the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Americain's win the day after.

STAR French jockey Gerald Mosse declared his mount, Americain, would win the Melbourne Cup after the stunning six-year-old took out the Geelong Cup yesterday.

For the third time in 10 years, an internationally trained stayer reigned supreme in the group 3 race.

Although fellow raider Drunken Sailor was the more favoured international runner for the Cumani stable, $11 chance Americain showed his class as he navigated his way through traffic and defied top weight to score an impressive win.

Mosse, who will today appeal against a 10-meeting suspension incurred in the Caulfield Cup, had ridden Americain in his last four starts in France and had little doubt that the dual group 2 winner would run a bold race at its Australian debut.

''I wanted to make him a bit more relaxed during the race because he has showed me in the past that he has good ability, he's a good horse,'' he said.

But the ride was far from straightforward, with Americain held up behind the leaders for the majority of the race.

Mosse waited patiently and urged his mount forward when gaps began to come at the 200-metre mark.

''I just had to wait until I could get through, then no worries. He's a beautiful animal,'' he said.

Americain, trained at Chantilly by Alain de Royer-Dupre, is owned by Gerry Ryan, a man who has poured plenty of money into the racing industry in Australia and also abroad.

''It's a great surprise. We thought he'd run well, but there's always a bit of a question when they come from overseas. We knew he was good enough, though,'' Ryan said.

''We wanted this one and it was a fantastic ride considering he didn't have a lot of luck. This is the third horse we've bought into from Europe but the others haven't been fast enough. Hopefully he is.''

Ryan bought Americain on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Robert Roulston, who was able to secure the stallion at a bargain-basement price after a failed campaign in the US in 2009.

''He had very good form in France before he went to America but he lost all form there,'' Roulston said.

''He was qualified for the Melbourne Cup, so we gave him to the trainer that I believed to be the best in Europe, and he's done a great job.''

While the winner found the right runs in the straight, runner-up Moudre did it tough and was just a long head short of victory after covering ground early in the race. Moudre ($5.50 favourite) will need to win the Lexus Quality on Derby day to secure a Melbourne Cup start.

''I always thought he'd benefit from his last run after he missed the start in the Turnbull Stakes, and that's how he raced today. The winner got the favours but he [Moudre] was super. I can't wait to get him back to Flemington,'' said trainer Ciaron Maher.

Third-placed Exceptionally will also head towards the Lexus after finishing a further half-length away, while the Cumani stable will sweat on a high attrition rate for Drunken Sailor to squeeze into the Melbourne Cup after the stayer disappointed in 11th place.

Godolphin Horses and latest Cup market

2010-10-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

From Races.com.au
11/10/10

Three horses from the world’s biggest horse racing venture Godolphin arrived in Victoria today ready to embark on a campaign targeting the 2010 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday November 2.

Campanologist, Eastern Aria and Holberg have all entered quarantine at the Werribee horse centre in preparation for their Australian race debuts.

Of the trio, dual Group 1 winner Campanologist is the highest rated entry on the 150th Emirates Melbourne Cup order of entry sitting fourth on the ballot and weighted at 56kg.

2010 Melbourne Cup Odds

Horse Odds
So You Think 5.00
Shocking 9.00
Alcopop 13.00
Linton 13.00
Dariana 15.00
Profound Beauty 17.00
Precedence 17.00
Americain 17.00
Faint Perfume 19.00
Herculian Prince21.00
Manighar 21.00
Cest La Guerre 26.00
Zipping 26.00
Bauer 26.00
Metal Bender 26.00
Holberg 26.00
Drunken Sailor 26.00
Harris Tweed 26.00
Moudre 31.00
Illustrious Blue31.00
Mourayan 31.00
Shoot Out 31.00
Tokai Trick 31.00
Jessicabeel 41.00

Six-year-old Campanologist comes to Australia on the back of some impressive form overseas, most recently finishing third to Dangerous Midge in the Arc Trial (2200m) at Newbury.

Despite being assured a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup Field, Campanologist is well down the odds paying $81 through Sportsbet.

Campanologist will likely be ridden by jockey Kerrin McEvoy, currently recovering from a fractured vertebrae, in the Melbourne Cup.

Five-year-old mare Eastern Aria, currently 34th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry, is also at long odds in the Melbourne Cup betting at $51.

The Mark Johnston-trained Eastern Aria received a 1kg penalty for her Park Hill Stakes victory last month, still lightly weighted at 51.5kg for the Melbourne Cup.

A jockey is yet to be confirmed for Eastern Aria’s Melbourne Cup start, but Craig Williams is being considered.

It is Holberg who is at the shortest odds of the trio, paying $26 to win the Melbourne Cup equal with the likes of 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer, Zipping, C’est La Guerre and Drunken Sailor.

Five-year-old Holberg is 32nd on the elimination order for the Melbourne Cup, allocated 53.5kg.

In a surprise statement, Godolphin announced that Holberg would be ridden by Italian jockey Frankie Dettori when he runs in the $6 million Melbourne Cup.

The last of the international contenders for the 2010 Melbourne Cup, Dermot Weld’s Profound Beauty, is due to arrive in Australia later this afternoon.

Profound Beauty, who ran fifth to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, is the shortest priced overseas raider in the Cup betting paying $17 at Sportsbet.

Currently So You Think is the hot favourite at $5 following the Bart Cummings-trained four-year-olds’ impressive win in the Yalumba on Saturday.

2010-10-10T23:48:00.000-07:00

The Australian
10/10/10

AUSTRALIA'S stables go to Caulfield on Saturday, aiming to repel the first wave of foreign invaders.

The international horses will try to strike an early blow in the run-up the 150th Melbourne Cup.

As many as four horses could make up the Eurasian invasion on Saturday, but that's merely a tease. The full assault will come at Flemington on November 2 when 10 international entries are expected to challenge.

Japanese iron horse Tokai Trick is seeking to go better than 2006 third placegetter Delta Blues and 2005 runner-up Eye Popper on Saturday when he meets Hong Kong galloper Mr Medici and UK pair Manighar and Drunken Sailor.

Tokai Trick has been awaiting the opportunity to compete in Australia since equine influenza outbreaks here and in Japan ended his participation in 2007. He has run in the Tenno Sho, Japan's feature 3200m event, five times and was unlucky in the race this year.

He is regarded as better suited to the longer race, but the Caulfield Cup is not being viewed by trainer Kenji Nonaka as a tune-up. Shinji Fujita, who rode Eye Popper, has come back to exact revenge for the narrow loss to Mummify.

Mr Medici did all his preparatory work in Hong Kong, but has not raced since last season when he won the Champions and Chater Cup, a Group I race at Sha Tin over 2400m. Acclaimed French rider Gerald Mosse returns to Australia for the ride.

Drunken Sailor is likely to be an emergency, unless there are a couple of surprise defections early in the week. A last start winner in England, he will run in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday week if he misses a place in the field on Saturday.

Alcopop returned to his best form when he chased home So You Think in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes (2000m) under weight-for-age conditions at Caulfield. He drops from 59kg to 53.5kg in the Caulfield Cup and and has been promoted to favouritism at $5.50.

Herculian Prince and Metal Bender share the second line of betting at $6.50. Shocking is next at $7.50.

Gai Waterhouse's entry, Herculian Prince, recruited from New Zealand, is a last-start winner of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, and will be ridden by South African Glyn Schofield, who now calls Australia home.

2010-10-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

5th October
From Races.com.au

The 2010 Melbourne Cup second declarations were taken by VRC today narrowing down the list of stayers vying for a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field to 78.

Seventy-three horses have dropped out of contention since the first declaration stage for the 150th Melbourne Cup, due to run as Race 7 at Flemington on Tuesday November 2.

Cups King Bart Cummings has paid up for five of his stable stars to continue on the $6 million Melbourne Cup path as the legendary trainer attempts his 13th Melbourne Cup win.

Cummings still has Cox Plate champion So You Think, recent JRA Cup winner Precedence, top mare Faint Perfume, seven-year-old Empires Choice coming back into contention after an eye-catching third in the George Main Stakes, and Dariana entered for the famous handicap.

Check out the hoeses left in the field and the prices at:
http://www.races.com.au/2010/10/05/2010-melbourne-cup-second-declarations-leave-78-on-cup-path/

C'est La Guerre

2010-10-03T15:06:00.001-07:00

HeraldSun.com.au

C'est La Guerre reacquainted himself with the winner's stall for the first time in more than two years at Randwick on Saturday to put himself back in contention for the 150th Melbourne Cup.

Winning his first race since claiming the 2008 New Zealand Derby, C'est La Guerre upset the favourites Purple and Triple Honour in the Group Three $125,000 Craven Plate (2000m).

It was a breakthrough victory for prominent owner Lloyd Williams and the syndicate which races the six-year-old, a placegetter in the 2008 Melbourne Cup.

"That's the horse's first win for Dad since he bought him after the New Zealand Derby ... he's been frustrating to say the least," Williams's son Nick said.

Williams Snr has spared no expense in trying to win this year's milestone Melbourne Cup, importing a string of overseas stayers to boost his team.

And while C'est La Guerre might have slipped from favour as a genuine Cup aspirant with 10 unplaced runs since his placing two years ago, he is now firmly on the radar for next month's anniversary edition.

"He's in the ball-game now (for the Melbourne Cup), no question," Nick Williams said.

"But there's still a month to go and in this game one day you might have the favourite and the next day you might have nothing."

Ridden by Michael Rodd, C'est La Guerre ($8) came from the second half of the field in the weight-for-age contest to overhaul Purple and Triple Honour to win by 1-1/2 lengths.

Purple ($2.90) was a nose in front of Triple Honour ($2.70 fav) to finish second.

Rodd, who won the 2007 Melbourne Cup for Williams on Efficient, said it was obvious C'est La Guerre was in unfamiliar territory as he set sail for the finishing post.

"When he got to the front he wasn't quite sure what to do," Rodd said.

"Hopefully this will mentally switch him on a bit because we know he is a horse with a lot of ability."

C'est La Guerre is now an $18 chance to improve on his Melbourne Cup third placing to Viewed.

Herculian Prince

2010-10-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

SMH
Patrick Bartley, Sydney
October 3, 2010

Gai Waterhouse celebrates her 100th group 1 win yesterday. Photo: Dallas Kilponen
LEADING Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse was yesterday only prepared to momentarily dwell on winning her 100th group 1 race after Herculian Prince took out the Metropolitan Handicap, instead keener to concentrate on winning her first Melbourne Cup.

Waterhouse admitted her confidence had been shaken during the week when Herculian Prince was eight lengths last in the previous Saturday's Colin Stephen Stakes at Randwick.

Waterhouse said Herculian Prince had performed at his ''very worst'' last week, but listened to key staff who urged her to start the horse in the Metropolitan.

Waterhouse amazingly racked up her 100th group 1 win after controversially only gaining her licence in 1994.

''Last week was a freak of nature and it proved if you can't breathe, you can't run,'' Waterhouse said.

''He obviously had a breathing setback but my staff convinced me that the horse was a thousand per cent better than last week so I said, let's run.''

While Herculian Prince gave Waterhouse a career milestone, Melbourne trainer Peter Moody, who prepared the $3.60 favourite Mr Charlie, was clearly upset by the ride of Luke Nolen.

Mr Charlie appeared to be in an inferior part of the track for most of the trip but still managed to finish sixth.

In contrast, Waterhouse was talking Melbourne Cup, a race that has eluded her during her decorated career. ''It's off to Melbourne now and it's off to tackle everything, even that Melbourne Cup,'' she said.

Herculian Prince started at $4.80 and won by 3½ lengths from former Irish stayer Mourayan ($18), with local No Wine No Song, at $5.50, in third place.

Waterhouse believes that Herculian Prince, who was purchased from New Zealand 12 months ago, will be a key player in the Melbourne Cup and the horse will leave for Melbourne early next week.

The two Moody runners, Mr Charlie and Macedonian, were caught on the inside of the track, which was badly affected after heavy rain during the afternoon.

Harris Tweed

2010-10-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

From HeraldSun.com.au
Sunday 3rd October 2010

New Zealand stayer Harris Tweed has put his Melbourne Cup campaign on track with a hard fought win over 2500 metres at Flemington.

New Zealand stayer Harris Tweed has put his Melbourne Cup campaign on track with a hard fought win in Sunday's Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.

Trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker, the Montjeu five-year-old drew on his reserves after making the running from the home turn and held off Exceptionally to score by a head with Above Average 2-1/2 lengths away third.

Last year Harris Tweed finished fifth to Shocking in the Melbourne Cup and TAB Sportsbet firmed him up from $41 to $26 to win this year.

Harris Tweed is also in the Caulfield Cup but Murray Baker may look for another lead up option for the gelding.

Last year he finished 10th to Viewed in the Caulfield Cup but Baker queried whether it was the right race for him.

"I have to think about it," Baker said.

"I am not sure he has enough zip for the Caulfield Cup but he can stay and he should improve a lot with this run."

Harris Tweed has been slow to come to hand this campaign but Baker has been encouraged by his recent improvement.

"Coming out of a New Zealand winter he has taken a lot of getting fit," Baker said.

"He has been well behind the eight ball but have we have thought the last couple of weeks that he has really picked up.

"He is an improving horse and he does like it here in Australia.

"He seems to thrive here and race a lot better."

Harris Tweed was having his third run this campaign after unplaced runs over 1700 metres at Flemington and in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

Jockey Brad Rawiller said that with 58.5kg on Sunday Harris Tweed had a tough run racing near the lead all the way before taking the lead three-wide on the home turn.

"He had to make the running in the straight which is a long way home but he did a good job and I'm looking forward to the Melbourne Cup now," Rawiller said.

Herculean Prince impressively wins The Metropolitan at Randwick

2010-10-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

The Metropolitan (2400m) is a traditional lead up to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The last galloper to win the Metrop-Caulfield Cup double was Tawqeet in 2006, while the last horse to win the Metrop-Melbourne Cup double was Macdougal all the way back in 1959.

In one of the most outstanding performances I have seen Herculean Prince 'destroyed' the Metropolitan field at Randwick today 2/10/10. Watch this space. This is a very good stayer.

This was a write up I read about Herculean prior to the race.

2. Herculian Prince (6) – a hot favourite for this race until his failure in last week’s Colin Stephen Quality as a $1.40 favourite. He was eased out in the market, but good support has seen him find his way back into favourite again in what has been one of the most remarkable betting occurrences of the year. Based on his last run, you’d say no, but based on market support, you’d say yes. Glastonbury ran last in the Colin Stephen in 1994 as favourite before winning the Metropolitan a week later at 25-1. Punters haven’t made the same mistake again, and I think that if you forgive last week’s run, he’s a fair favourite. Likely leader, just not sure whether we can trust him now.

Americain Geelong Cup

2010-09-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

Geelong Advertiser
Bradley Green

A CONTINENTAL Europe flavour could be added to next month's $215,000 Centrebet Geelong Cup (2406m).

Leading French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is considering entering classy stayer Americain in the Group 3 race on October 21 as an ideal hitout for his Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign.

Americain is owned by several prominent Melbourne businessmen - including Gerry Ryan - and is due to arrive at Werribee's new international quarantine centre on AFL grand final day.

Americain has placed in 11 of his 18 starts, including six wins.

The lightly-raced six-year-old has won his last three starts, including the Group 2 Kergolay Stakes (3000m) in his last start on August 22 where he edged out the Luca Cumani-trained Maighar who is also bound for Melbourne.

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The Geelong Racing Club's business development manager John Dunne said they were also hopeful Cumani may also enter a runner in the Geelong Cup for the third straight year.

Cumani won the Geelong Cup in 2008 with Bauer while Basaltico was unplaced last year.

Drunken Sailor, a last winner over 2800m at Goodwood a fortnight ago, could be the stable's contender.

The six-year-old currently sits 42nd on the Melbourne Cup's order of entry with 53kg while Cumani has also not ruled out a return for Bauer, who is now an eight-year-old and hasn't raced for more than a year because of a tendon injury.

Dunne said the powerful Godolphin stable - which had its first Geelong Cup runner in Crime Scene last year - was unlikey to return this year as is team is not due to arrive down under in time.

Dunne said it was fantastic that more European horses were targeting a Melbourne Cup start through the Geelong Cup following the success of Bauer and the Dermot Weld-trained Media Puzzle (2002).

"There's no doubt the win of Bauer has been a great fillip for the Geelong Cup," Dunne said.

"Because Luca Cumani then went back home and told his fellow international trainers that probably the preferred pathway to the Melbourne Cup is through the Geelong Cup, being 10 days out (from the Group 1 race).

"Last year we had two international horses contest the Cup for the first time and this year were hoping to have at least that many again, if not more.

"In recent years the Geelong Cup winner has got about a one-and-a-half to two kilogram penalty which boosts them to a sufficient weight to get a run in the Melbourne Cup, so that's the big plus for our race."

Meanwhile, it's believed that the ambassadors for this year's Geelong Cup will be announced this week.

landlocked - Anthony Cummings

2010-08-31T03:36:00.000-07:00

From Races.com.au
26/8/10

The Anthony Cummings-trained Landlocked has improved his chances of a berth in the 2010 Melbourne Cup after winning first-up at Canterbury yesterday.

A four-year-old son of boom sire of stayers Zabeel, Landlocked went out at $12 and enjoyed a forceful win over 1200m in the STC Members Handicap.

Landlocked, raced by Gerry Harvey, is currently one of the long-priced hopefuls for the $6 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 paying $151 at SportsBet.

Alcopop - Moudre

2010-08-31T03:29:00.001-07:00

From HeraldSun.com.au
30/8/10

TRAINER Jake Stephens is likely to keep Alcopop in Adelaide for one more run after an encouraging return to racing in Saturday's Penny Edition Stakes.

Stephens was more than happy with Alcopop's first-up fifth behind Victorian Spacecraft, beaten just over three lengths, and is leaning towards the Sin City Cup (formerly the Tokyo City Cup) at Morphettville in a fortnight.

"He pulled up well this morning. We'll just see how he progresses over the next few days," Stephens said yesterday. "He'd put on a lot of weight over the past week or so, and I thought his run was pretty good having missed a crucial gallop.

"It was pleasing that he had a good run behind them. I didn't want him to have a gut-buster first-up."

Stephens said he would talk to connections this week before making a decision but the Listed 1600m feature loomed as a suitable secondup mission. "I'll talk to John and Pat (Kelton, owners). A lot of the Melbourne horses are very forward and he might be best suited by racing at the mile here and then heading over," he said.

Alcopop remains a $26 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup chance, with the big mover in markets coming from the Ciaron Maher-trained Moudre, who now heads betting for the Caulfield Cup at $10 with Shoot Out after his brilliant Caulfield win.

Connections have reportedly knocked back offers believed to be as high as $2m for the rising star who now has to win the Naturalism Stakes on September 18 to guarantee a Caulfield Cup start.

Rite of Passage - Sans Frontieres - Darina - Bart Cummings

2010-08-31T03:26:00.000-07:00

From CupCarnival.com.au
30/8/10

Other overseas raiders still on target for a tilt in the Melbourne Cup this November include Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage and brilliant Danehill mare Profound Beauty.

Both runners are trained by two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld, the only European mentor to win the Melbourne Cup.

Leading the international entries in the Melbourne Cup betting markets at SportsBet is Jeremy Noseda’s in-form British galloper Sans Frontieres paying $17 for a win.

Queensland Derby winning mare Dariana is still the $13 favourite to give Bart Cummings his unprecedented 13th Melbourne Cup victory.

To get the best Melbourne Cup odds before the weights are released this Wednesday jump online and sign up to SportsBet today, new punters will even receive a free $100 bet!

Luca Cumani - Drunken Sailor - Alcopop - Manighar - Purple Moon - Bauer

2010-08-31T02:36:00.000-07:00

From Races.com.au

NEWS - MELBOURNE CUP
30 AUGUST 2010
Drunken Sailor, prepared by premier Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani, enjoyed a quality win at Goodwood on Saturday to further improve his chances of a run in the 2010 Melbourne Cup this November.

Six-year-old Drunken Sailor is shaping up as Cumani’s top Melbourne Cup chance this year after he claimed a last-stride win in the Listed March Stakes (2800m) on Saturday.

Making his fifth straight appearance at the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Cumani is hoping this year is his year in the Melbourne Cup after twice training the second placegetters in the world’s richest handicap with Bauer (2008) and Purple Moon (2007).

Having shown continual improvement over his 31 career starts, Tendulkar gelding Drunken Sailor has won over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m proving himself as a genuine stayer with an impressive turn of foot and making him a real contender for the $6 million Flemington feature on November 2.

Manighar is Cumani’s other top chance in the 150th Melbourne Cup, after finishing second to fellow Cup contender Americain in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) in France last weekend.

However Purple Moon has been ruled out due to injury and Bauer, who hasn’t raced since suffering a tendon injury when beaten by a mere nose in the 2008 Melbourne Cup by Viewed, is still in doubt.

Eight-year-old grey Bauer has the Persian Punch Stakes (2800m) scheduled as his return to racing at Sailsbury on Thursday night and his performance there will determine whether Cumani presses on to the Melbourne Cup with him.

Drunken Sailor is currently paying $61 through SportsBet in the early Melbourne Cup markets, his odds sure to shorten, while Manighar is higher up at $31.

Both are expected to arrive in Melbourne on September 25 following a bout in quarantine that they enter on Wednesday.

This Wednesday, September 1, is also when the 2010 Melbourne Cup weights will be announced.

In other 2010 Melbourne Cup news, last year’s favourite Alcopop was defeated in his first-up spring start on Saturday.

Alcopop finished fifth to classy Galileo four-year-old Spacecraft in the $80,000 Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.

Trainer Mick Price is now more confident of Spacecraft’s chances in the 2010 Caulfield Cup on October 16, Spacecraft currently a $34 chance at SportsBet.

For all the best odds on the spring features don’t waste your wagering dollars at the TAB. Sign up to leading online bookmaker SportsBet instead and join thousands of happy punters already enjoying the riches of betting online!

Luca Cumani - Bauer - Drunken Sailor - Manighar -

2010-08-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

The Australian
Alan Lee From: The Times August 26, 2010

TWO heroic failures have merely reinforced Luca Cumani's ambition to win the Melbourne Cup.

Bauer, absent through injury since being foiled by a nose two years ago, could be one of three contenders for the Newmarket trainer at Flemington on November 2.

Cumani's love of international racing is stimulated by Australia's greatest prize.

Bauer was his second successive runner-up, following Purple Moon in 2007, but the frustrations have done nothing to dampen his determination.

Three horses from the wise Italian's stable will be listed when the weights are revealed next week but Cumani admits: "Bauer is still an imponderable but Manighar and Drunken Sailor are definitely going and will start their quarantine on September 8 before flying out a fortnight later.

"Bauer is part-owned by Simon O'Donnell, the former Australia all-rounder, adding to the intrigue in an Ashes winter. Before his bid is confirmed, though, he must prove his wellbeing on the racecourse, starting either at Goodwood or Windsor on Saturday."

It will be a last-minute decision depending on the ground," Cumani said yesterday.

"He doesn't like it soft so we will go where conditions are best. After such a long time off, one run won't be sufficient, so we will look for another race before deciding if he is to travel.

"He had a tendon injury, which always leaves a question mark. The seeds of it were sown in his Cup run two years ago and it has been a long road back. You can never be confident from one day to the next but he has coped with all the work so far."

Cumani admits to confused emotions after Bauer's agonising defeat.

"Pride and frustration, a bit of both," he said. "I am always happy when they run well but to come so close for a second time was deflating, too."

He feels his hand is strong, this year, and Kieren Fallon, the stable jockey, is likely to face a challenging choice of mount. Fallon was second on the fast-finishing Manighar in a group race at Deauville last weekend and has another chance to weigh up Drunken Sailor in the Windflower March Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.

"I've been surprised by Drunken Sailor's progress," Cumani confessed.

"We bought him for a Dubai campaign but he has run very consistently back on the turf over here. I was delighted with Manighar on Sunday and, finally, we seem to be in tune with each other.

"They will both have time to acclimatise in Australia and will each run once before Flemington, one of them in the Caulfield Cup and the other in Geelong. If Bauer makes the trip, he will go straight for the Cup."

Cumani is enjoying a fruitful summer on home soil, the partnership with Fallon complemented by the development of J.P. Guillambert, whose double for the yard last Saturday featured the latest step in the rehabilitation of Seta after her flop in the 1,000 Guineas.

The Times

Statistics, MakybeDiva, Mark Kavanagh, Shocking, Shoot Out, C'Est La Guerre, Alandi and Mourayan

2010-08-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

HeraldSun.com.au
Nathan Exelby From: Saturday, 28 August 2010

THE Makybe Diva Stakes, formerly the Craiglee Stakes, was a sure-fire pointer to big race success but it has not been so reliable in recent years.

The race, previously known as the Craiglee Stakes, was once a sure-fire pointer to big race success but it has not been so reliable in recent years.

The 1600m Flemington weight-for-age contest, to be run on Saturday, is regarded as one of the pivotal races of the spring.

Over the years countless Cups aspirants have used it as a leap into what connections hoped would be spring glory. The race was first run in 1948 as a 10 furlong (2000m) event. It switched to a mile (1600m) in 1965 with instant success, as the race was taken out by Light Fingers who went on to win that year's Melbourne Cup.

A year later Tobin Bronze won the Craiglee before landing the first of two Cox Plates and in 1969 Rain Lover took out the race en route to a second Melbourne Cup.

This trend of success continued in the next three decades and the race remains a key pointer to Group 1 races that follow in the spring.

It's just that in the past few years, the race has been devoid of "big three" winners.

But Mark Kavanagh is one trainer hoping the bad omens surrounding the Makybe Diva Stakes will change this year.

Melbourne Cup winner Shocking is set to start in the Makybe Diva after bypassing yesterday's Memsie Stakes.

Shocking made a pleasing return behind Shoot Out in the Liston a fortnight ago and is aiming to be just the sixth galloper to win multiple Melbourne Cups.

Kavanagh says Shocking is "right on track" and feels the 1600m will suit better at this stage of his campaign.

Lloyd Williams has frequently used the race as a spring opener, having won with Mahogany and Native Jazz. Stable representative Nick Williams said the big hope for this year's carnival, Linton, would bypass the Makybe Diva, but the family would still be represented by C'Est La Guerre, Alandi and Mourayan next weekend.

The 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient has become a "day to day proposition" according to Williams. "We are hoping and have our fingers crossed," Williams said.

In the 20 runnings of the Makybe Diva Stakes from 1985 to 2004, when it was known as the Craiglee, no fewer than eight Caulfield Cup winners came through the race (which was changed to the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 even though the mighty mare never contested the race).

Of the eight, Sky Heights (1999) and Northerly (2002) won the Craiglee, while Tristarc (1985), Sydeston (1990), Mummify (2003) and Elvstroem (2004) placed at Flemington.

Fraar (1993) and Diatribe (2000) were both well beaten in the Craiglee, but found their best form over the 2400m at Caulfield.

The Craiglee also produced five Melbourne Cup winners in the nine runnings from 1986 to 1994.

At Talaq (1986), Subzero (1992) and Jeune (1994) all put the writing on the wall with Craiglee placings, while Tawrrific (1989) and Kingston Rule (1990) used the race as a tune-up for their 3200m assignment.

Cox Plate winners have been thinner on the ground over the same time frame, with Almaarad (1989) and Northerly (2002) the only two Moonee Valley winners to use the Craiglee as a lead-up, although Dulcify, Family Of Man and Tobin Bronze all came through the race in earlier years.

So while the Craiglee enjoyed a golden period from the mid 1980s to early 2000s in unearthing Cups and Cox Plate winners, it has been a dry run since, with Elvstroem being the most recent "big three" winner to use the race as a stepping stone.

Despite missing out on the really big ones, the Makybe Diva/Craiglee has supplied spring Group 1 winners in nine of the past 10 seasons.

Typhoon Tracy (Myer Classic) and Heart Of Dreams (Underwood) graduated from the race last year.

Finally, here's a sobering note for punters wanting to follow the Makybe Diva Stakes winner throughout the spring: From the past 25 runnings, 21 of the winners failed to win another race that campaign.

The exceptions were Weekend Hussler, Northerly, Sky Heights and Marble Halls.

Moudre, Craig Williams, Ciaron Maher

2010-08-29T02:16:00.000-07:00

HeraldSun.com.au
28th August 2010

Up-and-coming stayer Moudre could be top jockey Craig Williams' hope in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Leading jockey Craig Williams may have found himself a more than handy Caulfield and Melbourne Cup ride if up-and-coming stayer Moudre can continue his authoritative rise through the ranks.

Tackling his toughest test to date in Saturday's Listed Hocking Stuart Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield, Moudre overcame a luckless run to score a comfortable win and announce himself as a genuine lightweight Cups chance for Warrnambool-based trainer Ciaron Maher.

"He gave me a feeling like a horse named Leica Falcon that I rode through the ranks a few years ago," Williams said.

Williams partnered Leica Falcon when the Corowa-trained stayer burst onto the scene in the spring of 2005, winning an open handicap at Sandown and the Group Two Winning Edge Stakes before running fifth in the Caulfield Cup to Railings.

Moudre still has plenty to do before he can comfortably make the Caulfield Cup field but Williams is confident the five-year-old has what it takes to make the grade this spring.

"He's a potential star and the best part about him is that he's such a relaxed character," he said.

"When you stoke him up he finds gear after gear, he's exciting."

Moudre endured a wide run in the second half of the field before Williams began to creep forward at the 800m and by the turn he was poised to pounce and soon left Diggersanddealers and Apprehend in his wake, eventually winning by 3-1/4 lengths from that duo.

Maher, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win a good race during spring having saddled up 100-1 shot Tears I Cry to win the Group One Emirates Stakes in 2007, is keeping the lid on his latest star galloper as he progresses towards the Cups.

"He keeps answering his critics and that was a good win. It takes a while for a few of them to find their feet but he's really come on and matured in the last year," he said.

"We'll go to the Naturalism Stakes here in September now. He needs to keep winning."

2010-08-29T01:58:00.000-07:00

Each year I write an eBook titled How to Pick The Winner Of The Emirates Melbourne Cup. When you purchase your copy of the eBook at www.PickTheCupWinner.com.au you automatically get access to my Melbourne Cup Morning last minute selections. This was the information last year's subscribers accessed.

"Be aware that a thorough examination of statistics for the last 50 years indicate the Cup will probably be won by a 4, 5 or 6 yr old colt or gelding. They also indicate the horse won’t carry less than 50 kgs or more than 56.5 kgs. Also, the starting price of the winner will more that likely be less than 20/1. They also indicate the favourite only wins once every five years.And statistics, since 1861, indicate only once every 37 years will the same horse win two consecutive Melbourne Cups."

"Allowing for this and after studying the form of all of the horses I believe one of these six horses will win the 2009 Melbourne Cup. Daffodil, Shocking, Master O’Reilly, Viewed, Alcopop, Roman Emperor."

"If you rely totally on the statistical information above you would have to rule out Daffodil, Master O’Reilly and Viewed. Thus, statistics indicate that the Cup winner should be Alcopop, Roman Emperor or Shocking. And if you are leaning towards any of these three horses be aware that statistics are on your side."

Of course, you now know that Shocking won the 2009 Melbourne Cup. And i happily tell 4 of my selections finished 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th.

I invite you to check out the site at www.PickTheCupWinner.com.au and order your copy now (Costs $9.95).

1960 Melbourne Cup sold for $104,000

2010-06-13T02:21:00.000-07:00

Melbourne Cup Trophy Sold At Auction

Formguide

Written by Jack Styring
Thursday, 10 June 2010 10:51
The centenary Melbourne Cup trophy, won by Hi Jinx in 1960, was purchased in Sydney earlier this week at auction for $104,000 to an undisclosed buyer.

Also offered was the Sydney Cup trophy won by Grand Print in 1962. It was sold for $18,000.

Grand Print was ridden by Roy Higgins, for owner Graeme Nathan and trainer Jack Besanko senior.

The result was quite interesting as the three placed horses, Hi Jinx, Howsie and Ilumquh, were all visitors from New Zealand, yet were all ridden by Australian jockeys; Billie Smith, Jack Purtell and Bill Williamson.

Bauer - Luca Cumaini - Simon O'Donnell - Terry Henderson - OTI Racing - Manighar - Becqu Adoree - Stansill

2010-06-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

RacingPost.com.au

Bauer camp eye another crack at Melbourne Cup

BY ANDREW SCUTTS 9:15AM 10 JUN 2010

Australia: Bauer, beaten a nose in the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup, is progressing well from injury and connections are eyeing another crack at the prestigious Flemington contest, which will be run for the 150th time this year.

The Luca Cumani-trained stayer is set to step up his training regime next month with a view at going one better than two years ago when he was defeated by Viewed.

"The scans have all been clean, which is pleasing and the horse has been in work a long time now with the intention of coming back to Melbourne for this year's Cup," part-owner Simon O'Donnell said on Thursday.

"He's built up from walking to cantering and trotting and will start his serious race gallops in July.

"The intention is to give him two or three runs in Europe and assuming all goes well and the horse pleases Luca, then he'll be headed back to Melbourne."

Bauer emerged from a crop of more highly fancied international raiders in 2008 to win the Geelong Cup before narrowly losing out in an epic Melbourne Cup.

"He was one of those imports that improved out of sight when he got to this hemisphere," O'Donnell added.

"He grew in stature from the minute he arrived, he loved the firm ground and the Cup was run in a manner that year that suited him."

Bauer is one of four European horses that O'Donnell and Terry Henderson's OTI Racing are preparing for a tilt at this year's Spring Racing Carnival and ultimately the Melbourne Cup on November 2.

The Cumani-trained Manighar, who is owned by OTI Racing and the Honourable EarleMack, is also a Cup contender and O'Donnell said: "We were particularly pleased with his debut run [for Cumani]. We were pleased to see him running so well on good ground because it was the one box he hadn't ticked.

"The run the other night gave us a lot of confidence that he has the qualities to be a Cup horse if he continues in the right direction."

Another Cumani possible is Becqu Adoree, who was eighth of nine on her British debut last month.

"She was not as bright as we'd hoped, but she played up in the gates beforehand and has come on since then," O'Donnell said.

"We're expecting an improved showing next time out."

OTI could also be represented by John Smith's Northumberland Plate candidate Stansill, who is trained by Alan Swinbank.

2010 Betting Melbourne Cup Market as at 5th of June 2010

2010-06-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

2010 Melbourne Cup - 2010 Melbourne Cup Winner Market
Show All Odds

Show Best Odds

Show Market Movers
Book Value 110%
Click on the logos or odds to open an account. #
FAINT PERFUME 17.6
PROFOUND BEAUTY 24.8
JESSICABEEL 27.6
SHOCKING 28.6
ALANDI 28.6
PRECEDENCE 30.5
MONACO CONSUL 34.3
LINTON 34.3
MANIGHAR 38.1
VIGOR 40.0
ALCOPOP 41.9
SHAMOLINE WARRIOR 41.9
SPEED GIFTED 41.9
ABOVE AVERAGE 43.8
METAL BENDER 45.7
RUNDLE 45.7
HANKS 47.6
ZABRASIVE 47.6
EFFICIENT 47.6
VALDEMORO 52.3
ZIPPING 52.3
JAGUAR MAIL 52.3
RITE OF PASSAGE 57.1
OKEN BRUCE LEE 57.1
MEINER KITZ 61.8
DAFFODIL 66.6
REBEL RAIDER 66.6
DOCTOR FREMANTLE 66.6
MARTIAL LAW 71.3
SO YOU THINK 71.3
CEST LA GUERRE 76.1
MOATIZE 76.1
SHOOT OUT 80.8
PURPLE 80.8
CASUAL CONQUEST 80.8
MOURILYAN 85.6
CRIME SCENE 85.6
HUME 90.3
FANJURA 90.3
ONCE WERE WILD 90.3
DIVINE REBEL 90.3
STAR RIPPER 95.1
HERCULIAN PRINCE 104.6
LITTORIO 104.6
MASTER OREILLY 104.6
DESCARADO 114.1
LEICA DING 114.1
VODKA 114.1
PATRICIANS GLORY 123.6
CAPECOVER 133.1
HISSING SID 133.1
UNSUNG HEROINE 133.1
CARTHAGE 142.6
CHARTREUX 142.6
STAND TO GAIN 152.1
STERLING PRINCE 152.1
FORGETTABLE 152.1
DREAM JOURNEY 152.1
MAN OF IRON 152.1
SAVARAIN 152.1
HARRIS TWEED 161.6
PREDATORY PRICER 161.6
SCINTILLO 161.6
EXTRA ZERO 161.6
ZAVITE 171.1
FAIRY OAK 171.1
SUMMER DASH 171.1
BECQU ADOREE 171.1
NAVAL ESCORT 190.1
SPACECRAFT 199.6
ROMAN EMPEROR 199.6
ERASET 275.6
HEBRIDEAN 294.6
MY BENTLEY 294.6

Profound Beauty - Dermott Weld - Faint Perfume

2010-06-05T04:41:00.000-07:00

Races.com.au

1 JUNE 2010 | BETTING, MELBOURNE CUP
Six-year-old Danehill mare Profound Beauty, trained by premier Irish trainer Dermot Weld, has had an impressive start to her 2010 Melbourne Cup campaign with a classy win in Ireland.

Weld, the only European trainer to win the Melbourne Cup having won with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), will aim for a third ‘Loving Trophy’ with his profoundly talented beauty in this year’s 150th running of the Melbourne Cup on November 2.

The highly rated Profound Beauty finished a gallant fifth to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup before being scratched from last year’s event a month before after a long and tiring season.

On Sunday she started her season with a first-up win at Leopardstown in a Listed race over 2800m, beating odds-on favourite Age Of Aquarius by a half-length in her first start after a long spell following her fourth place finish to Alandi in the Irish St Leger in September last year.

Weld has hinted at runs in both the Curragh Cup and the Irish St Leger again this year for Profound Beauty on her way to the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

There is sure to be a strong international flavour in this year’s Melbourne Cup with a number of top international horses expected to travel to Flemington for the first Tuesday in November. Entries for the Melbourne Cup close on August 3.

Profound Beauty is currently a $26 chance for the $6 million Melbourne Cup in the pre-nomination betting market at SportingBet, while the Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume remains the $17 favourite.

Faint Perfume arrives back in Cummings’ care at his Sydney stable next Monday after having been spelled at Think Big Stud. The three-year-old Shamardal filly is raced by Dato Tan Chin Nam, who is the most successful owner in the Melbourne Cup having won four times with Think Big (1974 & 1975), Saintly (1996) and Viewed (2008).

Dato Tan also part-owns Cummings’ Redoute’s Choice filly Dariana who is the hot $3.50 favourite for this Saturday’s $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm through IASbet.

Ge Up Jude

2010-05-29T22:09:00.001-07:00

Races.com.au
29/5/10

Six-year-old gelding Get Up Jude has been sent to the paddocks early to rest up before their spring campaign that connections are hoping will culminate with a start in the 150th Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2.

Trained by Diane Poidevin-Laine at Kembla Grange, Get Up Jude had five testing starts this season, his best performance an eye-catching fifth to Jessicabeel in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 24 at Randwick.

Since his Sydney Cup run over the same two-mile distance as the prestigious Melbourne Cup, Get Up Jude had two more races but was beginning to look tired finishing fifth in the Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) and then second last when beaten by 13 lengths in the WJ McKell Cup (2400m) last Saturday.

The disappointing run in the WJ McKell Cup lead Poidevin-Laine to abandon Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival plans to send Get Up Jude to a well-earned spell instead.

Get Up Jude is an excellent stayer, the son of Res Judicata having won six of their 26 career starts, and will now be saved for the spring where he will be nominated for a number of Cup Carnival races including the Melbourne Cup.

2010-05-29T22:06:00.001-07:00

Races.com.au
29/5/10

Flemington-based trainer Mark Kavanagh has started the early training for last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in anticipation of the four-year-old’s second Melbourne Cup campaign this spring.

Shocking, a son of Street Cry out of Maria Di Castiglia, took out the 2009 Melbourne Cup after starting at $9 odds winning ahead of C’est La Guerre and Fiumicino.

If successful in defending his title on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington, Shocking will become just the sixth horse in the race’s 150 year history to claim multiple Melbourne Cups, the latest being the magnificent Makybe Diva who secured a hat-trick claiming victory in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The first stage in preparing Shocking for his Cup assault begun on Monday when he arrived at the pre-trainers at Euroa in rural Victoria.

Kavanagh sent a contingent of spring-bound horses from his stable to the pre-trainers, where they will stay for four weeks before returning home when the hard work really starts.

Shocking’s record stands at five wins and seven placings from 17 career starts for $3,894,520 in prizemoney, with his strength as a stayer proven last spring when he raced his best over 2000m or further.

The path Kavanagh will set Shocking on in the spring leading up to the $6 million Melbourne Cup is still wide open, with the colt sure to be nominated for big events including the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday October 16.

Nominations for the 2010 Melbourne Cup close on August 3 ahead of the handicap weight allocations on September 1, for which Shocking is sure to be weighted heavily as he aims for back-to-back success.

In the lead-up to the spring carnivals, many horses are contesting the quality group races currently taking place at the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. This weekend the feature event is the $650,000 Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m), check out the odds at IASbet.

Emirates Yorkshire Cup - Ascot Gold Cup - Manifest - Presvis - Luca Cumani

2010-05-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Telegraph UK
By Marcus Armytage
Published: 7:21PM BST 14 May 2010

Henry Cecil's fine run continued on Friday when Manifest ran away with Emirates Airlines Yorkshire Cup earning outright favouritism for the Ascot Gold Cup. At Newbury a second Oaks trial went his way after Principal Role's hard-fought win in the Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial.

Manifest favourite for Ascot Gold Cup after York romp
Tight rein: Tom Queally has plenty up his sleeve as he steers Manifest to an eight-length victory at York Photo: PA

Cecil has always had a penchant for stayers and dominated the Ascot Gold Cup between 1979 and 1982 when Le Moss and Ardross won it twice apiece, but he has not won it since Peaen gave him a record equalling fifth win in 1987. Manifest, a lightly-raced four-year-old, is now as short as 5-1 for that race with Ladbrokes after coming home eight lengths clear of former Ebor winner Purple Moon.

“I love Cup horses and he could make into a nice one,” said Cecil. “He does everything right and he could probably do with more give in the ground. It looks as if he stays and he could stay in the Gold Cup at Ascot.”

Aidan O’Brien said on Friday that Cape Blanco, the subject of an injury scare after his Dante win on Thursday, seemed fine. “He was a little bit tender but otherwise fine,” he said. “He only walked out this morning.”

Luca Cumani’s much travelled Presvis, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, is drawn 10 of 12 in Sunday’s Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji. Moore said: “He always gets a bad draw but it is a strongly-run race which will suit. You need a bit of luck to get through which is more important.”

Stanstill - Simon O'Donnell

2010-05-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Stanstill is on the move as former Australian cricketer Simon O'Donnell eyes Melbourne Cup triumph
By MARCUS TOWNEND

Up for the cup: Stanstill has been bought by a syndicate headed by former Australian Test cricketer Simon O'Donnell Stanstill, one of the most progressive stayers in training, has been bought by a syndicate headed by former Australian Test cricketer Simon O’Donnell to run in the Melbourne Cup.

The four-year-old, who will race for the OTI Racing Syndicate, is due to run in the Listed Braveheart Stakes at Hamilton on Friday. He will remain with Yorkshire trainer Alan Swinbank.

The deal to buy Stanstill followed a clinical comeback victory at Southwell in March, his fourth of his 10 races.

Bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who brokered the deal, said: ‘He looks a progressive stayer with a turn of foot who goes on any ground. We are not going to overface him. He’ll be kept to Listed class and may even go the Ebor Handicap route.’
O’Donnell, who played on the 1985 Ashes tour, almost won Australia’s biggest race in 2008 with his share in Luca Cumani’s runner-up Bauer.

There is still all to play for in Britain’s biggest Flat race, the Investec Derby, after the weekend trials.

Henry Cecil’s Lingfield winner Bullet Train may wait for Royal Ascot, while the grinding two-length victory of Aidan O’Brien’s Midas Touch in Sunday’s Derrinstown Stud Trial at Leopardstown was hardly revelatory, despite being cut to 16-1.
At least it was a trial success for O’Brien, whose horses have been slow to shine. His St Nicholas Abbey remains 3-1 Derby favourite but attention is focused on Thursday’s Dante Stakes and Cape Blanco, especially as stablemate Mikhail Glinka is out of work and looking doubtful for Epsom.

Plans for Jan Vermeer, the 10-1 Derby third favourite, are also uncertain. A needed Epsom prep race would have to be in the Irish Guineas and an alternative plan is to go straight to the French Derby.

Jim Bolger’s 1000 Guineas third Gile Na Greine misses Wednesday’s Musidora Stakes at York to go for the Irish 1000.

Meanwhile, the BHA disciplinary committee will rehear the case of Dean McKeown on May 24. The jockey was banned for four years for corruption offences in October 2008 but challenged the verdict in the High Court, which ruled there had been one factual error in the evidence against him.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-1275851/Stanstill-Australian-cricketer-Simon-ODonnell-eyes-Melbourne-Cup-triumph.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0nlM5KLBA

Sheikh Mohammed - Godolphin

2010-05-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Herald Sun
9th May 2010

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin are responsible for three of the 15 confirmations for next Friday's Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup

The race entries also feature 2007 Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon and the Dermot Weld-trained Profound Beauty who finished fifth to Viewed in Australia's most famous race two years ago.

Purple Moon, from the Luca Cumani stable, won the Ebor at York three years ago at what was his last racecourse success.

Profound Beauty, one of two Irish-trained gallopers nominated along with the John Oxx-prepared Roses For The Lady, has not raced since finishing fourth in the Irish St Leger in September last year.

Sheikh Mohammed's team have won the York stayers' feature five times in the last 15 years and they could give Darley Sun, Wajir and St Leger runner-up Kite Wood the chance to shine this time around.

The Japanese are coming - Jaguar Mail - Meiner Kitz

2010-05-02T18:14:00.001-07:00

CRAIG Williams may have found his Melbourne Cup ride after a thrilling win on Jaguar Mail in the Group 1 Tenno Sho in Japan.

The Melbourne premiership-winning jockey won one of Japan's top staying races, which could prove a significant pointer to the Cup.

Racing Victoria international scout Leigh Jordon and Victoria Racing Club chairman Rod Fitzroy were at Kyoto to watch Williams triumph and reported real interest from Japanese owners and trainers about competing in the 150th Melbourne Cup.

Jaguar Mail, trained by Noriyuki Hori, is raced by Katsumi Yoshida, who owned 2006 Cup quinella horses Delta Blues and Pop Rock.

Williams had Jaguar Mail poised just off the lead on the turn in the 3200m race. He gave chase at the top of the straight and took the lead about 50m out.

"I don't think you'd get Craig off it. He was very taken with the horse. It was a powerful win," Jordon said.

Jordon said connections of Jaguar Mail and runner-up Meiner Kitz were both keen to come for the Cup.

The sticking point is quarantine regulations. Jordon has inspected Japanese-approved quarantine facilities at Miho, Nakayama and Tokyo. Australian biosecurity officials must inspect and approve the facilities.

Trainers told Jordon they needed to know by the end of this month, if they were to go ahead with Cup plans.

Williams is truly an international jockey, having now ridden Group 1 winners in Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.

He also won the last race at Kyoto on Saturday and the event after the Tenno Sho.

Sydney Cup - Jessicabeel - Zavite - Precedence - Anthony & Bart Cumming

2010-04-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

2010 Sydney Cup Won by Melbourne Cup Hopeful Jessicabeel
Posted on 26 April 2010
Races.com.au

On Saturday talented Zabeel mare Jessicabeel secured the highlight race at Randwick when she defeated a classy field of rivals in the $400,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Prepared by local trainer John O’Shea, Jessicabeel began as the $5 favourite and proved herself as a definite stayer as she came from behind to defeat fellow mare and runner-up in the event last year as well, Divine Rebel ($21), by a three-quarter lengths with Harris Tweed ($7.50) a further length away in third finishing off an all New Zealand-bred trifecta.

Jessicabeel, ridden by Craig Newitt, messed up the start and then settled worse than mid-field after the first 1200m with the horse’s connections worried about her back position.

But they had nothing to fear as the mare displayed her brilliant turn of foot on the home straight, working her way up through the field of stayers to secure the Group 1 win.

Anthony Cummings’ highly fancied second-favourite Zavite ($5.50) was the disappointment of the race, beating home just one other runner, the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence ($6.50), as the Cummings’ pair finished 10th and 11th respectively after pushing too hard early on.

Zavite and Precedence held the lead for much of the 3200m but then faded at the finish as the genuine tempo of the race took its toll.

It wasn’t all bad news for Anthony Cummings on the day however, as he still enjoyed Group 1 glory at the meeting when Road To Rock took out the $350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Other horses that failed to fire in the 2010 Sydney Cup included last start winner of the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) Littorio, who struggled to step up to the increased distance of the Cup, and 2008 Sydney Cup winner No Wine No Song who finished well back in eighth also stung by the surprising pace of the race.

Four-year-old Jessicabeel, who also took out the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) this season, has now won five of her 13 race starts for $464,900 in prizemoney.
O’Shea is now obviously looking towards the coveted Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November for Jessicabeel, the 150th running of the esteemed feature worth a record $6 million this year.

Other feature races that played out on the final Sydney autumn carnival meeting on Saturday included the $300,000 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) where the Peter Snowden-trained Skilled secured a close victory, and the $300,000 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) won by Hot Danish.

With the excitement of the Sydney autumn carnival now over for another year, the best in Australian racing will now head up to Queensland for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

2010 Schweppes Sydney Cup Results

Place
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
1
JESSICABEEL (NZ)
John O’Shea Craig Newitt
2
DIVINE REBEL (NZ)
Michael Moroney Kerrin McEvoy
3
HARRIS TWEED (NZ)
M & B Baker Michael Rodd
4
CAPECOVER (NZ)
Patrick Payne Steven Arnold
5
GET UP JUDE
Diane Poidevin-Laine Kathy O’Hara
6
MOATIZE
Bart Cummings Blake Shinn
7
SPIN AROUND
Steven Cooper Nash Rawiller
8
NO WINE NO SONG
Kevin Moses Hugh Bowman
9
LITTORIO
Nigel Blackiston Craig Williams
10
ZAVITE (NZ)
Anthony Cummings Damien Oliver
11
PRECEDENCE (NZ)
Bart Cummings Luke Nolen
Scratched:
BOOMING (NZ)

Harris Park - Sydney Cup

2010-04-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

NZ Herald.co.nz
3:59 AM Monday Apr 26, 2010

Cambridge trainer Murray Baker is plotting another Melbourne Cup campaign with Harris Tweed after history failed to repeat itself during the Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday.

Hoping to emulate his success with owner Phil Bayly and add another Sydney Cup to their 1992 triumph with My Eagle Eye the duo, instead, had to settle for a bold third as Jessicabeel won the A$400,000 ($523,500) feature race to become prolific sire Zabeel's 41st group one winner.

Michael Rodd kept Harris Tweed well placed in the 11-horse field until Jessicabeel and outsider Divine Rebel skipped clear on the final turn of the 3200m journey.

One of the pre-race favourites ($5), Jessicabeel won by three-quarters of a length while Harris Tweed was a length further back in third, mirroring their placings in the Chairman's Handicap (2600m) lead-up race at Randwick two weeks ago.

Although the mare seems to have Harris Tweed's measure, Baker and Bayly, 87, were relishing the opportunity to turn the tables in November at Flemington, where they will hope to improve on last year's fifth placing.

"I'm pretty happy with the run, I thought he'd be in the first three or four," said Baker, who pointed out Harris Tweed was lumped with 56.5kg in comparison with Jessicabeel (52kg) and Divine Rebel (53kg).

"He was giving weight to the other two, they had the pull on him there."

Baker also felt another six months' maturity would have Harris Tweed capable of exceeding the achievements of this Randwick campaign when he next crossed the Tasman.

"Physically, another six months is really going to make him," Baker said.

"He's a big lanky horse and I think 5-year-old will be his go. We'll get him to Melbourne in the spring."

Harris Tweed, a close second in the AJC Derby at Randwick on his trip here last year, collected A$40,000 for his third in the Sydney Cup to top A$100,000 on this three-race excursion.

"He's done well this time," Baker said of a schedule that opened with a sixth in the BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 3.

However, his third placing yesterday left Honor Babe as the Sydney Cup's last New Zealand-based winner in 2003.

It also ensured New Zealand did not secure a group one victory for the duration of the Autumn Carnival.

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds' quest for a first group one victory in Australia since his first foray in 1995 ended when Vosne Romanee wound up fourth in the A$350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The dominant weight-for-age performer in New Zealand this season raced on well in his Australian debut but could not keep pace with Road To Rock, Triple Honour and Monaco Consul.

Exceptionally - St Leger

2010-04-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

THE Age
St Leger bolter aims for the Cup
ANDREW EDDY
April 26, 2010

TERRY O'Sullivan knows his filly Exceptionally has plenty more yet to achieve if the dream of a Melbourne Cup run is to be realised, but the trainer was looking towards November's $6 million race after she rallied to win yesterday's St Leger at Flemington.

''I'd love to think she might get into a Melbourne Cup,'' O'Sullivan, who is also a part-owner of the horse, said after yesterday's win over the 2800 metres. ''I know it's pretty tough just to get into the race, but she'll run two miles [3200 metres] no doubt.''

When a horse pays more than $50 for a win, it can be assumed that even the connections were only moderately confident of victory. But O'Sullivan, the filly's jockey Dan Nikolic and her part-owner Kingsley Peach were all convinced she could pass the first qualifying clause for the Melbourne Cup by taking out the $200,000 listed race.

''Halfway down the straight, I thought she would finish third at best but then she sprouted wings over the last 150 metres,'' Nikolic said. ''It was a really good staying effort.''

O'Sullivan was of the same mind as Gallant Lady and Sherpa Tenzing appeared certain to fight out the finish. ''It was a great ride by Dan. He rode it 110 per cent and he was patient and just waited. I thought he might have waited too long but over that last 50 metres she dived through to score.''

The result came as a great thrill but no shock for part-owner Peach, who picked the filly out at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale as he was a fan of the little-known stallion Ekraar and the filly was out of a Zabeel mare. He paid $62,500 for her.

Exceptionally, a $21 chance in the ring with the bookmakers, won by three-quarters of a length over Gallant Lady ($3.90 favourite) with Sherpa Tenzing ($4.60) a short neck away third.

Jesicabeel - Sydney Cup

2010-04-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

Published: 3:03PM Sunday April 25, 2010
By tvnz.co.nz's Phillip Quay

The stunning win by Cambridge Stud-bred mare Jesicabeel in yesterday's A$600,000 Sydney Cup at Randwick has shown she will be a serious contender for the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

Lightly raced Jesicabeel relished the step up to the 3200m of the Sydney Cup and there will be no doubts about her staying qualities.

Bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan, Jesicabeel is by Cambridge Stud's multiple champion sire Zabeel and became his 41st individual Group 1 winner. Zabeel has overtaken Sir Tristram's tally of stakes winners and has also made his mark as an outstanding broodmare sire with the likes of Darci Brahma, Samantha Miss and Faint Perfume all being from Zabeel mares.

Zabeel's previous Sydney Cup winner was Gallic who won the time-honoured event in 2007.

Trainer John O'Shea purchased Jessicabeel (ex More Diamonds by Straight Strike) at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $220,000 from Cambridge Stud.

Jessicabeel came with a stunning finishing burst in yesterday's race to claim the Mike Moroney-trained Divine Rebel, which finished runner-up in the race for the second year running.

Lloyd Williams Rundle

2010-04-23T16:50:00.001-07:00

Racing & Sports

Friday, 23 April 2010: Anzac Day is about reflection but at Flemington on Sunday owner Lloyd Williams will be looking to the future with his four runners.

In the feature race, the Listed VRC St Leger, Williams will test emerging stayer Rundle over the 2800m in what is likely to be a screen test for the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding is one of two dozen sons of Galileo Williams has invested in, hoping to land another Melbourne Cup.

Rundle has raced only four times and after finishing a close-up seventh on debut has been unbeaten since, including a soft 2500m win at Flemington last time.

Rundle has been posted at odds-on to make it four wins on end but for Williams success will be determined not by winning but how he runs out the 2800m journey for the first time.

In the following race, though, Williams will kick off the Australian campaigns of imports Grand Ducal, Muir and Martial Law.

The trio of former UK gallopers will find the 1200m straight dash of the Kokodas Track Handicap totally unsuitably, according to Williams, with longer races in the spring as their primary concerns.

Grand Ducal does have a good fresh record and is a winner in that state over 1500m and is Group 2 placed at 1400m.

All three of Muir's wins have been over 2000m while Martial Law did win his frst race at a mile but his most recent success was over 2982m in France.

Earlier this week another Williams import Stillman made his Australian debut at Betfair Park and ran well to finish runner-up over 1400m and a few more will emerge over the next fortnight.

Williams said all the imports would have just one or two runs before being turned out again and aimed at the spring.

Williams has almost a dozen imports and a myriad of Galileo gallopers on his books in his quest for this year's 150th running of the Melbourne Cup.

NB. Rundle was scratched from this race. Efficiency won it.

Gai Waterhouse Herculian Prince Above Average Zavite Booming

2010-04-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

Sydney Morning Herald
April 18th 2010
GAI WATERHOUSE is already thinking about the Melbourne Cup with exciting stayer Herculian Prince after he dominated the Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick yesterday.

The four-year-old has won four races in the past month, rising from a midweek race at Canterbury to claim his second listed win.

''What a horse and a half he is,'' Waterhouse proclaimed. ''He has just done everything we have asked of him and does it so easily.

''He is going to make a very good stayer and a race like the Melbourne Cup would be nice for him.''

Herculian Prince took his record to seven wins from 11 starts, leading all the way and scoring by 1¼ lengths from imported stayer Above Average with Booming getting home well for third a long neck away.

Glyn Schofield was also bullish about the future with Herculian Prince, which is likely to have one more run this preparation, though not in next week's Sydney Cup.

''That was a proper race out there,'' he said. ''It was a race of good tempo on testing ground and he was just too good for them.

''He has done nothing wrong this time and he has got a big future as a stayer.''

The runner-up, Above Average, seems a typical grinding English stayer and he will be tipped out with a view towards the Melbourne spring.

''At 2000 metres he just could not pick the other one up,'' part-owner Chris Lawler said. ''It might be different at 2400m but you will have to wait for the spring to see that. The good thing is he's already qualified for the Melbourne Cup.''

While the first two home will not be back at Randwick next week for the Sydney Cup, Kiwi stayer Booming will. He did his best work at the end in his first run since being runner-up to Zavite in the Auckland Cup last month.

''It was a good run. He is in the Sydney Cup and we will see how he has come through the race,'' Booming's trainer Jeff Lynds said.

2009 Melbourne Cup Pre Nominations Betting Market

2010-04-17T04:06:00.000-07:00

Currently the pre-nominations favourite is brilliant Shamardal filly Faint Perfume, trained by the legendary Bart Cummings who will be attempting his 13th Melbourne Cup victory this year.

Faint Perfume recently won the Group 1 Storm Queen Stakes and is looking on track for more success in her autumn campaign.

The second favourite at this stage for the 2010 Melbourne Cup with SportingBet is another under the training of premier mentor Cummings, Precedence at $20.
Precedence is then followed by the Robert Hickmott-trained Linton ($21), Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive ($23), defending Melbourne Cup champion Shocking ($23), improving gelding Alcopop ($26) and impressive three-year-old filly Valdemoro ($26).
Remember this excellent offer, including full refunds if your horse isn’t nominated for the 2010 Melbourne Cup, is only available through SportingBet so visit them to view the full terms and conditions.

Precedence

2010-04-17T03:57:00.001-07:00

Courier Mail
9th April

IT might be 42 years since he first bred an AJC Derby winner but, for Sir Patrick Hogan, the hunger remains as strong as ever as he heads to tomorrow's Randwick meeting with a horse he hopes can deliver him a Melbourne Cup.

Precedence, a horse he co-bred and now owns one-third of, is a short-priced favourite to win the Chairman's Handicap.

Sir Patrick has enjoyed many wonderful moments on AJC Derby day, dating back to the 1968 winner Wilton Park, which he bred with his late father.

Bankrolled by the champion father-son team of Sir Tristram and Zabeel, horses bred by Sir Patrick have since won multiple Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups and Cox Plates, a Golden Slipper and countless Derbys and Oaks.

A guide to just how successful the breeder has been can be gauged by his not naming former public idol Octagonal among the favourite three horses he has bred, with Surround, Tristarc and Gurner's Lane at the top of the tree.

"I don't leave Octagonal out of it but, if you go back over the past 30 years, I've probably bred more Group 1 winners than any other breeder, so it's a hard question," Sir Patrick said.

Having accomplished everything in breeding, for which his achievements were honoured with a knighthood in 1998, the proud Irish-born New Zealander now wants to win Australia's greatest race as an owner.

"Where I am now, at 71 years old, my greatest desire is to own a Melbourne Cup winner.

"I've been a personal friend of Bart Cummings for 40 years or more and I thought the only way I could possibly win a Melbourne Cup is that, one, Bart trains it, and two, Dato Tan (Chin Nam) has to join me in the partnership.

"In New Zealand I've won the Auckland, Wellington and New Zealand cups. I've also won the top two-mile trotting cup with Mountain Gold. I've got those cups on the table.

"Now I have to get a bit serious in Australia. And first and foremost it's the Melbourne Cup. I'm not going to chase Chin Nam's number or Bart's number, but I need them to help me and it's better to have a piece of the horse with these two guys because they are blessed."

Sir Patrick's Cambridge Stud has been the dominant AJC Derby force in the modern era.

Resident stallion Zabeel has sired the winner four times - Octagonal, Sky Heights, Don Eduardo and Fiumicino - and he is in the box seat to add to the tally with his three runners tomorrow headed by hot favourite Zabrasive.

Fellow Cambridge stallion Keeper is the sire of Kiwi hope Keep The Peace, while Sir Patrick himself races the Savabeel gelding Suyama, although he's not holding his breath for the $71 chance to deliver any miracles.

Zabeel turns 24 this year but is in good health and will line up for a 20th season at Cambridge this spring.

Alcopop has a hangover

2010-03-23T05:08:00.001-07:00

Racing and Sports
Monday, 22 March 2010:

The Sydney autumn campaign of Alcopop may be over after finishing last in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

The South Australian stayer, who started favourite in last year's Melbourne Cup, has failed to fire in two runs in Sydney in the autumn and trainer Jake Stephens will now weigh up whether to continue on.

Nothing has gone right for Alcopop in Sydney, including a poor blood count and failing to stretch out hindering his first run in the Sydney direction when 10th in the Apollo Stakes.

A mild virus forced him to miss the Chipping Norton Stakes and second-up in the Ranvet on Saturday he layed in up the straight and was seemingly at sea in the clockwise direction, finishing a six length last behind Theseo.

Stephens and connections will now think about whether to press on or return home and concentrate on the spring.

'He'll have an easy few days and we'll evaluate what to do,” Stephens said.

“The BMW is still a possibility but my gut feeling is to pull up stumps and go home. It's probably a better idea to give him a good spell and concentrate on the spring.”

Stephens wants to give the horse every chance to turn the corner but admits he's facing an uphill battle.

Carthage for the Cup

2010-03-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

Racing and Sports
Monday, 22 March 2010:

Hong Kong trainer John Moore has named the Melbourne Cup as the target for a horse who was once favourite for the world's premier weight-for-age event, the Prix De l”Arc de Triomphe.

Carthage, who raced in Europe as Beheshtam, was rated one of the most exciting prospects in France last year when he finished fourth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) as a three-year-old when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre.

The son of Arc winner Peintre Celebre has raced just six times, winning his first two starts at Maisons-Laffitte and the Listed Prix De L'Avre at Longchamp over 2600m and 2400m before he contested the Derby.

Beheshtam was also second in the G2 Prix Niel, a traditional Arc prep race, and was acquired by Moore's “Trainer Syndicate” from his owner the Aga Khan after he finished 12th, beaten only 6.8 lengths, in the Arc won by champion colt Sea The Stars at Longchamp in October.

Moore is hoping Carthage can match the success he has enjoyed with his current star Collection, another Peintre Celebre acquisition from Europe who won last year's G1 Hong Kong Derby and the G1 HK Gold Cup at his most recent start on February 28.

Carthage has been given two recent trials at Sha Tin by Moore as he begins what will be a long build up to his planned Australian campaign in October and November.

"We hope to give him two or three runs in Hong Kong before the end of the season and then ship him to Melbourne for the spring carnival," Moore told SCMP.

Moore plans to send Carthage to Victoria in August with his son George to supervise his training.

"The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are the two main targets but we will find a couple of lead-up races over shorter distances beforehand,” Moore said.

"His form behind Cavalryman when he was beaten just half a length in the Prix Niel speaks for itself.

“We are very much looking forward to the journey ahead."

ChangingOfTheGuard dies

2010-03-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

The Age
PATRICK BARTLEY
March 11, 2010

WHAT looked to be the dream of winning a Melbourne Cup with imported galloper Changingoftheguard turned out to be an ongoing nightmare, and the final chapter was played out yesterday when the stayer died during surgery.

Reportedly purchased for $1 million by a Melbourne-based syndicate, Changingoftheguard did not survive a simple gelding operation.

''He suffered a ruptured bowel during the operation and didn't survive. He was put down for humane reasons,'' said trainer David Hayes.

''That has never happened at Lindsay Park before and we've had hundreds, even thousands, done. Sometimes a horse can injure a leg when getting up after an operation, but not this.''

The horse finished second in the Ebor Handicap at York in England, prompting a group of owners in Melbourne to purchase the horse with a view to running in last year's Melbourne Cup.

But from the time Changingoftheguard arrived in Australia, he has been embroiled in a series of controversies, including his dramatic withdrawal hours before the Melbourne Cup.

His withdrawal by stewards acting on veterinary advice was the centre of much debate, with Hayes rejecting claims that the horse had hoof problems.

Changingoftheguard had one run last month, but after finishing down the track the stable reported that the stallion, who was formerly with leading Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and owned by Kilmore Stud, appeared to have respiratory problems after the race.

Last Tuesday week he beat two of Hayes' four Australian Cup runners, Our Aqaleem and Zagreb, in an impressive gallop at Flemington. ''He coughed after the gallop and I decided to look after him and not run him in the Australian Cup,'' Hayes said.

The stable then elected to geld Changingoftheguard with a view to this year's Melbourne Cup.

Anthony Cummings, Damien Oliver and Zavite win Auckland Cup

2010-03-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

11/3/10
Memo from Max:

Ahhhhhh...It is funny how we all 'claim' a winner. It is entertaining to see how the media in Australia and New Zealand compete with each other for 'ownership' of successful horses. Read the next two paragraphs about Zavite and you will see what I mean. Zavite was bred in New Zealand but has done most of it's racing in Australia.

(From TVNZ) Australian-based horse Zavite has won the $1 million Group One Auckland Cup race at Ellerslie. Zavite finished ahead of Booming while Tin Goose was third.

(From Racing and Sprts Australia) Thursday, 11 March 2010: Sydney stayer Zavite put a dent in New Zealand pride on Wednesday when he became yet another Australian galloper to win a Kiwi Group One race with a dominant performance in the $1 million Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

Although the 7YO Zabeel gelding is NZ-bred, it was an all Australian triumph as he is trained at Randwick by Anthony Cummings and was ridden by Melbourne champion Damien Oliver.

Zavite proved a class above his opponents to win in one of the fastest times for the race in recent years.

Carrying top weight of 57.5kg, Zavite covered the 3200m in 3:18.96 to give Oliver another major New Zealand trophy to go with the Wellington Cup he won aboard Ed in 1995.

The 37-year-old Oliver had not ridden a winner in New Zealand for 10 years with his previous Kiwi success being in the 1998 NZ Derby on So Casual, however Oliver was aboard the Paul Perry-trained Dantelah in the 1999 Group 1 Telegraph Stakes when relegated to second on protest in a controversial decision.

In contrast to Zavite's usual on pace pattern, a fast early pace saw Oliver settle him back in twelfth position until the 700m when he set the gelding alight.

Zavite showed sparkling acceleration to sprint past the leaders on the home turn and opened a winning break of three lengths that he maintained down the long Ellerslie straight.

Zavite powered to the line three and a quarter lengths clear of Glen Boss' mount Booming with the outsider Tin Goose third with last year's winner Spin Around fourth.

Oliver said he never had any worries despite settling back in the field.

“They went pretty hard from the gate and I thought I'd pop in behind them and get him to relax,” said the champion Melbourne rider.

“He settled nice and coming to the turn I had some good chances in front of me, but they weren't going near as good as this bloke.

“He just cruised up and was jogging on the turn. He kicked well, I might have gone a bit early, but he was just going so well.

“It was a comprehensive win and a good effort under the weight.”

Zavite, winner of last year's Adelaide Cup, returned to winning form at Moonee Valley at his previous start.

He could have gone back to Morphettville last Monday for another Adelaide Cup assault but Cummings opted for the New Zealand trip because of the bigger prizemoney.

“It is one million dollars, and even if it's Kiwi it's still good,” he said.

“I left the riding decisions to Damien. He helped him carry the weight and made the right move coming toward the turn.”

Zavite was purchased by Cummings as a yearling at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2004 for $80,000. He has now won ten of his fifty starts for earnings of $1.1 million.

Capecover wins Adelaide Cup

2010-03-09T02:09:00.001-08:00

8th March 2010

Former champion jockey Patrick Payne has celebrated his biggest day as a trainer with Capecover winning the Group Two Adelaide Cup at Morphettville from stable-mate Kerdem on Monday.

But in an ironic twist, the winning connections had an anxious wait when Payne's sister Michelle, who rode the runner-up, fired in a protest against the winner.

It was dismissed and New Zealand stayer Capecover was declared the victor of the gruelling 3,200-metre contest.

Capecover is trained by Alexander Fieldes when he races in New Zealand but remained with Victorian-based Payne after the Melbourne Cup in which he finished in 17th place.

He beat Kerdem by a length with Itstheone another short half-head behind in third.

Daffodil

2010-02-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

NZ Herald
Glenn Watson
22nd Feb 2010

It's Sydney in the autumn for the Kevin Gray-trained mare Daffodil after her outstanding win freshup at New Plymouth on Saturday.

The AJC Oaks and Windsor Plate winner sauntered effortlessly past a handy lot of sprinters to win the Schweppervesence Sprint.

She will start at Otaki on Sunday before heading to Sydney for the Ranvet Stakes and the BMW in April.

Hayden Tinsley will replace Opie Bosson for Sunday's race. Tinsley was at Ellerslie on Saturday.

"I was proud of her on Saturday. It was a marvellous effort," said Gray of Daffodil, who hadn't raced since an unlucky run in the Melbourne Cup almost four months ago.

Aussie rider Hugh Bowman will ride Daffodil in her Sydney campaign.

However, Gray was not so happy with Opie Bosson's ride later in the day on the stable's star juvenile Cellarmaster in the Waikato Stud Classic.

After a sluggish start, Cellarmaster was settled three wide for most of the race, lost his balance 200m out and still got up for third behind Icepins.

"I mean, here's a horse who usually leads but was left three wide all the way, and heaven knows what happened down the home straight."

Cellarmaster, who is owned by Auckland Judge John Clapham, his breeder, will start next in the $200,000 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie on March 13, with either Tinsley or Michael Coleman aboard.

Gray, who was at Ellerslie on Saturday with Derby hope King Raedwald, was much happier after his colt ran third to Zarzuela and Corporal Jones.

Back at New Plymouth, freegoer Bruce Almighty ran his foes ragged in the $80,000 Taranaki Cup, beating off Il Quello Veloce, who was a game second in her first staying test.

It was jockey Paul Taylor's second win in the race, his first coming on Gallions Reach. Trainer Stuart Manning will now take the much-travelled Bruce Almighty to Riverton at Easter.

- WANGANUI CHRONICLE

Manighar Luca Cumani Terry Henderson Simon O'Donnell Earle Mack

2010-02-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

From SuperRacing.com.au
22nd Feb 2010

French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.

French stayer Manighar has been purchased in a joint venture between American Earle Mack and Australian-based OTI Racing headed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson.

The Racing Post reported the Group Two winner would be transferred to Luca Cumani to be prepared for a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

The four-year-old son of Linamix has won six of his eight starts.

Following victory in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in October, he went on to finish third to older horses Ask and Schiaparelli in the Group One Prix Royal-Oak when trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for the Aga Khan.

Mack owned the Cumani-trained Mad Rush who finished seventh as favourite in the 2008 Melbourne Cup while OTI is a shareholder in Bauer who was a close runner-up to Viewed the same year.

"I met Terry Henderson in Australia when our horses ran in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and I am really looking forward to our new association," Mack said.

"Manighar is settling in nicely at Bedford House Stable but we will be in no hurry with him and he probably won't be seen out until midsummer."

Mad Rush was injured in the Group Three Curragh Cup at the end of June and he is now back in light training with Cumani.

Bauer has not raced since the Melbourne Cup in November 2008. He suffered a tendon injury in the middle of 2009 as he was being prepared for another tilt at the race.

Linton Efficient Lloyd Williams

2010-02-19T03:12:00.000-08:00

Herald Sun
13/2/10

THE comparisons between yesterday's Alister Clark Stakes winner Linton and 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient are inevitable.

Just as his famous stablemate Efficient signalled his rise to stardom by coming from last to win the 2006 Group 2 AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley, Linton looped the field to win the $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m).

Efficient, by Zabeel, won the AAMI Vase at his fifth start and Linton, by another noted staying sire in Galileo, graduated to Group class at only his third start in the manner of a rising star.

Rodd was clearly excited to be back in the Williams team.

"I spoke to Lloyd on Thursday, he said just give him a similar ride to Efficient in the Vase," Rodd said.

"You never like to go off too early, but you saw what he did at his third start in a race, he was able to come and treat them with contempt."

Backed from $4 to $3.80 favourite, Linton raced away in the straight to defeat Take The Rap ($14) by 1 3/4 lengths.

"Pretty much from the 600m onward I didn't think I was going to get beat," Rodd said.

"When he got to the straight he went whoa and had a very good look around. When he learns how to track up and come up on the bridle and then let down he's going to be pretty good."

Future plans are on hold. The gelding is not nominated for the Group 1 Cadbury Guineas on March 6, but Williams can get Linton into the field by paying a $41,250 late entry fee by March 1.

Williams's son, Nick, was quick to laud Linton as an emerging star but stopped short of rating him in Efficient's league.

"He's done a good job, you can't take anything away from the horse," Williams Jr said.

"But Efficient's won a AAMI Vase, Turnbull, Melbourne Cup and a (Victoria) Derby, this bloke's won a Group 2 in the autumn, so I think it's a long way off having any comparison."

He said the main comparison with Efficient was Linton's immaturity.

" I remember saying about Efficient all through his three-year-old, we're going to have to take him home and let him tell us. We've obviously got a Group horse of the future if we look after him.

"The staff think he's something special. We bought him at a ready-to-run sale in New Zealand."

Williams said Linton was a brother to Heimoro who was highly rated in Hong Kong before fracturing a leg.

Trainer Rob Hickmott, who replaced John Sadler as head trainer for Williams late last spring, was quick to credit his staff for Linton's development.

David Hayes will put blinkers back on Extra Zero who drifted from $3.30 to $5 and ran a disappointing fifth.

"I'm sure he's a blinker horse. I took them off for the Derby, but he needs them back on," Hayes said.

ChangingOfTheGuard Viewed Shocking Sirmione David Hayes Speed Gifted

2010-02-19T00:12:00.000-08:00

Racing and Sports

Thursday, 18 February 2010: Punters keen to find the winner of the Australian Cup should be watching Saturday's Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield as the definitive guide to the Group 1 race.

Eight of the last 10 Australian Cup winners have raced in the St George Stakes and in that period three have claimed the feature race double. Also worth noting few Australian Cup winners finish out of the placings in the St George Stakes as a lead-up.

Saturday's St George Stakes has drawn together a good field of gallopers including the 2008 Australian Cup winner Sirmione and the last two Melbourne Cup winners Shocking and Viewed .

David Hayes, who has never won the race himself, will rest Our Aqaleem and rely on Birthday Cup winner Zagreb and imported stayer Changingoftheguard .

Lee Freedman, a three-time winner of the race, will line up Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted who is being aimed at the Australian Cup and BMW Stakes.

Viewed and Shocking share Australian Cup favouritism at $7.50, with Speed Gifted and Sirmione sharing the second line of betting at $9.00.

Mick Price's Heart Of Dreams , who will run in Saturday's St George, is an $11.00 chance, just ahead of Our Aqaleem and Zipping at $12.00.

Underrated mare Miss Maren , also in the St George, is at $14.00.

R6 CAULFIELD 20 FEBRUARY 2010
Pure Blonde St George Stakes Group II, 1800m
Race Fields
Tab Horse BP WT Jockey Trainer
1 Viewed 11 59.0 STEVE ARNOLD BART CUMMINGS
2 Shocking 8 59.0 MICHAEL RODD MARK KAVANAGH
3 Sirmione 3 59.0 LUKE NOLEN BART CUMMINGS
4 Heart Of Dreams 10 59.0 CRAIG NEWITT MICK PRICE
5 Littorio 4 59.0 CRAIG WILLIAMS NIGEL BLACKISTON
6 Moatize 6 59.0 KERRIN MC EVOY BART CUMMINGS
7 Zagreb 1 59.0 PAUL GATT DAVID HAYES
8 Speed Gifted 12 59.0 DWAYNE DUNN D L FREEDMAN
9 Pacino 5 59.0 BRAD RAWILLER CLINTON MCDONALD
10 La Rocket 7 59.0 STEPHEN BASTER DALE SUTTON
11 Changingoftheguard 9 58.5 BRETT PREBBLE DAVID HAYES
12 Miss Maren 2 57.0 DAMIEN OLIVER MICK PRICE

Shocking Changingoftheguard David Hayes

2010-02-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

Herald Sun
Nathan Exelby
Thursday, 18 February 2010

SHOCKING continues his bid to transform from handicapper to weight-for-age star in tomorrow's St George Stakes.

Shocking holds a lofty position in Australian Cup betting, but the market is likely to take on an entirely new look after the St George, with most of the key chances running.

Shocking, who opened at $18 for the St George, ran last when resuming in the Orr Stakes, but the slow tempo was a disadvantage and Kavanagh was more than pleased with the run over the unsuitable 1400m.

"His sectionals were exceptional and he's going as good as he's ever gone," Kavanagh said.

"Hopefully he will be coming to his best for the Australian Cup, but if he's going to do that he needs to step up here."

Kavanagh believes 1800m may still be a touch short at this stage and feels conditions are made to order for rival Heart Of Dreams.

"He is a Group 1 Underwood winner over the track and distance, has a Yalumba second to Whobegotyou and ran second to Typhoon Tracy in the Orr. He's got to be favourite and he's got to be very hard to beat," Kavanagh said.

Heart Of Dreams is $3 for the St George and has also been strongly supported to win the Australian Cup.

Another well tried Australian Cup candidate is Changingoftheguard ($21 into $14), who makes his Australian debut in the St George.

The former Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Montjeu was scratched from last year's Melbourne Cup, much to the disgust of new trainer David Hayes, who was later fined for referring to Racing Victoria officials as "knuckleheads" over the incident.

Changingoftheguard ($10) worked alongside recent Flemington winner Our Aqaleem last week, with rider Glen Boss declaring him the "real deal".

Boss's comments prompted a stream of money for the expensive import and Hayes is anticipating a big run.

"His work at Sandown with Our Aqaleem told me there's no problem. He's up to the class," Hayes said.

Alcopop Jake Stephens

2010-02-18T23:37:00.001-08:00

Sportal.com.au
19th February 2010

Jake Stephens has sent a warning out to Alcopop's potential rivals in the upcoming Sydney autumn carnival, saying the most improved horse in Australia in 2009 has improved even more from when he started favourite in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Alcopop steps out for the first time this campaign in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday in what is a stellar field and while Stephens expects the five-year-old to take a couple of runs to hit his best this campaign, he feels he is in the best condition in his career.

"He's got a big heart. He's very smart as well. It's going to be very interesting on Saturday. Obviously it's much tougher class of horse, but first up he's got a good record," Stephens told TVN.

ChangingOfTheGuard David Hayes

2010-02-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

The Age
Andrew Eddy
19th February 2010

DAVID Hayes has claims on both group 1 races at Caulfield tomorrow but it will be the Australian debut of the controversial Irish horse Changingoftheguard that could have a longer-lasting impact for the stable.

Hayes bought the horse from Coolmore last September to contest the Melbourne Cup and, while that did not happen when veterinary stewards ruled him unfit on race morning, the trainer has not downgraded his ambition. ''It's about getting him ready for the Melbourne Cup next spring so we'd be hoping for a couple of solid efforts this autumn starting with the St George [Stakes] on Saturday,'' Hayes said.

''He really is pleasing me and while I'd be happy to see him finish off nicely, he's that sort of horse that could just jump out of the ground and put his stamp on things.''

Changingoftheguard is rated a $10 chance for a first-up St George win.

Hayes will saddle Eagle Falls ($9) in the group 1 Oakleigh Plate and has three promising youngsters Shaheeq ($13), Legalistic ($23) and Evidentia ($21) representing the stable in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

The Blue Diamond Stakes field was reduced to 15 yesterday with the scratching of the Leon Corstens-trained Danzero colt Tricky Tricky, with a virus.

Sydney is yet to host a group 1 race in 2010 but tomorrow's Winning Edge Stakes at Rosehill is a clear indication indication that the big autumn races are just around the corner.

''A group 2 race but a group 1 field,'' Theseo's jockey Nash Rawiller said.

Efficient begins training for 2010 Melbourne Cup

2010-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

From the Sydney Morning Herald
6th January

Efficient, the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner who was pulled out of last year's Cup on Derby Day because of fetlock wear and tear, is back in light work at Mt Macedon after a six-week spell.

Owner Lloyd Williams is intent on another Melbourne Cup campaign but is undecided about the autumn.

"We don't race them a lot in the autumn," Williams said.

"He may have a run in April. We gave him a 1200m run in May in 2009. We may do that again."

New Zealander Passchendaele set for the 2010 Melbourne Cup

2009-12-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

From Phillip Quay
Sunday Star Times
13/12/2009

Matamata trainer John Sargent says a patient approach will need to be maintained to give New Zealand's most exciting stayer, Passchendaele, her best chance of winning next year's Auckland and Melbourne Cups.

That is why Sargent will resist the temptation to race the Montjeu four-year-old at the Ellerslie Christmas carnival despite her latest brilliant victory – a resounding 2 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Waikato Times Gold Cup at Te Rapa yesterday.

"She will be going straight to the paddock now for a spell," Sargent said. "The City of Auckland Cup at New Year is tempting but we have bigger goals in mind next year.

"The Auckland Cup is going to be worth a million dollars," Sargent said. "She hasn't run the two miles yet, but the way she races points to her getting the trip.

"I have never had a Melbourne Cup runner but I think she will be my first next year. She is the best staying mare I have trained."

Within the space of a golden hour yesterday, Sargent also posted wins with Kiwi Hussler at Te Rapa and Dawn Ghost at Awapuni, but undoubtedly Passchendaele's Group Two success in the hands of Mark du Plessis was the most special for him.

It represented back-to-back wins in the Waikato Cup for Sargent after he won the race last year with Lovetrista.

"She has shown real talent right from the start of her career and still has plenty of scope to improve."

Passchendaele, the winner of five of only nine starts, is owned by her breeders, David and Elizabeth Olsen, who have raced a number of well-performed gallopers including Passchendaele's dam, Classic Babe and Flying Babe, whose wins included a $1m two-year-old race at Te Rapa.

Scintillo for for 2010 Melbourne Cup - after racing in California

2009-12-11T17:37:00.001-08:00

USA: Scintillo, the winner of three Group races including a Group 1 in Italy, hasbeen transferred from trainer Richard Hannon's yard to California to continue his racing career.

Scintillo, who was recently purchased by Melbourne-based Leonard Lewis with a shot at the 2010 Melbourne Cup in mind, amassed more than £300,000 in win and place prize-money for Hannon and the trainer is predicting that his new owner might have a few more decent pay days to come at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.

Quoted on his website, Hannon said: "Mr Lewis bought Scintillo to race in Australia, but he cannot take him until May and as he was reluctant to subject him to another of our cold winters, we suggested a season in California.

"Scintillo was a Group 1 winner on the turf, and he also won a Group 2 this summer but he seemed to love the Polytrack, having won the Winter Derby at Lingfield and a Listed race at Kempton, so the Californian tracks might suit him."

VIC Derby Winner Monaco Consul begins racing again on 26/12/09

2009-12-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 10 December 2009: Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul will get plenty of chances to bolster his stallion prospects over the coming months with a host of Group 1 races on his agenda.

Co-trainer Paul Moroney has the job of preparing the talented colt for a first-up tilt in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Moroney said Monaco Consul has muscled up since returning to the stables and has been in work for 10 days as he prepares for a challenging summer and autumn.

He will gallop at Ellerslie in the next week to have a look at the course and again at home at Matamata before the Group 1 over 2000m on Boxing Day.

He will then target the Group 1 Whakanui International Stakes over 2000m in early February, then will run three weeks later in the Group 1 NZ Derby.

After a let-up, he will then target the Sydney autumn carnival where he will either run in the Rosehill Guineas then the AJC Derby, or just go straight into the Derby.

Moroney said the beauty of such a clean winded and talented stayer is being able to prepare and present him fit for races without a host of lead-ups, which will certainly come in handy with an arduous campaign penciled in.

The next 12 months will be aimed at increasing his stud value, with five Group 1 targets in the summer and autumn alone.

As a four-year-old he will kick off his campaign in New Zealand with more feature races before returning to Australia for the spring.

While admitting the Melbourne Cup doesn't necessarily guarantee an increase in stud value, Moroney said connections were keen to try to win the race and was likely to head that way.

Here comes Bart (again) with Zazabeau

2009-12-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

Bart Cummings continued his summer assault with Zazabeau claiming an overdue win at Rosehill to give the trainer his fourth Sydney win in a week. Bart Cummings continued his summer assault with Zazabeau claiming an overdue win at Rosehill to give the trainer his fourth Sydney win in a week.

Star Ripper, Latin News and Validated have all stepped up while Zazabeau was impressive coming from last to win Saturday's Rosehill Event Centre Handicap (2000m) to set up a start in the Summer Cup. Zazabeau was the slowest out of the gates and Glyn Schofield elected not to push him early, a tactic that paid off in the end. After getting Zazabeau ($5) off the rail, Schofield brought him down the outside to reel in the leaders. Rainbow Styling (4.80) was a short neck second with pacesetter Merensky Reef ($2.80 fav) another short half-head third away third. "It didn't look too good halfway through the race," Cummings said. "I told him not to go too early but he got a long way back."

Schofield said once the damage was done early he didn't want to make things worse. "When he made the mistake at the barrier there was no point in making another one," he said. "I had to save some ground to make up ground after getting left at the start." It was just the second career win for Zazabeau who finished second in the 2008 Christmas Cup and third in the Summer Cup, both over 2400 metres.

Stablemate Star Ripper will be Cummings' runner in next week's Christmas Cup while Zazabeau will be saved for the Summer Cup on Boxing Day. A slow-maturing son of Zabeel out of The Perfume Garden, Zazabeau is a full-brother to 1999 Melbourne Cup placegetter Zazabelle who finished third in a dead-heat with Lahar. The Cummings-trained Rogan Josh won the Cup that year.

2010 Melbourne Cup Alcopop - Shocking - So You Think - Monaco Consul - Shamoline Warrior - Speed Gifted

2009-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Alcopop heads Melbourne Cup market

Adrian Dunn in the Herald Sun on November 25, 2009 wrote:

Jockey Dom Tourneur returns to scale aboard Alcopop. Picture: Russel Tindale Source: Herald Sun

EMERGING star Alcopop shares favouritism with Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and Cox Plate winner So You Think for next year's Melbourne Cup.

Eskander's Betstar yesterday posted the first market on the 2010 Cup, 344 days before the running of the world's greatest 3200m handicap.

Shocking, Alcopop and So You Think are at $21, while Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul and Shamoline Warrior, the Derby favourite before his race-morning scratching, and Metropolitan winner Speed Gifted are next at $26.

Betstar spokesman Michael Horne said he would let punters decide who should be favourite.

Horne said recently purchased Europeans Alandi, winner of the Irish St Leger, and Doctor Fremantle and Above Average, who have both joined the Lee Freedman stable, were $41.

Sterling Prince for 2010 Melbourne Cup

2009-11-08T01:20:00.000-08:00

Melbourne Cup 2010 for Sterling Prince
By Robert Windmill
18:49 AEST Sat Nov 7 2009
Latest Horse Racing:

New Zealand trainer Wayne Hillis has vowed to return with Sterling Prince for next year's Melbourne Cup after the gelding's runaway win in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington.

Hillis is hoping that the six-year-old can use the victory as a platform for the Cup in the same way as Makybe Diva who won the 2002 Queen Elizabeth before winning her first of three Melbourne Cups in 2003.

Sterling Prince was blooded for greater things this spring when third to Leica Ding in the Geelong Cup and fifth in the Lexus Quality leading up to today's victory over 2500m which was his first beyond 1600 metres and his fifth in 28 starts.

"He might be better next year," Hillis said.

"I think having a run around here now he will come back stronger and know the course."

Sterling Prince was being aimed at this year's Melbourne Cup but connections mistimed the declarations and he didn't qualify.

Hillis said Sterling Prince shied at the winning post which cost him second place in the Geelong Cup while last start in the Lexus he wasn't suited when left in front.

"He has always been wayward and slow at learning things and beaten himself a few times but he is finally getting it together now," Hillis said.

Hugh Bowman, who has ridden the stayer at his three Australian runs, said the Queen Elizabeth unfolded as he had hoped with him settling fourth while Alexander Of Hales, pressured by Stormhill, ensured a strong pace.

"He settled much better today with the trail," Bowman said.

"There was a bit of pace in the race and he drew (barrier) one and all these things make a difference."

Bowman waited until well into the straight to make his move on Sterling Prince and he scored by two lengths from Crossthestart with the Bart Cummings-trained Naval Escort 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Bowman said his confidence in Sterling Prince grew after Crime Scene, who finished sixth in the Geelong Cup, was able to run second to Shocking in the Melbourne Cup.

Sterling Prince is by the impeccably-bred stallion Colombia who, by Zabeel from Eight Carat, failed to make an impact on the track but is a full or half-brother to five Group One winners including Octagonal.

Hillis, who trains at Matamata, said he would consider backing up Sterling Prince in next Saturday's Group Two Sandown Classic but he was more likely to be flown back to New Zealand on Sunday night.

He said he hoped the Queen Elizabeth win would encourage the Hong Kong Jockey Club to invite Sterling Prince to compete in next month's Group One Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

"We have nominated him for it and it wouldn't be a bad race to run him in," Hillis said.

Glen Boss was taken with the run on Naval Escort who made up a lot of ground after being last most of the way.

"He is a promising stayer in the making," Boss said.

Good result at PickTheCupWinner.com.au

2009-11-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

If you subscribed to PickTheCupWinner.com.au you will have noted my note to you on the password protected page saying saying:

"Be aware that a thorough examination of statistics for the last 50 years indicate the Cup will probably be won by a 4, 5 or 6 yr old colt or gelding. They also indicate the horse won’t carry less than 50 kgs or more than 56.5 kgs. Also, the starting price of the winner will more that likely be less than 20/1. They also indicate the favourite only wins once every five years.And statistics, since 1861, indicate only once every 37 years will the same horse win two consecutive Melbourne Cups."
.
"Allowing for this and after studying the form of all of the horses I believe one of these six horses will win the 2009 Melbourne Cup. Daffodil, Shocking, Master O’Reilly, Viewed, Alcopop, Roman Emperor."

"If you rely totally on the statistical information above you would have to rule out Daffodil, Master O’Reilly, Viewed. Thus, statistics indicate that the Cup winner should be Alcopop, Roman Emperor or Shocking. And if you are leaning towards any of these three horses be aware that statistics are on your side."

And , if you read below you will see 4 of my selections 1st, 4th, 6th and 7th.

Ummmmmmm......not bad!

Melbourne Cup 2009 Results

2009-11-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

1st SHOCKING
2nd CRIME SCENE
3rd MOURILYAN
4th MASTER O'REILLY
5th HARRIS TWEED
6th ALCOPOP
7th VIEWED
8th C'EST LA GUERRE
9th KIBBUTZ
10th NEWPORT
11th DAFFODIL
12th MUNSEF
13th GALLIONS REACH
14th LEICA DING
15th ISTA KAREEM
16th ALLEZ WONDER
17th CAPECOVER
18th BASALTICO
19th ZAVITE
20th SPIN AROUND
21st ROMAN EMPEROR
22nd FIUMICINO
23rd WARRINGAH

McKinnon and Lexus Results from Saturday 31/10/09

2009-11-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in my e-book "How To Pick The Cup Winner of the 2009 Melbourne Cup" the Lexus Stakes and the Mckinnon have, in the past, been good indicators for the Melbourne Cup. Trainers, like the legendary Bart Cummings, have used it as a 'last hit out' for some of their charges. Some trainers use the races to 'qualify' their horses, as the winners get automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.

My selection format, as described in "How To Pick The Cup Winner of the 2009 Melbourne Cup", is to reduce the choice from a selection of 1 of 24 horses to 1 of 6 horses. Then I have a small each way bet on the 6 horses.

My Melbourne Cup betting will never make me wealthy but only twice in the last 20 years have I not selected the winner using this system. And, in my e-book, I tell how I reduce that six down to three and then down to one. And whilst I've never been successful with a Cup Trifecta I have selected 12 out of the last 21 winners including 6 out of the last 10. I invite you to check out my e-book at www.PickTheCupWinner.com.au

The results of the Lexus Stakes were:
1st Shocking
2nd Hume
3rd Irazu
4th Naval Escort
5th Sterling Prince

The Results for the McKinnon Stakes were:
1st Scenic Shot
2nd Miss Maren
3rd Viewed
4th Racing To Win
5th Master O'Reilly
6th Newport

Bloopers, Blunders and Stacks of Statistics

2009-10-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

My Dad, who was a bookmaker in the NSW country town of Moree, once told me that he thought owners, trainers and jockeys were the 'worst' judges. Rightly or wrongly he believed they were 'too close' to the action and prone to let emotions rule their racing decisions. They too easily seriously believe 'their' horse will win every race, every time...particularly the big races.

I have to say as a part owner of several horses over the years I certainly have to agree with my Dad. I certainly was 'too emotional.' Every time our horse started I was quite sure it would win. I tipped it to everyone. And I was quite sure it was only a matter of time before our steed would win the Melbourne Cup. (Yeah…right!)

And here are some examples to back up my Dad's supposition.

Blooper – Jockey Jack Purtell in 1950

Jack Purtell usually rode Comic Court but he rejected the offer from Bart Cummings Dad, Jim, to ride the 1950 Cup winner Comic Court. Instead he chose to ride the favourite Alister. Pat Glennon was the lucky jockey to pick up the winning ride on Comic Court.

Blooper – Owner Rex White 1956

Mr and Mrs Rex White, the first husband and wife team to win the Cup, was quite sure their horse Evening Peel would win the Caulfield Cup and Redcraze would win the Melbourne Cup. They backed the double at 160/1. They were wrong…. the reverse happened!

Blooper – Jockey Ron Hutchinson 1959

Ron Hutchinson, in 1959, chose to ride Trellios even thought he was the usual rider for the winner Macdougall. Pat Glennon was the lucky jockey to pick up the winning ride on Macdougall.

Blooper – Jockey Les Coles 1963

Les Coles (winner on Even Stevens in 1962) rode Gatum Gatum to win the Moonee Valley Cup that year. However he chose to ride Conference in the Cup. The ride on the winner Gatum Gatum was picked up by Jim Johnson (Who rode Rain Lover in ‘68 & ‘69)

Blooper – Trainer Bart Cummings 1974

Cummings bought Think Big for $10,000 and sold to Mr Tan Chin Nam a banker and property developer from Kuala Lumper and Australian Rick O’Sullivan for $20,000. TB went on to win $262,720 in two seasons.

Blooper – Trainer Bart Cummings 1974

Prior to the running of the 1974 Cup Bat Cummings supposedly confided in a friend that Leilani was an ‘absolute certainty’. When his second string horse the 12/1 Think Big beat the 7/2 favourite Cummings was heard to say “I beat myself!”

Blooper(almost)– Jockey Harry White 1974

Harry White wanted to switch from Think Big to Leilani (usual rider Roy Higgins had been suspended and Cummings had replaced him with Peter Cook) Cummings told him to stick to TB and he did. Cummings also trained Leilan

Blooper – Owner Pat O’Sullivan – 1975

Think Big’s other owner O’Sullivan visited course with friend on Monday. Number (TB’s Cup no) was in judges frame. Friend said this was good omen! O’Sullivan did not back horse. He backed another of Cummings horses Holiday Wagon!

Blooper – Trainer George Hanlon – 1978

In 1978, George told the owners (one of them Eddie Doon an ex jockey) of Arwon they would be wasting time if they paid their Cup acceptance fee. Having total faith in George’s ability they said “George, we’ll pay the money and leave the rest to you.” (And Arwon won!)

Blooper – Jockey Roy Higgins – 1979

Roy Higgins chose 2nd place getter Salamander ahead of Hyperno the winner.

Blooper – Trainer Bart Cummings – 1979

The owners of Hyperno asked Bart Cummings if he would take over the training of Hyperno early in 1979 he said “ Hyperno is finished. I don’t want to take on broken down horses. It’s hard enough to win when the horse is sound.” Then Bart did an about turn and trained him to win the 1979 Melbourne Cup.

Blooper – Trainer Tom Smith 1981

In 1981, Tommy Smith was totally convinced Kingston Town would win the Cup. Even though he had been allocated 60.5 kgs. On the eve of the Cup he declared him a certainty and said it “won’t be a race!” The winner was Just a Dash – the trainer was none other than Tommy Smith! Kingston Town finished 3rd last.

Blooper – Jockey Robert Heffernen 1984

In 1984, jockey Robert Heffernan was the stable rider for George Hanlon and had won the Werribee Cup on Martian’s Son. George’s other horse in the event was Black Knight. With a bit of nudging from George, Heffernen chose to ride Martian’s Son. This gave Peter Cook the chance to ride Black Knight
who won and Martian’s Son finished 17th.

Blooper – Jockeys Griffiths & Dye 1994

I n 1994, after Jeune failed in the Cox Plate, jockey Robbie Griffiths declared Jeune could not win and switched to Air Seattle in the Cup. Shane Dye also was offered the opportunity to ride Jeune, but, after riding him in the McKinnon Stakes, he chose to ride Coachwood as his Melbourne Cup mount. Finally Wayne Harris was asked and accepted the ride on Jeune. Good decision Wayne!

Blooper – Jockey Chris Munce 2000

After winning the Saab Quality Handicap, on Brew, three days before the Cup Chris Munce chose to ride Coco Cabanna in the Cup. Brett Prebble said he could not make the weight and several senior jockeys knocked back the ride on Brew. Kerrin McEvoy jumped at the opportunity to ride in his first Melbourne Cup. And what a good decision that was!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stacks of Statistics

Tip on Sex: Far more males have won the Melbourne Cup than mares. In the last 50 years 28 Geldings and 12 horses have won while mares have only won 10 times. (And Makybe Diva accounted for three of these)

Tip on early betting: The Melbourne Cup usually has 24 starters. (I say usually because sometimes there are scratching on the morning of the Cup. In 2007 there were only 21starters with three horses being scratched between 8am and 11 am on the morning of the Cup. So, don’t bet too early.

Tip on Age (1): Whilst 3 yr olds featured as winners in the first seventy years of the Cup no 3 yr old has won since 1941.

Tip on Age (2): 14 x 4yr olds; 19 x 5yr olds and 13 x 6 yr olds have won in the last 50 years

Tip on Age (3): Only 3 x 7 yr olds have won in the last 50 years.

Tip on Barriers (1): Barriers are important. The most successful barrier in the last 50 years has been Barrier #11. It has had six wins. Barrier #22 has had three wins. It is as well to mention that Barrier #9 has had two wins...but these have been in consecutive years. 2007 & 2008. So if you believe in the ‘three theory’ then maybe you should be aware of this.

Tip on Barriers (2): You should also be aware that no horse has ever won from Barrier #18 since barriers came into use in 1924. And barrier 12 has not won since 1949 when Foxami won. The inside barrier can be a bit of a handicap as Barrier #1 has only had 2 winners since 1924 – Dalray in 1952 Kingston Rule in 1990. Whist 11 horses have won from Barrier #22 or more The last one was Brew in 2000 from #22.

Tip on Horse No: In the last 50 years the ‘luckiest’ or most successful number carried by the winning horse has been #6. It has had 8 wins. Followed by #2 with 6 wins; followed by #8 with 4 wins and #15 with 3 wins.

Tip on Names: Since 1861 No horses with names beginning with I, Q, U, X have ever won the Melbourne Cup. Only one horse beginning with O (Old Rowley 1940) and one beginning with Z (Zulu in 1881) have won the Cup. The most popular initial for the winners name to begin with is T. Fifteen of these have won. The last one being Tawrrific in 1989. M is the next most successful with 12 winners since 1861. The last one was Makybe Diva

Tip on backing long shots: Whilst it would be wonderful to back 100/1 winner of the Melbourne Cup the data shows this rarely happens. It happened in 1871 and again in 1936. But in the last 50 years the longest priced winner was Hi Jinx in 1960. She started at 50/1. But I should also point out that Viewed (in 2008) was the next longest price at 45/1.

Tip on backing favourites: In the last 50 years favourites have won on 10 times. That’s once every five years. Makybe Diva was the last favourite to win in 2005.

Tip on backing 50/1 horses: In the last 50 years only one horse has won at 50/1 or over. This was Hi Jinx in 1960.

Tip on backing 40/1 – 50/1 horses: In the last 50 years only two horses has won at odds between 40/1 – 50/1. These were Piping Lane in 1972 and Viewed in 2008

Tip on backing 30/1 - 40/1 horses: In the last 50 years only two horses has won at odds between 30/1 - 40/1. These were Thin Big (1975) and Tawrrific (1989)

Tip on weight (1): Too much weight can ‘kill’ your horse’s chances. Indeed in the last 50 years only two horses have carried 57 kgs or more and won the race – Galilee (1966) carried 57kgs and Makybe Diva in in 2005 carried 58kg.

Tip on weight (1): One would think if the ‘top weights’ don’t win that often then the ‘bottom weights’ must have all the successes. Not so! In the last 50 years only five horses have carried 50kgs or less to win the race.

Tip on Omens: If you believe in the oft repeated quote “History repeats itself” you might want to endeavour to connect a horse in the 2009 Melbourne Cup with the horse that won in 1909. And that horse was Prince Foote.

So, "Where to from here?" you might ask. You may now need human intervention to make some sense of all this information. Can I recommend you check out my e-book www.PickTheCupWinner.com.au. My Melbourne Cup tipping record is good. I have picked 12 out of the last 21 winners and 6 out of the last 10. Not perfect...but not bad!

The e-book cost $9.95...and how is this for a deal. If you buy the e-book you get the opportunity to download $150 worth of complimentary food and beverage at some of the best pubs around Australia where you can celebrate or commiserate after the 2009 Melbourne Cup!

Cox Plate Results

2009-10-27T03:08:00.001-07:00

8-TATTS COX PLATE 2040m:
1st So You Think
2nd Manhattan Rain
3rd Zipping

14.00 SO YOU THINK (Dato Tan Chin Nam & Tunku Ahmad Yahaya's b/br c 3y High Chaparral (IRE) - Triassic (NZ). Trainer: J B Cummings) 49.5 (G Boss) 1, 19.00 MANHATTAN RAIN 49.5 (Craig Williams) 2, 12.00 ZIPPING 59 (S W Arnold) 3.

Then followed:

16.00 El Segundo 59 (L Nolen) 20.00 Scenic Shot 59 (S Scriven) 2.80 fav Whobegotyou 57.5 (D Oliver) 7.50 Heart Of Dreams 57.5 (C Newitt) 16.00 Rock Kingdom 57.5 (N Rawiller) 21.00 Black Piranha 59 (T Angland) 21.00 Road To Rock 59 (G Schofield) 21.00 Vision And Power 59 (J Bowman) 11.00 Speed Gifted 59 (D Dunn) 71.00 Nom Du Jeu 59 (M Rodd) last. Scr: Sir Slick. 2-1/2 len, lg nk. Time: 2:03.98. (Last 600m 35.31).

Dominic Tourneur - Alcopop

2009-10-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

Article from: The Australian
Oct 26th

WHEN Dominic Tourneur's mother saw an advertisement for a West Australian jockeys academy in a Perth newspaper in 1990, she thought it could be the answer for her music-obsessed 15-year-old son, who was wasting his time at school.

"I was never what you would call mad keen on school, so Mum signed me up," the now 35-year-old Tourneur recalled with a smile at the weekend.

"At first, I was really happy about it because I thought I was going to a disc jockey school. Then I found out I was going to be riding horses. I didn't feel so good about it then."

Tourneur's dislike of school quickly overcame any reticence and, despite having no previous association with horses, he decided to give the 10-week course a shot. Now, 20 years later, the Melbourne Cup and racing immortality beckon.

Along with part-time trainer Jake Stephens and a boom South Australian galloper called Alcopop, the jockey with the flashing smile, easy manner and bush pedigree is central to one of the great Cinderella stories of Cup history.

Following two unexpectedly decisive wins in Cup lead-up races, Alcopop, a tough gelding that only began racing a year ago and started out herding sheep on the Fleurieu Peninsula, has shortened into equal favouritism for Australia's greatest race.

Come race day next week, an expected flood of sentimental money from once-a-year punters is likely to see him start outright favourite.

All this makes Team Alcopop the David to racing's long-time Goliath, 82-year-old Cups king Bart Cummings, who this year is attempting to become only the second trainer in history to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same spring.

For Tourneur, who has spent most of his career chewing dust on bush racetracks in far-flung places like Geraldton, Bunbury, Marble Bar and Alice Springs, and who for years worked a day job as a car salesman to make ends meet, Alcopop's amazing rise vindicates his decision four years ago to quit the WA bush and head to Adelaide.

"It was a big roll of the dice because my wife, Melissa, was pregnant at the time and we didn't know a soul in Adelaide," Tourneur said.

"But I'd reached the stage where I wanted to try and ride full-time again. When we got here, I worked hard, was lucky to ride a few early winners and things fell into place.

"Now we're going to the Melbourne Cup. I used to think that just having a ride in it would be a huge buzz, but to be on a live chance, it's pretty surreal."

Yesterday, there was a scare when Tourneur injured an ankle riding at Mount Gambier and was unable to fulfil his commitments.

Luckily, the injury was minor and Tourneur is expected to resume riding at the midweek races on Wednesday and be fully fit for Cup day the following Tuesday.

For Tourneur's racing world, upheaval is nothing new. As an apprentice he parted company with Perth trainer Graham Webster after a "personal dispute"

that was probably as much about the jockey's love of partying as it was the trainer's less than subtle approach to discipline.
He switched to the Ted Martinovich stable and ended up riding a lot at Bunbury, where his wife-to-be was working for country trainer Ross Price.

"Meeting and marrying Melissa was the best thing that ever happened to Dom," Martinovich said yesterday.

"He was always a bloody good kid but until she came along he was always out at nightclubs and dancing, that kind of shit. She straightened him out and settled him down.

"Her old man's a copper too. That might have helped."

But when the couple headed to Geraldton in the late 1990s, it seemed that Tourneur's prospects of a successful riding career were over.

Geraldton holds races fortnightly and only between October to April. For anyone trying to make it in racing, it's one of the last places in Australia to go.

On top of that, jockeys and trainers need day jobs to survive. Tourneur turned to selling cars.

"You meet a lot of people in the car game and I was actually pretty good at it," Tourneur said.

Tourneur spent eight years in Geraldton and won the local jockeys' premiership seven times, enough success to convince him to have one more go at the big time.

He considered Perth but decided racing there was "too cliquey". He also felt that he needed a totally fresh start. Martinovich told him Sydney and Melbourne would be too hard to crack and suggested Adelaide instead.

Today Tourneur is one of South Australia's hardest-working riders. Settled comfortably in Adelaide with Melissa and their two children, Blake, 3, and one-year-old Hannah, he chases rides all over the state.

Unlike most other riders who stick close to the city, Tourneur travels far and wide. He rides the southeast circuit of Mt Gambier, Bordertown, Penola and Naracoorte as well as Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Alice Springs (where he has won the Alice Springs Cup three times) and places such as Casterton and Mildura in Victoria.

"You can get a good earn going out to those places and it all adds up at the end of the year," Tourneur says.

"When I was younger I might not have pushed myself so much but now I've got a family now and I have to think about how to improve their quality of living and plan for the kids to get good schooling and that."

In the Cup, Tourneur is hoping Alcopop can draw between barrier four and 10, which should allow him to settle the horse near the rail and put him to sleep until the business end of the race.

"The horse is going great and he's a terrific horse to ride," Tourneur says.

"He's very relaxed but has that killer instinct. If he's hemmed in or in a tight spot he'll find a way out even if it means bulldozing other horses out of the way. He wants to win and he's not afraid of anything.

"Not many horses are like that. Only a real small niche of horses will barge through like he does and have his kind of will to win."

Before yesterday's injury scare, Tourneur's plan was to ride at the Bordertown races next Sunday before heading to Melbourne the next day for the Melbourne Cup parade.

At some stage he'll go to Flemington, a track where he has never ridden, and walk the circumference to "get a picture of how things look and where we'll want to be and where we'll get rolling".

On Cup day, Tourneur will have one ride, in a 1000m race, before the big one. "The crowd will have built up by then and I'll get a feel for everything," he says.

According to Martinovich, Tourneur's laconic nature will hold the Melbourne Cup novice in good stead.

"You'll never meet anyone more laid back than Dom," Martinovich says.

"He's very relaxed and I think that will help him when the media pressure and everything else starts building up."

Tourneur and Alcopop will link up later this week for trackwork before the horse travels to Melbourne on Sunday.

Tourneur has the highest regard for trainer Stephens, a relative newcomer to training who before Alcopop was better known for the Flying Fish, his gourmet fish and chip shop and cafe at Port Elliot on South Australia's holiday coast.

"Jake is a great guy who likes to do a lot of the work himself," Tourneur says.

"He shoes the horses himself, massages them, does all sorts of things. He's very hands on with just about everything except the paperwork."

Daffodil - Harris Tweed - Spin Around - Gallions Reach - Capecover - Six O'Clock News - Sterling Prince - Hoorang - Mr Tipsy - Young Centaur - Red Ruler

2009-10-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Xtra Sport

Daffodil's Melbourne Cup plans are on track, with a quick recovery from a deep cut sustained in the Caulfield Cup.

Daffodil ran fourth in the Caulfield Cup on October 17, but returned to the birdcage with a blood flowing from a nasty cut just below one of her knees.

Manawatu trainer Kevin Gray said the cut had healed.

"It was a deep cut which swelled up, but she is excellent now. You can hardly see it at all."

"We gave her a few days off and put her on light duties, but it was not so severe that you could not work her."

Daffodil, last season's Australian AJC Oaks winner, had improved since her Caulfield Cup effort, Gray said.

"She had a bit of a blow after the Cup and that race will tighten her up. She has trained on well and we are very pleased with her."

Daffodil will be 73-year-old Gray's first Melbourne Cup runner.

He said he was keeping his feet on the ground, but was nevertheless excited at the prospect.

Jockey Chris Munce certainly is. He rang Gray last night to check on her progress. "He rode three winners (at Sydney) yesterday so that's good form. He is keen to ride her again and really rates her," Gray said.

Daffodil and Harris Tweed are the two New Zealand-trained runners guaranteed of a run in the Cup, while Spin Around, Gallions Reach and Capecover should all make the field comfortably through the attrition rate expected.

Gallions Reach and Capecover will both run in the listed Bendigo Cup (2200m) on Wednesday, with their respective trainers, Richard Yuill and Alexander Fieldes, wanting to see some healthy form to warrant paying the final Cup declaration on Saturday.

The position for horses such as Six O'Clock News, Sterling Prince and Hoorang, who are 45th, 46th and 49th in the order of entry, will become clearer when the next round of acceptances are declared tomorrow.

Six O'Clock News and Sterling Prince will run in the Lexus Quality (formerly the Saab) over 2500m if they still need to force their way into the Cup field, their trainers said today. The winner of the Lexus is exempt from the Cup ballot.

Mr Tipsy, Young Centaur and Red Ruler are out of Cup reckoning, having returned to New Zealand for spells.

Australian horses who won't figure in tomorrow's declarations include Whobegotyou, Ready To Lift, Guyno and Mr Clangtastic.

Efficient - Viewed - Alcopop -Speed Gifted - Ready to Lift - Red Ruler - Young Centaur - Roman Emperor - Allez Wonder - Think Money - Dandaad

2009-10-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

Bloodstock.com.au
25th October

Melbourne Cup winner Efficient and Viewed are the market leaders for this year's race along with up and coming stayer Alcopop ahead of third declarations on Monday.

The three are all at $6.50 with TAB Sportsbet.

Efficient, who won the Cup in 2007, and Alcopop are not expected to race again before the race on November 3 while last year's winner Viewed will run in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes.

Speed Gifted has continued to drift and is now at $15 after beating just one runner home in the Cox Plate.

The Lee Freedman-trained European import, who qualified via his dominant win in the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick earlier this month, is now a doubtful starter.

The last chance to confirm a spot in 24 horse field comes in Saturday's Lexus (2500m) with the winner exempt from ballot.

The campaigns of Ready to Lift and Red Ruler, both of whom were high up in the order of entry, have ended.

Trainer Gerald Ryan decided to pull the pin after Ready To Lift's failure in Saturday's Moonee Valley Cup while Red Ruler has returned to New Zealand along with his John Sargent-trained stablemate Young Centaur.

"She's going straight to the paddock," Ryan said.

"She's had five starts in Melbourne and never looked like winning a race there.

"Whether she's simply not good enough for that grade or can't handle that way of going I don't know."

Red Ruler put in pleasing runs for close fifths in the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes before finishing last of 18 in the Caulfield Cup won by Viewed.

Young Centaur's hopes of gaining a penalty to move up the order were dashed when he finished 11th in last week's Geelong Cup.

Bart Cummings is assured of three Cup runners - Viewed, Roman Emperor ($11) and Allez Wonder ($26) with Think Money and Dandaad remote chances of making the field.

If she doesn't get into the Cup, Think Money will run in the Lavazza Long Black on the same day, a race won by Geelong Cup runner-up Dandaad last year.

The Melbourne Cup carnival will be officially launched in Melbourne on Monday.

Youtube video about How To Pick The Cup Winner

2009-10-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

I invite you to check out my Youtube video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxIO1KiMcQ

Changingoftheguard - Munsef - Warringah - Kirklees - Basaltico - Mourilyan

2009-10-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

The Age
Oct 24th

David Hayes' Melbourne Cup hopeful Changingoftheguard is back on track for the big race with a troublesome foot abscess bursting following his latest workout.

The abscess on the four-year-old's near-hind leg burst just after he left the track and veterinarian Craig McKellar told Hayes it was now all systems go for Changingoftheguard.

Glen Boss made a special trip to Sandown to ride the horse in a gallop over 2000 metres and Hayes said he thought the exercise had helped resolve the issue with the abscess.

"I reckon the gallop has brought it on but what a tough horse he must be to have worked with it anyway," Hayes said.

Most of the gallop was run at even time with a 400-metre sprint in 26 seconds in the home straight.

Hayes said he would probably gallop the horse again on Monday morning depending on whether he could find a work partner.

Trainer Chris Waller was also on hand at Sandown today to watch his imported Cup hope Warringah gallop impressively with Munsef.

They ran 1600 metres in 1:55, sprinting home the final 600 in 37.5 seconds.

Warringah, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, led out by eight lengths and Munsef, with his handler Dawn Oxley in the saddle, was ridden along to get on terms in the straight. The pair finished together.

McEvoy said Warringah was a nice-actioned horse and clean in the wind.

"He's the sort of horse who could sit up in the first five or six in a Melbourne Cup," he said.

Earlier, Kirklees and Basaltico worked separately but were not out to make any time, while Glyn Schofield rode his Melbourne Cup mount Mourilyan over 1600 metres at three-quarter pace.

Leica Ding - Dandaad - Gunyo

2009-10-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

The Age
Oct 22nd

Leica Ding has been penalised half a kilogram in the $5.65m Melbourne Cup following her win in yesterday's group 3 Geelong Cup, Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has announced.

The penalty takes the Darren Weir-trained mare to 50.5kg in the Melbourne Cup and lifts her from 67th to 31st in the order of entry for the 3200m feature at Flemington on November 3.

"The Geelong Cup was a genuinely-run race on quick ground and Leica Ding gave a strong staying performance to beat a very competitive field," Carpenter said.

In recent years, the Geelong Cup has proven a strong form race with last year's winner Bauer going on to finish a nose second to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup.

Bauer was penalised a kilogram for his win at Geelong and moved to 32nd in the elimination order following the win.

Media Puzzle easily won the 2002 Geelong Cup before being penalised 1.5kg for the Melbourne Cup which he also won.

The Bart Cummings-trained Dandaad passed the ballot requirement for the Melbourne Cup and moved from 66th to 54th in the entry order with his Geelong Cup second.

Guyno, the 2009 Perth Cup (2400m) winner, bled during the running of the Geelong Cup and has been officially withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup.

Third declarations for the Melbourne Cup close at 10am (AEDT) on Monday.

Leica Ding - Dandaad - Crime Scene - Basaltico

2009-10-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Fox Sports
By Robert Windmill
October 21, 2009

Ballarat trainer Darren Weir will be banking on a Melbourne Cup penalty for Leica Ding after she gave him his best win in the Group III Geelong Cup.
Weir, who trained She's Archie to run second in both the 2003 Geelong and Melbourne Cups, denied Bart Cummings his first Geelong Cup win when Leica Ding ($13) stormed down the centre of the track to beat Dandaad ($10) by a long neck.

New Zealander Sterling Prince ($6 fav) looked set to win halfway up the straight when he surged to the front but in a blanket-finish was a short head away third.

With 50kg, Leica Ding was 67th in order of elimination for the Melbourne Cup before the Geelong Cup but has now passed the ballot clause.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will decide overnight whether to penalise Leica Ding for the Melbourne Cup but said as little as a half-kilogram would promote her at least as high as 32 and virtually assure her of a Cup start.

The last three Geelong Cup winners, Bauer (2008), The Fuzz (2007) and Mandela (2006) were all penalised a kilogram.

Weir said Leica Ding lacked the class of She's Archie but geared her campaign towards winning the Geelong or Moonee Valley Cup to get a way into Melbourne Cup after she finished fourth to Good Red in the Bagot Handicap (2800m), in her first preparation, on New Year's Day.

“She's Archie was a really great stayer and we probably never saw the best of her while this mare is a really genuine and never runs a bad race,'' he said.

A five-year-old mare, Leica Ding was having her 17th start in Wednesday's Geelong Cup and has now won six races.

At her last two runs she was third to Toorak Handicap winner Allez Wonder at Moonee Valley and second at the same track to Keeping Score on October 9.

Jockey Clare Lindop said Dandaad's run was a great trial for the Melbourne Cup but now 67th in order of elimination he needs to pass the ballot clause.

Godolphin's Crime Scene put himself into the race on the home turn but he was soon under pressure and finished sixth, just ahead of the Luca Cumani-trained Basaltico who ran on from last to finish seventh.

Viewed - Alcopop - Mourilyan - Speed Gifted - Nom De Jeu - Zipping - Munsef

2009-10-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

By John Clark
foxsports.com.au
October 25, 2009

They've been a threat in recent spring carnivals but this year's batch of Melbourne Cup raiders pose little threat to Bart Cummings and the home-grown hopes.

That's the view of TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie, who is happy to take on the punters with faith in the imports entered in the 3200m race that stops the nation.

Cummings's Caulfield Cup winner Viewed, last year's Melbourne Cup winner Efficient and the impressive Alcopop head the betting at $6.50.

A host of Australian runners separate that triumvirate and the shortest-priced foreigner in the field Mourilyan.

"Almost 20 per cent of money bet on the Melbourne Cup to this point is on that three (Viewed, Efficient and Alcopop)," Munsie told foxsports.com.au.

"We had a special early on with Viewed and Efficient who were offered at double odds ($41 and $35). Efficient was the one we took money on and since the Caulfield Cup Viewed has attracted interest.

"This far out though it's speculative betting. We don't take the big money until closer to the day of the race. There's so much that can happen on race day let alone in a month leading up."

Munsie said results at Moonee Valley on Saturday had little impact on the market.

Lee Freedman's Speed Gifted, who beat only Nom De Jeu home in the Cox Plate, drifted slightly.

"He's out to $15 after that performance," Munsie reported.

Zipping, a grinding third behind Cummings's exciting youngster So You Think in the Cox Plate, has been trimmed into $13 for the Melbourne Cup but Munsie has his doubts.

"He's done that three years in a row and never featured in the Melbourne Cup.

"I think they set him for the Cox Plate and it was a good effort."

When pressed, Munsie offered Munsef as an at-odds Cup chance.

"I think they've got a couple of letters wrong. Should be Munsie. At $41 it's an international with some hope. It's as fast as me but can run a lot further."

Meanwhile, Nick Williams, fears the Cummings juggernaut will continue into Melbourne Cup week.

Williams, the spokesman for connections of Efficient, said the octogenarian was on course for a spring sweep.

"I don't think we have got any chance, have we, with Bart winning the Caulfield Cup and now the Cox Plate," Williams said.

"The gods are shining on him."

Geelong Cup - Leica Ding - Daandad - Sterling Prince - Crime Scene - Basaltico -

2009-10-22T02:12:00.000-07:00

Racing & Sports
22/10/09

DING THE BIG CUP MOVER

Thursday, 22 October 2009: Leica Ding has been the big mover in Melbourne Cup markets after her game win in yesterday's Geelong Cup.

Before her run yesterday she hadn't passed the first balloting clause for the Melbourne Cup but her win not only achieved that but puts her on the cusp of a Cup start.

That's if Racing Victoria's Greg Carpenter was impressed enough to penalize the mare's 50kg Cup handicap.

Following the win Leica Ding shortened from $201 to $31.

Runner-up Dandaad , well down the order of entry in the Melbourne Cup, still shortened on his run from $51 to $41 while third placed Sterling Prince shortened from $201 to $101.

The imported gallopers Crime Scene and Basaltico both drifted to $81.

Meanwhile, the Paul Perry-trained Southern Skye shortened in Derby markets from $26 to $15 after his win in the Geelong Classic.

One punter with TAB Sportsbet coupled Viewed to win the Caulfield Cup with Southern Skye to take the Victoria Derby at odds of $1053.

The $200 bet is staring at a payout of over $200,000.

Leica Ding - Dandaad - Bart Cummings

2009-10-22T02:05:00.000-07:00

The Age
22/10/09

Leica Ding has been penalised half a kilogram in the $5.65m Melbourne Cup following her win in yesterday's group 3 Geelong Cup, Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has announced.

The penalty takes the Darren Weir-trained mare to 50.5kg in the Melbourne Cup and lifts her from 67th to 31st in the order of entry for the 3200m feature at Flemington on November 3.

"The Geelong Cup was a genuinely-run race on quick ground and Leica Ding gave a strong staying performance to beat a very competitive field," Carpenter said.

In recent years, the Geelong Cup has proven a strong form race with last year's winner Bauer going on to finish a nose second to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup.

Bauer was penalised a kilogram for his win at Geelong and moved to 32nd in the elimination order following the win.

Media Puzzle easily won the 2002 Geelong Cup before being penalised 1.5kg for the Melbourne Cup which he also won.

The Bart Cummings-trained Dandaad passed the ballot requirement for the Melbourne Cup and moved from 66th to 54th in the entry order with his Geelong Cup second.

Guyno, the 2009 Perth Cup (2400m) winner, bled during the running of the Geelong Cup and has been officially withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup.

Third declarations for the Melbourne Cup close at 10am (AEDT) on Monday.

Warringah

2009-10-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

From Bloodstock.com.au

Trainer Chris Waller will continue to monitor new stable acquisition Warringah ahead of confirming a Melbourne cup start for the European.

Waller's original plan after purchasing Warringah was to set him for the Sydney autumn.

But the gelding arrived in Australia from England in such good order, plans changed to include a tilt at this year's Melbourne Cup.

Waller inspected Warringah last week and will make another trip to Melbourne from Sydney this week to see him through a more solid workout.

"He came through his first week in great order and showed he had got over the trip," Waller said.

"He will have a serious gallop later in the week.

"Until we see him under a bit of pressure it's hard to tell if he has done as well as we think."

Warringah was formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute with whom Waller has been in constant contact over the past few weeks.

"Sir Michael has been a great help and if Warringah happens to win the Cup, a lot of the credit is down to him," Waller said.

"It's very exciting to think we have a Melbourne Cup runner on our hands."

Warringah has won two races in England over 2336 and 2418 metres and has five second placings in his 12 start career.

He finished fifth in the famous Ebor Handicap in August carrying top weight of 61.5 kilograms.

Daffodil - Chris Munce

2009-10-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

Daffodil ran a reasonable Melbourne Cup trial when fourth placing (and hree lengths behind Viewed. When she returned she had a cut below the knee.

"The leg's quite swollen, there's a bit of skin off and some bruising to the bone and the vet's given her some treatment," trainer Gray said.

"But we've got a fortnight to get over it and Garry said it's all go to the Melbourne Cup. She's run fourth in a Caulfield Cup so she's got to be a chance to run in the money."

Jockey Chris was keen to retain the ride on Daffodil for the Melbourne Cup. He said he was keen to stay aboard as he looks to emulate his Cup victory on New Zealand mare Jezabeel in 1998.

The betting market after the Caulfield Cup

2009-10-19T03:10:00.000-07:00

19/10/09

Efficient 6.00
Speed Gifted 8.00
Viewed 10.00
Vigor 12.00
C'est La Guerre 15.00
Cima de Triomphe 17.00
Daffodil 17.00
Alcopop 21.00
Capecover 21.00

Viewed receives 1kg penalty

2009-10-19T03:06:00.000-07:00

19/10/09. Today the VRC handicapper gave a 1kg penalty to Viewed as a result of him winning the Caufield Cup. Click on this link to hear the handicapper announce the penalty and explain how it works.

http://www.racenettv.com.au/PlayVid.asp?Id=292

Caulfield Cup Winner

2009-10-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

Race 8-BMW CAULFIELD CUP 2400m:

1st: VIEWED (Dato Tan Chin Nam’s b h 6y Scenic (IRE) - Lovers Knot (NZ). Trainer: J B Cummings) 57 (B Rawiller @ $13.00

2nd: ROMAN EMPEROR 54 (J Bowman) @ $15.00

3rd: VIGOR: 51 (C W Brown) $15.00

Then followed: 11.00 Daffodil 51.5 (C Munce) 81.00 Fiumicino 55.5 (D Dunn) 15.00 Master O’Reilly 55 (V Duric) 9.50 Kirklees 56 (K Mc Evoy) 10.00 Allez Wonder 50 (Ms Michelle Payne) 41.00 Zavite 53 (M Zahra) 41.00 Harris Tweed 52.5 (C Newitt) 41.00 Ready To Lift 51.5 (G Boss) 7.00 fav Predatory Pricer 53.5 (S R King) 9.50 Cima De Triomphe 55.5 (D Oliver) 41.00 Red Lord 51.5 carr 52 (G Schofield) 19.00 C’est La Guerre 55.5 (S W Arnold) 71.00 Sarrera 54 (Nicholas Hall) 15.00 Light Vision 52.5 (L Nolen) 17.00 Red Ruler 53.5 (D Nikolic) last. Scr: Baughurst, Shocking, Newport, Miss Darcey. 2-1/4 len, 1/2 len. Time: 2:29.70. (Last 600m 36.82).

Bart Cummings won his seventh Caulfield Cup with the 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed.

Brad Rawiller rode a brilliant race and is being compared to Scobie Breasley. Viewed settled near last but was guided through the field, along the rails, to beat his stablemate Roman Emperor. Vigor ran 3rd.

Bart had previously won with Galilee (1966), Big Philou (1969), Leilani (1974) and Ming Dynasty in 1977 and 1980.

It was Viewed's first win since his Melbourne Cup victory last year and took his record to 32 starts for nine wins and six placings and prizemoney in excess of $5.7 million.

Caulfield Cup Field

2009-10-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

As the Caulfield Cup is said to be the best guide to the Melbourne Cup I thought it important to show you the entire field:

8-4.05 BMW Caulfield Cup 2400m

(Apprentices cannot claim)

Prize money: $2,500,000; 1st $1,500,000 and trophies $55,000; 2nd

$375,000; 3rd $200,000; 4th $110,000; 5th $90,000.

1 - 1118 Weekend Hussler tmbh (11) B Rawiller 57
2 - 2446 Maldivian tn (18) M Rodd 56.5
3 - 8X62 Master O'Reilly cdm (13) V Duric 56.5
4 - 4130 Fiumicino dm (4) 56
5 - 7998 Kibbutz (5) N Rawiller 55.5
6 - XD23 Nom Du Jeu dm (20) J Lloyd 55.5
7 - 2212 Mad Rush dm (17) D Oliver 55
8 - X491 All The Good d (8) K Mc Evoy 54.5
9 - X081 Douro Valley t (3) J Winks 54.5
10 - 7333 Ice Chariot td (2) G Schofield 54.5
11 - 6187 Viewed dm (14) B Shinn 54.5
12 - X331 Littorio m (10) S R King 54
13 - X402 Red Ruler (1) C W Brown 54
14 - X154 Boundless dm (6) D Dunn 53.5
15 - 7041 Dolphin Jo c (12) Ms C Lindop 53
16 - X862 Riva San dmbh (9) L Nolen 53
17 - 5210 Zagreb t (7) G Boss 52
18 - 1153 Guillotine m (21) Craig Williams 51.5

Alcopop

2009-10-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Courier Mail

Lincoln Moore
October 15, 2009 12:00am

The leading Melbourne Cup contender and his trainer returned to Victor Harbour on Tuesday and Stephens was already seeing the benefits of the decision to go into the $5.5 million feature at Flemington on November 3 without another lead-up run.

"He travelled well and ate up everything here last (Tuesday) night," Stephens said.

"He was very happy to be back here at home."

Stephens said Alcopop's determination and will to win was a large reason for the decision to bypass another start, preferring to keep his horse happy ahead of what could be one of the sport's greatest fairytales.

"He's the sort of horse who gives everything every time he races, and there wasn't another race that really suited him.

"Going into a race like the Melbourne Cup off a short break could jeopardise his chances," he said.

"He's backed up well before but we want to make sure everything is 100 per cent."

Stephens said it would be business as usual for Alcopop, the $7 second favourite for the Cup with TAB Sportsbet behind 2007 winner Efficient ($6).

"We'll just keep things as regular as possible between now and the Cup," he said.

Kirklees - Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Vigor - Master O'Reilly - C'est La Guerre

2009-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Th Age
Andrew Eddy
October 15, 2009

With an ideal draw of barrier seven, Godolphin's impressive Kirklees continued his climb up the bookmakers' boards to be installed the $8 favourite. Right behind him in betting at $8.50 is Luca Cumani's grey Cima De Triomphe, alongside Predatory Pricer, who slid from $7 to $8.50 after he drew gate 16.

Godolphin's travelling foreman, Tommy Strang, said Kirklees had done nothing but please since the early hiccup in his campaign when he had an elevated temperature on arrival in Melbourne last month.

''He looks great in his coat and he's working well. He's back to his normal self,'' he said.

Godolphin won the cup last year with All The Good and Strang said Kirklees was a more proven performer. He said barrier seven suited Kirklees as his forte was early speed from the gates. ''He can pick and choose [where he settles], but I'm sure he won't be far off the pace.''

Sarah Cumani, representing her husband, confirmed what the form and ratings experts had been saying in recent days, that the two internationals were the best credentialled to ever contest the Caulfield Cup.

''He would be the best obvious chance because of the very good horses he's finished behind. It's easy enough to finish behind big names, but he needs to win,'' she said.

Cumani said Cima De Triomphe and stablemate Basaltico, who will test his Melbourne Cup credentials in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, had settled into Australia perfectly.

As for the barrier draw, which will see Cima De Triomphe jump from barrier nine if the third and fourth emergencies do not start, Cumani was happy enough after a run of poor draws in the race in past attempts.

''It gives us options. He tends to sit off [the pace] but we would not want him any worse than midfield,'' she said.

Jockey Damien Oliver said he was pleased that he would have options from the midfield draw. ''It looks perfect.''

Trainer Danny O'Brien did not want his highly-rated Vigor to draw the inside as he did when he was knocked about in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last start, but he couldn't have asked for any worse than barrier 22 - the extreme outside. He'll start from 18 if the emergencies don't run.

''It's probably better than barrier one but it certainly doesn't help your confidence going into an 18-horse handicap,'' he said.

''You need everything to go right and it's no help when you have to give away an advantage like that.''

Stablemate Master O'Reilly, who won the cup in 2007, faired little better in 18. O'Brien said Vigor was likely to go forward early, while Master O'Reilly could take his time and settle near the tail. ''He's going well but you have to remember he hasn't won since he won this race two years ago,'' he said.

Nick Williams, representing the owners of C'est La Guerre, was bullish about the five-year-old's chances before and after he drew 13. ''We think our horse is in the race up to his eyeballs.''

William said the five-year-old, who won the New Zealand Derby by a space on a heavy track in 2008, would appreciate a wet surface but did not need it to produce his best. ''He's in absolutely fantastic shape and we'll certainly see him put his best foot forward.''

Williams explained that the reason his father Lloyd had historically avoided running in the Caulfield Cup had little to do with the prospect of being lumped with a Melbourne Cup penalty. ''The reason we've tended to stay away is that it is such a hard race to win,'' he said.

Vigor - Predatory Pricer - C'est La Guerre

2009-10-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

SMH
John Schell
October 15, 2009

Corey Brown isn't fazed at having to contend with the outside barrier on one-time Caulfield Cup favourite Vigor in Saturday's $2.5 million feature. ''What can you do?'' said Brown, who will ride Vigor at 51 kilograms in the group 1 event. ''It will be right. He'll push forward with no weight on his back and slot into a position. He did draw inside in the Turnbull and got smashed, so an outside draw isn't all that bad.''

Vigor's trainer, Danny O'Brien, didn't want an inside alley for the galloper but he wasn't overly rapt with the outside draw.

''It's probably better than barrier one but it certainly doesn't help your confidence going into an 18-horse handicap,'' O'Brien said. ''You need everything to go right and it's no help when you have to give away an advantage like that.''

O'Brien, who will also start 2007 winner Master O'Reilly in the 2400-metre contest, unearthed a Victoria Derby prospect when Spacecraft toughed it out best to win the Pura Light Start Plate at Caulfield yesterday with Caulfield Guineas-winning jockey Danny Nikolic in the saddle.

O'Brien said Spacecraft would contest the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley on Saturday week en route to the Victoria Derby.

PRICER'S RIGHT

Caulfield Cup equal-second favourite Predatory Pricer is still the horse to beat in the race despite drawing barrier 16, trainer Paul Murray said yesterday. ''I still think that whatever beats him will be winning,'' he said.

''There is speed drawn inside and outside of him so hopefully Kingy [jockey Steven King] can get in somewhere and get him to settle.''

Predatory Pricer was nabbed late when second to 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient in the Turnbull Stakes at his latest start.

TAB Sportsbet made Predatory Pricer an $8.50 chance alongside Cima De Triomphe, behind only Kirklees ($8), at the conclusion of yesterday's barrier draw.

C'EST LA VIE

Nick Williams, son of former Crown Casino boss and big-time thoroughbred investor Lloyd Williams, declared the Caulfield Cup to be ''a great race'' that is within the capabilities of last year's Melbourne Cup third placegetter C'est La Guerre. ''He's in the race up to his eyeballs,'' Williams said yesterday after it drew barrier 13. ''We've got a good jockey on in Steven Arnold and the horse is going great. I'd love to see some rain for him as he loves the sting out of the ground. He's as good a chance in the race as anything.''

Williams said the Caulfield Cup had always been ''so hard to win'', which is why the family tended to ''stay away from it unless we've got a horse really suited''. He said it was a race suited to ''up-and-comers'' or a horse which had ''beaten the handicapper''.

Luca Cumani - Cima De Triomphe

2009-10-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

UK Press Association

Damien Oliver was impressed after partnering Luca Cumani's Cima De Triomphe in a racecourse gallop at Sandown.

Basaltico, who worked with Oliver's mount, is on course for a crack at the Geelong Cup on October 21 - a route Cumani took with Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer 12 months ago - while Cima De Triomphe's aim is the Caulfield Cup on October 17.

Oliver failed to land Melbourne Cup glory for Cumani on Purple Moon and Mad Rush and he told www.ozeform.com: "It was a nice piece of work and I liked the way he was able to go to the other horse when I asked him for an effort."

He added: "The others were a bit lightly-framed but this horse is bigger and stronger and I liked the way he worked."

Profound Beauty -Mourilyan - Munsef - Kirklees - Crime Scene - Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Jolie's Shinju's

2009-10-08T03:59:00.000-07:00

The Age
Andrew Eddy
October 8, 2009

RACING Victoria Ltd officials were still expecting as many as six international horses to face the starter in the November 3 Melbourne Cup despite the shock withdrawal yesterday of Irish mare Profound Beauty.

The chances of an international win in next month's Cup plummeted immediately on the announcement that the Dermot Weld-trained mare would remain at home in Ireland to be prepared for another European racing season instead.

RVL's racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said he spoke to Weld late on Tuesday night and was deflated with the news that the Cup's best credentialled overseas contender would not arrive as had been expected on Saturday. ''It is a blow because she is a very talented mare and Dermot is a great drawcard as he was aiming for a third Cup win,'' Jordon said. ''But there are some quality horses already here and due to arrive that I'm sure will be most competitive.''

Profound Beauty's owners paid $1450 at the second declaration stage for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but by Wednesday had decided against a second tilt at the race. ''Moyglare Stud made the decision not to send Profound Beauty to Melbourne, so she'll be staying at home. The plan is to keep her in training next year,'' Weld's son Mark said.

Already in Melbourne are Godolphin's pair of Kirklees and Crime Scene and Luca Cumani's two, Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico.

They will be joined on Saturday morning by English-based Mourilyan and Munsef, who are certain to run in the Melbourne Cup.

Speed Gifted

2009-10-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

October 6, 2009
The Age

SPEED Gifted looks to have secured a berth in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups after he was yesterday penalised two kilograms for his Metropolitan Stakes win at Randwick last Saturday.

He will now carry 53 in both races. Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said the penalties - the highest for a Metropolitan winner since Vita Man's two kilos in 1999 - reflected the ease of the imported horse's win.

The $4.50 Caulfield Cup favourite and $7.50 Melbourne Cup second favourite now moves to equal 24th on the order of entry into the 18-horse Caulfield Cup field and 25th in the Melbourne Cup.

Speed Gifted is likely to move up further in the Caulfield Cup rankings when third declarations are taken this morning. Declarations are also taken this morning for the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. Light Vision was not penalised for winning last Saturday's Bart Cummings, and remains a Caulfield Cup doubt at equal 29th.

Efficient - Speed Gifted - Predatory Pricer - Vigor - Daffodil

2009-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

The Age

Andrew Eddy
October 4, 2009

THE Caulfield and Melbourne cups have new favourites after two breathtaking victories in group 1 races just 20 minutes apart but in totally different conditions yesterday.

At Flemington, Efficient won his first race since the 2007 Melbourne Cup and just his second in three years when he unleashed sizzling sectionals on the firm track to take the Turnbull Stakes in a major upset. His performance came just as the presentation at Randwick was being completed for Speed Gifted's dominant 3½-length win in the Metropolitan on a deteriorating track to catapult him to Caulfield Cup favouritism.

Speed Gifted is now $4.50 favourite for the Caulfield Cup although he is not yet assured of a start. He is also the $7 equal favourite with Efficient for the Melbourne Cup.

For Efficient's owner, Lloyd Williams, the unexpected victory was doubly satisfying as the grey was ridden by his godson Nick Hall.

''It is stuff that dreams are made of when your godson rides his first group 1 winner on one of your all-time favourite horses,'' Williams said. ''That run shows that he's on target for the Melbourne Cup. It's been a most satisfying day.''

It is doubtful whether Nick Hall has enjoyed a better day at the races. He won the listed Bart Cummings on Light Vision, his first group 1 win on Efficient and then, 40 minutes later, won the group 2 Gilgai Stakes on All Silent.

Lee Freedman was also more than satisfied with his imported galloper Speed Gifted's performance to plough through wet conditions to trounce his rivals in the Metropolitan.

Racing Victoria Ltd chief handicapper Greg Carpenter holds the key to whether Speed Gifted makes the final field on October 17 when he tomorrow announces a penalty for the galloper's win.

Speed Gifted was languishing outside the Caulfield Cup elimination list at equal 63rd in order for a run and although yesterday's win took him past the first ballot clause for the $2.5 million race, he still will need a penalty of at least two kilograms to be assured of a run.

With 51, Speed Gifted has eight kilograms under weight-for-age, but with a two-kilogram penalty he would rise to a safe spot at equal 24th for the 18-horse field. More than six horses who are higher ranked are certain to miss the Caulfield Cup.

Freedman said he would not be deflated if Speed Gifted did not make the Caulfield Cup line-up. ''His win was emphatic and showed me that he is a real Melbourne Cup horse,'' Freedman said.

Yesterday's win lifted Speed Gifted from 80th in line for a run in the Melbourne Cup. A two kilogram penalty would push him to about 25th.

Efficient, who cannot be re-handicapped for his Turnbull win, was back near the tail of the field until he registered a blistering 22.05 seconds for the section between the 600 and 200 metres.

He edged out a gallant Predatory Pricer, who is now likely to run next in the Caulfield Cup, for which he is the second favourite.

Vigor, who had dominated the Caulfield Cup market since his Makybe Diva Stakes win a month ago, was tumbling down the betting last night after an inglorious 13th in the Turnbull.

Trainer Danny O'Brien said the galloper was cramped for room and did not finish off his race but looked to have pulled up well and would press on to the Caulfield Cup.

AJC Oaks winner Daffodil's Caulfield Cup hopes faded after she ran a lacklustre fourth behind bolter Vosne Romanee in the Kelt Capital Stakes in New Zealand yesterday.

Efficient - C'est La Guerre - Viewed - Vigor - Master O'Reilly

2009-10-07T11:36:00.001-07:00

The Age
4/10/09

THE markets for the spring carnival's big three - the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup - were reshuffled by bookmakers following yesterday's Turnbull Stakes, as Efficient and Nick Hall sounded an ominous warning to their rivals with an incredible victory in the group 1 event.

But while the gallant grey stayer and his up-and-coming jockey basked in the glory of an unexpected triumph - Efficient's first since the 2007 Melbourne Cup - a handful of other stayers staked their claim for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups with eye-catching trials, while early cups favourite Vigor slid down the pecking order after an inglorious run.

After the heartbreak of Efficient missing the 2008 Melbourne Cup through injury, connections were brimming with excitement at the prospect of another crack at Australia's most famous race with the grey and C'est La Guerre.

"It was a great win and we were expecting a big run from him today. He'll go to the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup now," said Nick Williams, son of Efficient's managing part-owner, Lloyd Williams. "(We're) also very happy with C'est La Guerre. He bounced back after his last run and will run next week in the Yalumba, then go to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup."

The third Williams-owned runner in yesterdays race, veteran stayer Zipping, also pleased and will head either to the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes before a likely attempt at a third straight Sandown Classic.

Williams said Efficient had shown he was back to his best in trackwork and an incredible split of 22.77 seconds between the 800 and 600 metres reflected that.

Despite a moderate tempo set by the heavily backed Maldivian, who was allowed to bowl along in front, Efficient reeled off very slick closing sectionals to reel in a brave Predatory Pricer, who looked set for victory inside the final 200 metres after stalking the speed for most for most of the race.

The Caulfield Cup rather than the Cox Plate firmed as Predatory Pricer's main spring aim after yesterday's run.

"We might have got to the front a bit early but he switched off well without the blinkers and ran a great race,'' said trainer Paul Murray. ''I'm probably leaning towards the Caulfield Cup at this stage. It's two weeks away and fits in better, but I've got to talk to the owners."

Third-placed Scenic Shot overcame a wide run and a mid-race move to out-bob Maldivian for third, while Kiwi stayer Red Ruler stuck on gamely with veteran Baughurst.

And another Melbourne Cup winner caught the eye further back in the field and brought a grin to the face of his trainer, ''Cups King'' Bart Cummings.
"Viewed ran very well and I'm very happy from a Melbourne Cup perspective. I'm not sure where we go now, though," he said.

Cummings' other Turnbull runner, Roman Emperor, looked a chance inside the 400 metres but just lacked the turn of foot needed to go with the placegetters on firm ground.

Danny O'Brien is hoping that former Caulfield and Melbourne cups favourite Vigor's lacklustre performance in the Turnbull was merely a blip on the radar, and said the stable would press on to the Caulfield Cup.

"He was disappointing on face value but Damien [Oliver] did say that there was a lot of pressure early on and that may have had an effect," O'Brien said. "Obviously it's not what you want to see at your last run before a Caulfield Cup but he was right on track before that so you've got to press on."

O'Brien's other Turnbull acceptor, Master O'Reilly, was scratched yesterday morning because of an elevated temperature, and could start in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield as a tune-up for the cup a week later if he recovers over the next few days.

Speed Gifted - Lee Freedman

2009-10-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Herald Sun
2/10/09

SPEED Gifted, the best Melbourne Cup contender Lee Freedman has had since Makybe Diva, wasn't part of his latest and most far-fetched plan to win the great race, but he was a bi-product of it.

If Speed Gifted can win The Metropolitan at Randwick tomorrow, qualify for the Melbourne Cup, then win it, it would prove one or two things about the modern Cup and how the big local stables best think they can win it.

More and more of our trainers are using the world as their market place.

This time last year Freedman's team invited about 100 rich clients and their mates to lunch at a fancy city restaurant.

The pitch was that the well-to-do's scrounge up $1 million between them. Freedman's brother Anthony, stable vet Johnny Walker and one or two others would grab the cash and take it to the October Tattersalls horses in training sale at Newmarket in England.

The theory was that the hardiest, most Aussie-like, affordable European stayers were a safer gamble than forking out the same amount for untried, possibly hopeless, yearlings here.

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The pitch struck a chord with businessmen who'd become field shy with the risks of the yearling market, but saw a clear bottom line with horses who'd already proven they could gallop, albeit half a world away.

"The margin for error was less for these guys than buying a Zabeel at the sales and waiting three years to find out it was no good," Freedman said.

"Some blokes like a bit more surety with what they're buying. These horses we ended up buying might not have been world-beaters but at least they knew what they were buying."

The budget was set and so was the number -- six. The criteria was strict.

"They had to vet well, had to have good feet. We weren't looking for frail wet track English horses," Freedman said.

The sale was tricky with the horses only brought into the complex on the day itself.

"There were over a thousand of them," said Freedman, who did not make the trip.

The team bought six horses and spent the $1 million. It's at this time that Speed Gifted entered the scene.

He was too well performed to be on the Freedman shopping list and wasn't even for sale.

But the owner, who raced the horse with Luca Cumani and had caught Cumani's Melbourne Cup itch, transferred Speed Gifted to Freedman and he became the seventh member of the team.

The home trip was character building.

"If they could have talked they'd have said 'what the hell's going on here?' Freedman said.

"They cut off our extremities (gelded), took us out of the snow and dumped us somewhere where it's 125C. That's kind of how we came up with the Ball and Chain Syndicate. It seemed to fit. They must have thought they were convicts."

Bar for Speed Gifted, Freedman does not believe the rest of the squad will measure up to the spring cups, at least not this year.

But he has been impressed with their form, pleased with the exercise. Four of the six have won - Timetable, Trenchtown, Sound Of Nature and Woodcutter - another, Mastercraft, "ran a blinder" at his first run here.

Tomitoul Flyer, the most expensive (about $100,000), is injured.

"It will be a quantum leap for any of them to become Caulfield or Melbourne Cup horses but you really never know. Races like the Adelaide Cup are possible for sure," he said.

The Ball And Chain Syndicate reassemble for lunch today, at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne.

"It's a bit like one of those evangelical conferences - come yourself and bring a friend!" Freedman said.

The pitch will be the same as last year, with more room to move at the other end.

"We're still hoping to raise $1 million, but the money's worth more at the other end because the exchange rate has improved," Freedman said.

Freedman hasn't had a Melbourne Cup runner since Makybe Diva's three-peat win in 2005. "Who knows, my next might end up being one of these convict horses," he said.

Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Damien Oliver

2009-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Thoroughbred News NZ

Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver will ride his BMW Caulfield Cup mount Cima De Triomphe for the first time in a gallop at Sandown next week.

Charlie Henson, travelling foreman for trainer Luca Cumani, said today (Friday) it had not yet been decided which day Oliver would go to Sandown but it would possibly be Tuesday or Wednesday.

Henson said the work schedule for the highly-rated Cima De Triomphe and stablemate Basaltico was still undecided but Cima De Triomphe was likely to have only one fast gallop before the Caulfield Cup on 17 October.

“He did a good piece of work before he left Newmarket (England) and with the 36 hour trip to Melbourne he won’t need to do a lot before the Cup,’’ Henson said.

Cima De Triomphe has not raced since his fourth placing to Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million (2012m) in Chicago on 8 August.

Henson said the five-year-old did not have much luck in the Arlington Million and the winner was now rated probably the best turf horse in the US.

Although Cima De Triomphe has not yet won beyond 2200 metres, Henson believes the handsome grey will not be worried by the 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup.

“I think he has to finish in the first eight in the Caulfield Cup to qualify under the distance clause for the Melbourne Cup,’’ he said.

Comparing Cima De Triomphe with stablemate Bauer, who was nosed out of last year’s Melbourne Cup, Henson said he was already a high class galloper while Bauer had arrived in Melbourne as a ‘’progressive handicapper.’’

As Bauer did last year, Henson said Basaltico would try and qualify for the Melbourne Cup by winning the Geelong Cup (2400m) on 21 October.

Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico had a light canter at Sandown today as did the Godolphin pair Kirklees and Crime Scene.

Kirklees and Crime Scene walked a lap of the course proper and then moved into a canter from near the 1000 metres to the winning post.

Travelling foreman Tommy Strang said they would probably do two canters tomorrow (Saturday) morning as they step up their work towards the Caulfield Cup in which Kirklees has 56kgs while Crime Scene will be kept for the Geelong Cup.

Whether Frankie Dettori rides Kirklees in the Caulfield Cup will depend on what commitments he has for Godolphin at Champions’ Day at Newmarket which is run the same day.

Munsef

2009-10-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

BBC Sport

English racehorse Munsef will attempt to become only the third European winner of the Melbourne Cup next month.

Worcestershire trainer Ian Williams is to spend £50,000 on sending Munsef to Australia's biggest horse race.

Munsef is currently in quarantine at Newmarket before he flies out to Melbourne for the race in November.

"It's fantastic, like being in the Olympics," Williams told BBC Midlands Today. "To have a runner is very satisfying."

More than 100,000 spectators attend Melbourne Cup day at Flemington Park and it is a public holiday in parts of Australia.

He's very quiet and laidback. He has the odd bite at you now and again but nothing major

Groom Dawn Oxley
Only two European horses have ever won the race, Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002.

It will cost Alvechurch-based Williams £50,000 to send Munsef to the race but the prize money is £1.7m for the winner and even 10th place pays £60,000.

"It is a huge punt but the horse merits his chance to go and we are delighted to take him," said Williams.

"Munsef was going through the sales at Doncaster in May but the top offer was only £10,000.

"He was retained by the owner and sent to me at Alvechurch. Ever since then it has been a bit of a whirlwind but the wind is still blowing so we will keep whirling."

"Munsef is a lovely horse," said groom Dawn Oxley. "He's very quiet and laidback. He has the odd bite at you now and again but nothing major."

Godolphin - Luca Cumani - Kirklees - Crime Scene - Cima de Triomphe - Basaltico

2009-10-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Godolphin and Luca Cumani camps are hastening slowly in their preparations for the BMW Caulfield Cup and Emirates Melbourne Cup.

In the five days since their arrival in Melbourne last Saturday, Godolphin’s Kirklees and Crime Scene and the Cumani pair Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico have done little more than walking exercise on the track at Sandown.

Kirklees and Crime Scene were scheduled to do some light work this morning (Thursday) but Godolphin’s travelling foreman Tommy Strang said it had been decided to wait until Friday before stepping up their work.

Strang said Kirklees’ temperature, which was slightly elevated when they arrived in Melbourne, was back to normal and all the other signs were positive.

"In the last 48 hours they have totally eaten up as they would have back at home in Newmarket," Strang said.

He said it was understandable that both horses would take a few days to recover from such a long trip and get back into a normal routine.

Strang confirmed that the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 17 October was the immediate aim for Kirklees rather than the Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley a week later.

He said Crime Scene would most likely be kept for the Geelong Cup after which a decision would be made on the Melbourne Cup.

Cumani’s travelling foreman Charlie Henson, who arrived in Melbourne on Monday, is also happy with the progress of Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico.

Cima de Triomphe is high up in the betting for both cups as Cumani bids to go one better than his second placings with Purple Moon and Bauer in the past two Melbourne Cups.

Basaltico will try and make the Melbourne Cup field via the Geelong Cup which Bauer did last year.

Meanwhile, Singapore-trained mare Jolie’s Shinju worked strongly over about 2400 metres this morning as her connections strive to get her back on track for the Cox Plate after her disappointing run at in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

Bart Cummings & Allez Wonder

2009-10-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

Adelaide Advertiser

MATT STEWART
September 30, 2009 11:30pm
..THE Cups King has a problem - too many Cups contenders.

Bart Cummings' chances of winning a 13th Melbourne Cup, or a seventh Caulfield Cup, improved marginally yesterday when Allez Wonder scored a narrow win at Moonee Valley.

Cummings has always had a high opinion of Allez Wonder, a hard-luck mare whose third in last year's VRC Oaks partially qualified her for a start in both Cups this year.

She is still a long way down the ballot list for both races and would have to win a major lead-up race to be assured of a start in either.

Reg Fleming, Cummings' long-time Melbourne foreman, said he hoped the boss didn't intend to run Allez Wonder in the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield on October 10, a traditional springboard to the Caulfield Cup a week later.

"If he does, we'll have half the field," Fleming joked, saying Dandaad and Precedence were certain Herbert Power runners, with Noble Escort a possible starter.

Asked how many Cups contenders Cummings had on his hands, Fleming said: "No idea, too many to count."

Cummings has limited time and few alternatives other than a tilt at the Herbert Power -- and probably risk being balloted from it -- if Allez Wonder is to sneak into the Caulfield Cup.

Allez Wonder's narrow but solid win in yesterday's Pacific Communications Handicap (2040m) prompted TAB Sportsbet to trim her Caulfield Cup quote to $61 and her Melbourne Cup price to $51.

Winning jockey Damien Oliver said Allez Wonder would "stay all day".

Oliver took a pot-shot at yesterday's Valley surface.

"It was grubby racing, which it always is here with the rail out," he said.

Fleming said the Cummings Cup squad was taking shape.

AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor has arrived in Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup and settled in well.

Fleming said Viewed, last year's Melbourne Cup winner who will use Saturday's Turnbull Stakes as a stepping stone to the first Tuesday in November, was "flying".

"He's going. He's the toughest horse I've ever had in 15 years with Bart. He's going better than last year, or at least as good," he said.

Capecover

2009-10-07T11:16:00.001-07:00

Racing and Sports
1/10/09

Capecover raced among the second tier staying races last spring including a win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and since then Fieldes has aimed at a place on the big stage.

At his fourth run from a spell this season, over 2500m at Moonee Valley yesterday, he worked home strongly to finish a close-up fourth behind fellow Kiwi Sand Hawk.

It was an eye-catching run under the big weight, given he hasn't been comfortable at the tight Moonee Valley track, but over two miles at Flemington Fieldes is hoping he can show that big finish.

“He's on track for what we've got in mind, heading towards the Melbourne Cup, and will drop down to 51.5kg if he gets into the race but his form will have to improve dramatically on what he did yesterday.”

Fieldes believes he can, though, as he's trained the gelding differently this season to ensure he'll run the longer journeys right out in the tougher class.

“We've been planning this for 12 months knowing he's fully qualified. And he grew into a man last year with all that travelling and is a different horse.

“He's had a long slow preparation. We've had that dream of winning a Melbourne Cup and we've turned him into a grinding stayer so he just doesn't have that ping that he had last year.”

Capecover's next assignment is the Group 2 Winning Edge Stakes (Herbert Power) over 2400m at Caulfield on Saturday week.

He is currently 36th in order for entry for the Melbourne Cup where he has just 51.5kg.

After yesterday's eye-catching effort he was supported in Melbourne Cup betting and is now a $26.00 chance with Betchoice.

Mr Clangtastic & Alcopop

2009-10-07T10:43:00.001-07:00

Racing & Sports

Cup Penalties For Weekend Winners

Monday, 28 September 2009: Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has issued spring carnival weight penalties to Mr Clangtastic and Alcopop following their feature race wins over the weekend.

Mr Clangtastic has been penalised 1kg for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup following his win in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality over 2400m at Randwick on Saturday.

He now has 51kg in both races.

“Mr Clangtastic fought on courageously to win after leading with 57kg on Saturday and has now won each of his three runs over 2400m,” Carpenter said.

“Since Cup weights were released he has also won the Wyong Cup.

”The penalty lifts Mr Clangtastic to 36th in the elimination order for the Caulfield Cup and takes him past the ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup where he is now 45th in the elimination order.

Alcopop has been penalised 1kg for the Melbourne Cup, taking his weight to 51kg, following his win in the Listed JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

Alcopop, who is not a second acceptor for the Caulfield Cup, has been in terrific form for young South Australian trainer Jake Stephens.

“Alcopop won the Balaklava Cup in track record time following the release of weights and was again impressive in winning the JRA Cup,” Carpenter said.

The five-year-old still has to pass the ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup where he is currently 81st on the elimination order.

Betting Market 27/9/09

2009-10-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

Emirates Melbourne Cup – totesport bet: 12 Changingoftheguard, Profound Beauty, Vigor, 14 C’est La Guerre, Efficient, Speed Gifted, 16 Master O’Reilly, Viewed, 20 Age Of Aquarius, Roman Emperor, 25 Daffodil, Mourilyan, Munsef, Precedence, Shocking, Tuesday Joy, Zipping, Cima De Triomphe, 33 bar.

Cima De Triomphe's

2009-10-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

8 Sep 2009

Punters will no doubt be intrigued to hear that a final decision on Cima De Triomphe's participation in the Emirates Melbourne Cup is fast approaching.

Reports in Australia are claiming that his trainer Luca Cumani has confirmed the colt and he will join stablemate Basaltico on the journey to Melbourne. The horse was last seen finishing fourth in the Arlington Million after beating King George winner Conduit in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes.

Patrick Barbe, racing manager for Cima De Triomphe's owner Teruya Yoshida, said: "It is not yet finalised 100%. I believe he has to enter quarantine before next Thursday, but at the moment Mr Cumani and Mr Yoshida are discussing it. If he did not go to Melbourne, he would run in the Arc de Triomphe."

Despite being successful in last year’s Italian Derby, Cima De Triomphe would be called on to race over more than half a mile further than his usual distances if he were to take his place in the legendary race.

Tuesday was the first forfeit stage for November's race and there remain 18 exciting overseas entries, including Aidan O'Brien's St Leger pair, Changingoftheguard and Age Of Aquarius while Dermot Weld has left in Profound Beauty, Directa King and Ghimaar.

Cima De Triomphe can be backed for the race at odds of 75.00 (Betfair). The same firm make Profound Beauty their 14.5 favourite.

Alcopop - Jolie's Shinju - Shocking

2009-09-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

THE VIRTUAL FORM GUIDE
27 September 2009

Alcopop has rewarded trainer Jake Stephens faith in the South Australian gelding by winning the $100,000 Listed Tatts Group JRA Cup (2040m) a Moonee Valley last night.

The race boasted a number of Melbourne Cup hopefuls and the Cox Plate bound Jolie's Shinju ($4.10) who was sent out favourite but was beaten before the home turn.

Going for three straight wins, Alcopop ($11-$15) was a drifter in the betting but gun Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur weaved through the field like an odds on pop and shot away to win comfortably from the evergreen Field Hunter ($10-$11) and Melbourne Cup bound Shocking ($5-$4.80) who overcame a torrid run to finish strongly.

Trainer Jake Stephens was quick to praise Tourneur's efforts.

"What a brilliant ride," said a jubilant Stephens.

But Stephens part in having Alcopop right for the listed event after pulling up a litle sore after the Balaklava Cup did not go unnoticed.

"He didn't pull up 100% but we have had the ultrasound machine on him and he has really responded well, his blood was almost perfect this week," said Stephens.

Tourneur had a smile from ear to ear after dismounting and headed straight for Stephens.

"He is a very good horse!" roared Tourneur.

"I think we should push on with him," he added.

Which begs the question how far the connections push on with the five-year-old South Australian gelding, this could well be this years Spring fairytale.

Alcopop is now just a $41 chance in Melbourne Cup betting with Betstar.

Profould Beauty - Speed Gifted - Glen Boss

2009-09-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

COURIER MAIL
27 September 2009

IT'S Cups time and three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss is on the prowl.

Boss wants to win a fourth Melbourne Cup to match the record feats of Harry White and Bobby Lewis, but is yet to lock in a ride in this year's great race at Flemington on November 3.

The former Gympie apprentice thought he was going to resume his association with Irish mare Profound Beauty. He rode the mare last year when an eye-catching fifth behind Viewed.

But trainer Dermot Weld has opted for his stable jockey Pat Smullen, leaving Boss in limbo.

"Apparently Dermot is bringing Pat over. It was a bit of a shock because I saw him (Weld) when I was in Los Angeles earlier in the year and he thought Smullen would struggle to get near the weight.

"But he's going to have a crack so good luck to him. I have to move on. I can't hang around. I have to chase other rides."

Boss is going to test the Lee Freedman-trained Speed Gifted as a possible Cup mount when he pilots the six-year-old in The Metropolitan at Randwick next month.

Speed Gifted needs to win the Metrop to qualify for the Caulfield Cup and edge him closer to a Melbourne Cup start.

A former English stayer, Speed Gifted won his first start for Freedman and finished well for fourth in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.

"I'm going to ride Speed Gifted in the Metrop and if he can win there that will qualify him for Caulfield," Boss said.

"He's a very talented horse and probably got further back than he would have liked the other day when he had a bad barrier to contend with. He's heading in the right direction and he's well in the Cup markets."

Boss, 40, is the only jockey to win three consecutive Melbourne Cups, achieving the feat aboard Makybe Diva, who coincidentally was trained by Freedman for her last two wins. The champion mare was prepared by David Hall when Boss won the first of his treble in 2003.

Despite his illustrious record, Boss had a difficult period last year when rides at his Sydney base dried up after he returned from a stint in Hong Kong.

"I don't know what happened. There was a perception I was not riding well. It was totally false. Talk like that starts and goes like wildfire.

"People I thought were in my corner turned their back, but that's racing and the nature of the beast. I'm not one to whinge so I packed up my bat and ball and went somewhere else."

In December, he made a career-changing decision and shifted with his family to Melbourne.

Since then Boss has gone from riding at the occasional midweek, to becoming one of Victoria's "have saddle will travel" riders, and he is loving it.

"It was a tough decision to make the move and I was never going to walk into the joint. Obviously I am well known but I am not a local so it has taken a lot of hard work, but I'm loving it.

"I used to ride at the occasional provincial in Sydney, but down here I enjoy riding everywhere. The racetracks here are amazing and top trainers are not scared to take good horses to these meetings. It's the way they work down here."

Boss notched his 65th Group 1 winner last Saturday when Turffontein won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. He also scored earlier on the day on highly-promising Thousand Guineas hope Irish Lights.

There is no doubt Boss is fully settled in Melbourne and riding as well as ever. It could be a rich carnival for the flamboyant rider.

He has started the season strongly and would dearly love to win his fourth title as Australia's leading Group 1 rider, which he took in seasons 2003-2005.

It is also no surprise he is supremely confident the fourth Cup will eventually come.

"You never know how long I'll stay here, but I would like to think this is my last port of call. It would be good to get a fourth Cup, whether it's this year or not, I'm sure I'll get there one day."

Basaltico - Damien Oliver

2009-09-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

NZ Herald
26 September 2009

Damien Oliver has been booked to ride the Cumani-trained Basaltico in the Group Three Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21. He has no Melbourne Cup booking at this stage.

Mourilyan - Bankable

2009-09-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

HERALD SUN
Adrian Dunn
26 September 2009

CHECHEN despot Ramzan Kadyrov will have a Melbourne Cup runner . . . at this stage.

But the Victoria Racing Club has not ruled out the possibility that it will refuse to allow Mr Kadyrov's horse, Mourilyan, to contest the $5.5 million race.

Mr Kadyrov, President of the Chechnya and described by Greens leader Bob Brown as a "blood-soaked dictator", could also have a runner on Derby Day, the opening day of Spring Racing Carnival.

Dale Monteith, the VRC's chief executive officer, last night was coy about what action the club might take.

He said the VRC committee yesterday heard views on the issue from Racing Victoria Limited chiefs Michael Duffy and Rob Hines.

Mr Monteith said the pair had told him that RVL would not be doing anything to stop Mourilyan and another of Mr Kadyrov's horses, Bankable, coming to Melbourne.

Mourilyan, entered in the Melbourne Cup, and Bankable, scheduled to run in the $750,000 LKS Mackinnon Stakes, are both last-start winners in England. Tab Sportsbet rates Mourilyan a $31 Cup chance.

Both horses are in quarantine in the UK and are due to arrive here in three weeks.

Mr Monteith said: "That's where it stands at the moment. We don't have any further comment."

The Rules Of Racing state the VRC has the power to refuse the nomination of any horse for any race. It does not have to give a reason.

Second declarations, along with a $1450 payment, are due at noon on Tuesday.

Mr Monteith said the VRC was aware of the rule, but added that the club "at this stage had not considered it".

If the VRC does decide to reject Mr Kadyrov's horses, it must do so before October 8, the day they are due to leave England.

Crime Scene Cima De Triomphe Basaltico Shocking

2009-09-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

THE AGE
Andrew Eddy
27 September

Touching down with Kirklees was seven-year-old stablemate Crime Scene, who is 24th in line for a Caulfield Cup run, but connections might decide to go to the Melbourne Cup via the Geelong Cup instead.

Also arriving in Australia yesterday were Luca Cumani's pair of Cima De Triomphe and Basaltico. Cima De Triomphe will be ridden by Damien Oliver in the Caulfield Cup but Basaltico is likely to have to earn a Melbourne Cup start through the Geelong Cup.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh said Friday night's JRA Cup third placegetter Shocking would try to earn a Caulfield Cup start through either Saturday's Bart Cummings at Flemington or the following week in the Winning Edge Stakes at Caulfield. At 28th in order, he is in danger of missing the Cup field of 18.

Jolie's Shinju & Kirklees

2009-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

THE AGE
Andrew Eddie
Sept 27

THERE may be no international attempt at next month's Cox Plate after a change of mind from the Godolphin stable and an inglorious effort from Singapore's champion mare Jolie's Shinju in Friday night's JRA Cup at Moonee Valley.

Connections of Jolie's Shinju must produce an ECG certificate before she is permitted to race again after she was found to have had a heart irregularity and suffering a cardiac ailment known as the ''thumps'' after she was beaten more than 16 lengths as the $4.80 favourite when second-last over the 2040-metre trip.

The mare's jockey, Ronnie Stewart, told stewards he could offer no excuse for her failure, other than the fact she may not have handled the slow conditions. As expected, Jolie's Shinju led the race and seemed to travel kindly until just inside the 800-metre mark before fading.

It was the first slow track the Singapore Derby winner had seen and the race was conducted in sloppy conditions, being the last of eight races.

Jolie's Shinju, who debuted in this country in fine style with a third place in the group 2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley earlier this month, had recovered from the run by yesterday morning and connections are considering running her again in the next two weeks before making a decision on the Cox Plate.

She could start in either the group 1 Yalumba Stakes (2000 metres) at weight-for-age at Caulfield on October 10 or drop back to the 1600 metres of the group 1 Toorak Handicap on the same day.

The news on Jolie's Shinju followed an announcement from the Godolphin stable that the well-respected six-year-old Kirklees, who was one of two Godolphin horses to arrive in Melbourne early yesterday, might bypass the Cox Plate and instead run a week earlier in the Caulfield Cup.

Kirklees, a last-start winner over the Caulfield Cup distance at Kempton in England earlier this month, is sixth in order to gain a Caulfield Cup run with 56 kilograms. It is expected high-profile stable rider Frankie Dettori, who is yet to claim a feature over the Melbourne spring carnival, will partner him this spring.

Godolphin won last year's Caulfield Cup with All The Good.

Touching down with Kirklees was seven-year-old stablemate Crime Scene, who is 24th in line for a Caulfield Cup run, but connections might decide to go to the Melbourne Cup via the Geelong Cup instead.

Chester

2009-09-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

The Camden Advertiser

Cup buff gets gig
BY ILONA MARCHETTA
16/09/2009 10:18:00 AM

MAX Hitchins thought he was on to a brain exercise with a difference when he set out to memorise all 100 Melbourne Cup winners.

But Mr Hitchins wasn't satisfied when he was told, after completing the exercise, that there were quite a few people who could perform the feat.

So he went on to memorise the iconic horse race's second and third place-getters, learning anecdotes about them along the way.

Now famed in Australian racing circles, Mr Hitchins was an obvious choice to host the Melbourne Cup Ball at Camden's Camelot House in October. Camden is where you will find the grave of CHester the 1877 Melbourne Cup winner. In the picture Camden Mayor Chris Patterson is seen here with Max Hitchins.

The ball celebrates the 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour through Camden on Friday, October 23.

``I'm a Melbourne Cup nutter,'' said Mr Hitchins, who is a motivational speaker and hospitality industry professional.

``I grew up in a country town in northern NSW called Moree ... I was never interested in punting, I was more interested in the history of the races and the horses.''

He's found a way to put his hobby to use each year he collects and analyses data on racing horses around the world to narrow the 24 horses entered into the Melbourne Cup down to six likely winners. He sells the information as eBook How To Pick The Winner Of The Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Retired jockey John Letts, who won the cup on Piping Lane in 1972 and on Beldale Ball in 1980, will also attend the ball as a tour ambassador.

Tickets to the ball are $125 (each) or $1100 for a table of 10.

Details, bookings: 46547777.