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Here is the full article from the RP:
And another one from an NZ source
A safety smokescreen for what is probably an admission that the speed obsession in Australian breeding is coming home to roost. European 12 furlong + horses are starting to dominate their Cup, so they make it harder for these horses to travel, then they’ll buy them and send them to local trainers (e.g. Sir Dragonet). It was either that or reduce the Melbourne Cup distance to 12, or even 10 furlongs. Which actually, I can still see them doing in the next 20 years or so.
Maybe, but on the other hand, they’ve gelded Southern France. Most of the prize money and prestige in Australia is in races up to 10f, and staying races are just novelties. I can’t see their breeding industry changing its approach very much. Most of their stayers seem to be New Zealand-bred anyway.
How interested are UK racing fans, on a scale one to ten, in the Melbourne Cup do you think?
I am interested, but only to the same extent as I am in the big races in other far-off places like the USA and UAE. Something about how far away it is and too many unfamiliar aspects make it less interesting than, say, the big races in Ireland and France.
To answer admin’s question, I’d guess at 5/10.
The thread is two days old and I only just bothered to read it – so 1/10 for me having hitherto been, by definition, 0/10.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’ve probably tried to hard to embrace it, in many ways like The Breeders Cup.
I would say 5 out of 10 in the past, but I’m probably nearer Ian’s score.
The “race that stops the nation” is a 2m Handicap in a country which predominantly breeds for speed.
I would imagine plenty of hardcore Australian racing fans are about as interested in it as many of us are in the Shergar Cup, the annual attempt to pretend racing is a team sport.
I am actually scared the Grand National is slowly turning by stealth into the Melbourne Cup – easier fences > no fences > shorter distance > Flat race for staying chasers!
Awaken me from this nightmare prophesy!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I couldn’t watch it anyway as my colour licence only covers the bare channels and freeview. It was unusually hot last year near 30 degrees – that must have been murder on the feet !
(Me and Moe)
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