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That would be interesting!!!
It’ll be interesting to see if Tactic comes down here, still looking like the field will be at least half international.
My latest local who I think could do okay come the Melbourne Cup is Ironstein.
Only a restricted class stayer, having his first run in a Listed race in the Caloundra Cup this weekend – a horse named Sphenophyta ran 2nd in this race in 2006, he progressed that spring to start favourite in the Caulfield Cup but he injured himself before the Melbourne Cup, where he would have been one of the favourites.
He’s really impressing me, Ironstein, he keeps jumping up in grade and running good races.
[b:22cc76o9]Gai prepares for spring riches[/b:22cc76o9]
http://www.melbourne-cup-2010.com.au/news/gai-prepares-for-spring-riches/Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse is preparing for one of her strongest assaults on the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Racing manager for Waterhouse, Mark Webbey, says that AJC Australian Oaks winner Once Were Wild, AJC Australian Derby runner up Descarado and improving ex-Kiwi stayer Herculian Prince are all back in work with the target being the two Cups.
Once Were Wild only returned to Tulloch Lodge recently, having a decent break after her impressive three length victory in the AJC Australian Oaks.
“She’s doing well,” Webbey said. “We have her trialling around August 6th, with her first run possibly in the Tramway Handicap (1400m) on September 4.”
“The mare appears to be an ideal Caulfield Cup horse and we are hopeful that she may be able to extend to the 3200m.”
Descarado and Herculian Prince have been at the stables longer, and will start their campaigns earlier.
“Both horses are now up to ¾ pace,” Webbey said. “They will have their first trials towards the end of July.”
It is likely that they will be kept apart during their lead up races.
“Descarado is scheduled to have his initial start this preparation in the Warwick Stakes on August 21.”
“Herculian Prince is pencilled in to run at Caulfield in the Liston Stakes on August 14 – however, this may change if we decide to kick off in Sydney.”
Despite Waterhouse’s enormous success, she is yet to train a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup winner.
She has had numerous runners in the Caulfield Cup, her best result a 2nd with classy mare Aqua D’Amore in 2006, who led until the final few strides.
From twelve runners in the Melbourne Cup, she has managed two thirds with tough stayer Te Akau Nick in 1993 and three year old Nothin’ Leica Dane in 1995.
As one of racing’s most popular ambassadors, a Waterhouse victory on the first Tuesday of November would surely be widely celebrated.
This is a great article. I’m biased – I wrote it!
http://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/international-racing/royal-ascot-produces-a-number-of-melbourne-cup-hopefuls/
Royal Ascot produces a number of Melbourne Cup hopefuls
The Royal Ascot carnival may be over for another year, but the form lines will be analysed in the lead up to the Spring Racing Carnival with a number of runners a chance of coming to Melbourne.
As reported last week, the Ascot Gold Cup trifecta – Rite of Passage, Age of Aquarius and Purple Moon – are all possible Melbourne Cup horses.
The Hardwicke Stakes, run over one mile and four furlongs (2414m) at set weights and penalties, is typically a high class race. In 1993, it was won by the next year’s Melbourne Cup winner in Jeune.
This year’s winner was Harbinger, a lightly raced Dansili stallion who won in extremely impressive fashion.
Third in the race was Barshiba, a six year old Irish mare. She is trained by David Elsworth, renowned for his missions to Australia with grand stayer Persian Punch.
Immediately after the race, Elsworth said the Melbourne Cup could be an option.
“I said to the owner we should think about Melbourne, he said ‘talk to the hand, the face ain’t looking’.”
However, the race was all about Harbinger.
His owners, Highclere Syndication’s, have stated that the Melbourne Cup is not on the agenda, instead nominating the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp as his main target.
“I think that’s what [our trainer] Sir Michael [Stoute] will want to do,” Harry Herbert, head of Highclere Syndication’s, declared.
“I think our Melbourne Cup horse will be Theology.”
Theology ran a very unlucky second in the Queen’s Vase on Friday.
The Queen’s Vase, run over two miles for three year olds, has been won in the past by former contenders Maridpour and Mamool. In 2007, Mahler won the race two starts before he ran 3rd in that year’s Melbourne Cup, won by Efficient.
European three year olds have become increasingly popular types for the Melbourne Cup, as they receive the featherweight of 50.5kg yet are highly ranked in the ballot order. In addition to Mahler, Alessandro Volta ran as a European three year old in 2008, while the ill-fated Changingoftheguard was scratched on race morning last year.
This year’s Vase has produced two possible contenders, in Theology and the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner Mikhail Glinka. Both are sons of English Derby winner Galileo.
Another match up awaits both Theology and Mikhail Glinka in the English St Leger, with a good performance likely to ensure a ticket to Melbourne.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
They said Rogan Josh wasn’t Melbourne Cup standard a couple of weeks before he won – that said, Naval Escort is no Rogan Josh.
I think that is a good criterium Gerald, I think that the only winners in the last 20 years who weren’t qualified for the first condition of the ballot by this time were Media Puzzle, Might and Power, Let’s Elope and Kingston Rule.
True – it was more his comments about drugs in Australian racing, especially while Takeover Target was at Royal Ascot.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Chris Waller looks to buy him, he has stated here today that he has been analysing Royal Ascot closely, hoping to find a Cup runner.
Harry Herbert, head of Highclere Syndications, has said that Harbinger is heading to the Arc and that their Melbourne Cup horse will be Theology.
I loved Theology’s run on Friday, he can be competitive.
Only thing is Noseda trains. I don’t think Noseda is a big fan of Australian racing, but he is a great trainer, a good traveller of horses and if he comes, he’ll be primed for the day.
http://www.melbourne-cup-2010.com.au/ne … -a-splash/
Zarzuela set to make a splash
One of New Zealand’s top three year old fillies has been transferred to the Peter Moody stable at Caulfield.
Zarzuela, previously trained by Te Akau Stud’s Mark Walker, arrived from New Zealand on June 1st.
Walker is moving to Singapore to continue his training career, prompting the move to Moody’s stables.
Zarzuela stamped herself as a horse of the future with impressive wins in the Group II Great Northern Guineas, Group II Championship Stakes and Group III Waikato Guineas.
She started favourite in the Group I New Zealand Derby but she found herself a long way back and flew home to finish fourth behind Military Move, who led all the way.
Her New Zealand career ended with a third in the Group I New Zealand Oaks behind Keep The Peace.
By champion staying sire Zabeel from the Group I Otaki-Maori WFA winner Star Satire, she certainly has the pedigree to make an impact in the spring Cups.
She has excited New Zealand race fans with her turn of foot, and with natural progression under Peter Moody, don’t be surprised if you are hearing a lot of Zarzuela come the first Tuesday in November.
http://www.melbourne-cup-2010.com.au/ne … melbourne/
Rite of Passage comes into contention for Melbourne
The Dermot Weld-trained Rite of Passage is the new favourite for the Melbourne Cup with British bookmaker William Hill after his gutsy win in the historic Ascot Gold Cup overnight.
The one time jumper is into 10-1 for Melbourne after he defeated Ballydoyle’s Age of Aquarius by a neck. Serial placegetter Purple Moon was six lengths further back in third.
Weld was elated after the surprise victory of Rite of Passage.
“The Gold Cup is a race I have always wanted to win. I was second with Vinnie Roe and Vintage Crop and it was third-time lucky.”
He was quick to announce that his next big aim would be the Melbourne Cup on November 2.
“I’ve also got Profound Beauty…but it has also been a target of mine for this horse too. Today was his first big Flat target and the Melbourne Cup is his second.”
It remains to be seen whether Aidan O’Brien and Ballydoyle will consider the Melbourne Cup for Age of Aquarius. However, it is more likely that he will be aimed at races like the Prix du Cadran (4000m) during the Arc carnival at Longchamp in October.
Serial place getter Purple Moon, also placed in the 2007 Melbourne Cup, 2008 Hong Kong Vase and 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic, has not been ruled out of a return visit.
“I would be inclined to stay here and look at races like the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale, although I have spoken to the owner and we will probably put him in the Melbourne Cup again too,” stated trainer Luca Cumani.
The Ascot Gold Cup has not been a great guide to the Melbourne Cup.
Runners out of the Ascot Gold Cup tend to receive too much weight, struggle with the fluctuating tempo of the Melbourne Cup and are inexperienced with the hustle and bustle which characterises big fields.
However, Rite of Passage is lightly weighted, he’s raced in 24 horse fields and he stays all day.
One thing is for sure – he has the services of one of the greatest trainers in the world in Dermot Weld.
I’ve seen a range of quotes – that is the most common, but some others seem to suggest that he’ll be more likely to come.
I read Cumani’s entering Purple Moon in the Cup again.
Do you think that Ballydoyle could bring Age of Aquarius down?
If he runs in the Ebor you’d think the Melbourne Cup would be on the agenda if he wins.
It will be pretty quiet now until the end of July, when the first horses start coming back.
This weekend, 2008 Doncaster Handicap winner (it’s a mile race) Triple Honour is likely to take his place in the Listed Stayer’s Cup, against much slower opposition, to see whether he runs the two miles.
If he does, he’ll be aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
He may win it on class alone, but he is racing like a stayer.
Yep, you are on to it. If I owned a mare, I’d send her to Zabeel in NZ or High Chaparral who’s now going to be here but Irish bred. Just foal here so that it is "bred" in Australia.
The last two years Stradbroke Handicap day has been a guide to the Melbourne Cup. Viewed won the Brisbane Cup in 2008 before winning the Melbourne Cup, while Shocking ran 2nd in the Queensland Derby before winning the Melbourne Cup.
Today’s results from those races:
Brisbane Cup
1.Crossthestart
2.Scouting Wide
3.EkstremeQueensland Derby
1.Dariana
2.Kutchinsky
3.Miss Keepsake (Qld Oaks winner)My opinions – Crossthestart is a handy horse, he won a couple of races during the carnival last year, not convinced he’s up to the class of the Cups. Scouting Wide is an up and comer, I reckon he’s the one to look at for the Cups from that race.
As for Dariana, she won by almost 5 lengths!!! Absolutely dominant. If she ain’t a Cups filly, nothing is. She is trained by the master, Bart Cummings.
Bart’s Melbourne Cup hand is stunning. Sadly, no Viewed any more, but he has So You Think, Faint Perfume, Dariana, Landlord, Moatize, Precedence, Roman Emperor, Sirmione, Tamanu Park, Brightnight, Naval Escort, Yaqubi, Joe Blow…and some I’m probably forgetting.
Wow!!!
Yeah, it is looking good.
I’m thinking though…there aren’t going to be many Australian bred horses in the race this year. It’s gonna be one of the best in recent times IMO.
Do you think any St Leger runners may come down Gerald? I know we are still what, 3 months away from the Leger? But I remember Changingoftheguard came down last year (scratched) and Mahler in 2007 (3rd).
It would really add to the race IMO. One of the best Northern Hemisphere 3yos, possibly a Victoria Derby winner (if they are paid up all the way through) and some of the world’s best stayers. Really nice.
I’m hoping the winner of this comes down to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Weird, I know, but a European 3yo only has to carry 50kg. I like horses with that sprint that comes from not having been much further than 1m6f.
And they are pretty much always guaranteed a run…I dunno why but it is one anomaly in the balloting system for the Melbourne Cup. European 3yos are guaranteed a run.
Why not take the chance to run for $6m Australian dollars with 50kg on your back.
Sun Setting On Japanese Cup Involvement
Racing and SportsThursday, 3 June 2010: Time is fast running out for Japanese horses to take part in this year’s Melbourne Cup with government red tape seemingly stalling the process.
As it stands the government now has the procedural manuals from the Japanese quarantine centres, which need to be “ticked off”.
Racing Victoria’s Leigh Jordon is disappointed with the government’s lack of haste on the issue, with the manuals likely to be another month away from approval.
The government then has to send inspectors to Japan and approve the quarantine facilities before Japanese horses are given the green light to enter the country.
According to Jordon, Japanese trainers need to know now where they stand in relation to setting horses for an Australian campaign.
Jordon said the slow moving process will all but rule out Japanese horses contesting the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup this November.
Leigh Jordon from the VRC seems convinced that Kite Wood is going to be one of Godolphin’s representatives.
The suggestion seems to be that Profound Beauty will be coming back for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Buccellati is now an Australian citizen! He’s in pre training in Queensland (of all places) and he’ll be making his way back to Victoria when Queensland Derby favourite Kutchinsky comes back. He will be trained by Kutchinsky’s trainer, Tony Noonan.
He’s always looked to me like the type of horse who could be competitive in a Melbourne Cup, time will tell!