Flemington once again stages THE iconic southern hemisphere horserace
Horse Racing Odds
Let's get one of the world's biggest sporting cliches out of the way early. It's the Race that stops a Nation. The Melbourne Cup, won in the past by such greats as Makybe Diva, Rain Lover, and the legend that was Phar Lap.
Contested traditionally on the first Tuesday of November, in UK-time terms it's a middle-of-the-night, ungodly-o'clock, 4am job. If there's anything worth stirring for at that hour, the Melbourne Cup is surely it.
The trip is circa 2 miles (3,200 metres), and the going (it's run on turf) is likely to be on the testing side. Top requirements therefore are tactical speed, stamina, and the guts of a champion to go get it done in the final furlong.
Three-yr-olds and upwards contest this massive and incredibly valuable handicap. Yes, despite the race's pre-eminence and value to the winner, it's still only a handicap.
No level weights, let's-see-who's-best-of-the-best here. You've got to defy the handicapper, that lung-bursting trip, as well as your opponents.
It's been around since 1861, and attracts horses from all over the world. One of Ireland's finest, Joseph O'Brien, has won it twice in recent years, though his brilliant father Aidan has never been fortunate enough to do so.
Trends-wise, it's handy to have a horse in action at Moonee Valley immediately prior to a Melbourne Cup tilt. Caulfield is another venue closely associated with scorers in the big one.
Interestingly, two of Europe's greatest stallions from the last 20 years, Galileo and his son Frankel, have sired precisely no winners of the race.
It's difficult to be too picky about age - there's a decent spread. They travel left-handed at Flemington (think Haydock, Newbury etc), and that significant total prize-money fund mentioned stacks up to just under $8 million AUS.
It's the jewel in the crown of Melbourne's Spring Carnival of racing, and the world-wide TV audience will be measured in telephone numbers.
Betting-wise, we're 1/5 the odds the first five places, so plenty of each-way possibilities. Only a handful of favs have prevailed in the last 20 runnings - now there's a bit of encouragement for value-seekers. We're expecting 24 runners to face the starter.
The market is headed by York's Great Voltigeur winner Deauville Legend, trained by James Ferguson in Newmarket, and a son of Sea The Stars. He's picked up Kerrin McEvoy on top, a previous winner of the great race.
The ground is a worry for me - the 3-yr-old gelding hasn't yet encountered anything with the term 'soft' or worse in the going description, and might well do on Tuesday.
It's a silly price for me at around 3/1, and I'm going for two against the field offering what I hope is a bit of value. Vow and Declare was only 2l off the classy Durston in the Caulfield Cup, and at around 16/1 is a must-play each-way for me. The brilliant Blake Shinn is in the saddle.
Didn't fire in this last term, but the 7-yr-old veteran for me achieved a career-best last time. Raiding that Caulfield contest from a couple of weeks ago once again I also like my main fancy Montefilia, a 5-yr-old mare who's no stranger to excelling with give in the ground. Only a length down at the line, we've every right to hope for a huge run.
She was doing her best work late in the piece, and at 11/1 again represents a decent e/w play. There are plenty at far bigger prices - take a look.
In summary - Montefilia; and Vow and Declare; both each-way. Enjoy!
Alan Firkins
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