Horse Racing: Catch all the key races leading up to the Melbourne Cup with several contenders making big efforts across these lead up races.
It’s here again, not just Australia’s greatest race but our greatest and most enduring cultural institution - the Melbourne Cup!
But also in keeping with the fact the Europeans breed better stayers than speed-obsessed Australia, only four runners are Aussie-bred: decent place chance The Map, rhyming roughies Knight’s Choice and Manzoice, and highly-rated mare Zardozi, who was conceived in England of English parents but born here and that’ll do.
Tough Irish-trained stayer who has plenty of runs on the board at home and in England, with eight wins in 20 starts. Ran fourth over 4023m in the Royal Ascot Gold Cup in June, and won the Lonsdale two starts ago, so you know he can run the trip on his day. Last run was a decent 2.3 length second in the Irish St Leger over 2816m, so is in decent form. Trained by a master in Willie Mullins and has a top international jockey in England’s William Buick.
Japanese stayer and they make them tough. Has some impressive form over marathon trips back home, including a fourth over 3600m and a third over 3400m in his past four starts. His last start before coming here was that fifth in the Tenno Sho, which is always a classy affair. However, he looked very ordinary in the Caulfield Cup, when 13th, 16 lengths behind the winner.
Another by Fastnet Rock who kicked off in France and has an awesome record of six wins and eight placings from 21 starts. Is as tough as they come, shown by his wins in hurdle and flat marathons, has a top trainer and a superb experienced jockey who’s won three of these things. Ran a good race here last year when seventh.
Okita Soushi after winning the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Best long-distance form: 1st, 3319m Newcastle synthetic UK, Northumberland Plate, June 2024; 1st, 2400m, Geelong Cup Oct 2024; Has only had 11 starts for one win in an Irish maiden, is the second lowest earner in the field and more than a third of his earnings came last start in the Caulfield Cup. That sounds better than it is, because he came ninth, beaten 13 lengths, but still got $120k. Made a little ground that day but was beaten a long way. Is proven in all going but can’t see him troubling these.
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