MELBOURNE CUP.

racingandsports.com.au is the site to check out for all Aussie racing.

racingandsports.com.au/form-guide/ has all the form you could possibly want

also be careful if you're going to have a punt and trying to base it on how good a horse was when it was in Europe, it usually happens that a lesser euro horse does better than a good one (based on euro form).

Americain seems to grow another leg in aussie for example,

I'm not at all surprised that the French horses have come to the fore. Their go slow then sprint style of racing is the same as in Oz(and the US tbf, where they have a great record). Tbh the only surprise is that their top trainers have not really targeted the race more often.

I wouldn't be so sure about the french success yet. The field is stronger than last year when you consider the horse who ran 2nd (albeit carrying no weight) was a huge flop in autumn in aus (mar-may) in WFA races and SYT who ran 3rd didn't quite stay.

Plus he's carrying more weight this year, like 4kg more. He'll have to of improved from last year to win it this year.

Dunaden was a pretty impressive geelong cup winner on the surface of it. But in reality it was a weak field, by all standards. The geelong cup americain won last year was much stronger.

The French runners are too short-priced now imo. Yes they have won well but you cant expect to rock up in Aus and win their biggest race of the year. I suspect there will be some much better value to be had on the day.

Tommy, what do you think is the best of the Aussie runners at the moment ? Midas Touch interest me at a big price. He was a useful horse over here.

'The field is stronger than last year '

This is certainly debatable

Well depends what you mean by aussie runners? I include NZ horses in it but if you also mean imports (euro horses now trained by aussie's) then it widens the list.

Of the actual aussie/nz horses. If The Verminator makes the field (right on the cusp) then I reckon he's the best value of the homegrown ones. He'll carry minimum weight if he makes it. He won the main Sydney 24 race of the spring (handicap where he carried no weight, but he never looked in trouble). His sire is the 1994 British MC winner Jeune and his Dam won the Caulfield Cup. Not 100% sure he's the best chance, but he's the best value, still sitting at 90s on betfair.

I duno about the imports though, or the internationals frankly. There's so many form lines and so much guess work involved. The fact that some internationals never settle well and don't run a race makes it hard. And the fact that some seemingly awful internationals grow another a leg makes it annoyingly difficult!

main 2400m race in sydney I mean, not 24!

And Big O, maybe overall the field isn't stronger but if you really think something won't run better than SYT (who didn't stay) and Maluckyday (who is no superstar) then I think you're probably wrong.

I don't see how anyone can conclude the Geelong Cup was weak. Bauer won the GC in 2008 and went on to lose the MC by a nose. This year he has run a fast-finishing 3rd after an unfortunate passage. Bauer's run alone suggests the GC form is decent.

Fox Hunt for me and it looks like MJ thinks race will suit him better than Jukebox Jury.

Europe's in-form stayer Jukebox Jury "ticks most of the Melbourne Cup" boxes, said Mark Johnston.

The trainer was driving to Doncaster races late on Saturday night when he heard the news that Americain, thrashed by Jukebox Jury in the Prix Kergorlay, won the Moonee Valley Cup.

He told the Herald Sunt hat a "better formline" could not be written for Jukebox Jury.

"The form has worked out extremely well and that's why he [Jukebox Jury] has been dropping in the betting," Johnston said.

"Everything we know about European horses going to the Melbourne Cup, I think Jukebox Jury ticks most of the boxes. "He's won exactly the right races - the Prix Kergorlay and the Irish St Leger."

Johnston said the "only negative" is that on European ratings, Jukebox Jury, backed from $101 to $21, is not "particularly well in" with 57kg.

"He's got a fair old weight in the Melbourne Cup, but so has Americain."

He noted that Jukebox Jury's running style does not sit with the typical Melbourne Cup horse.

"I know in Australia you have this idea that we should all have fixed tactics beforehand. Personally, that's not my style," he said.

"My horses go out and run at the pace that suits them. Jukebox Jury in Europe often tends to be towards the front, but he doesn't have to lead.

"He's not a stop-start horse. My view of the Melbourne Cup is that it's very much a stop-start race."

Neil Callan, who rode Jukebox Jury when he won the Prix Kergorlay, rides the 6-year-old in the Cup while Johnston is still looking for a jockey for stablemate Fox Hunt. Silvestre de Sousa was to ride Fox Hunt, but he's staying in England in a bid to win the jockey's title.

Johnston described Fox Hunt, a winner of the German St Leger as "tailor made" for the Melbourne Cup.

"Even in a European race, he likes to slow up and then he is a horse that comes with a great turn of foot," he said.

And it seems that whispers are about that Silvestre de Sousa is set to join Kieren Fallon on the plane to Melbourne this weekend!


Australia:-

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/rsnewsart.asp?NID=228134&story=Cassidy_Takes_Melbourne_Cup_Ride_For_Cummings

Ireland:-

http://www.theirishfield.ie/site/article.php?id=996&cid=1

Can anyone make head or tail of penetrometer readings for Flemington, and the weather forecast:
.
http://flemington.com.au/victoria-racing-club/racing-information-penetrometer.asp

.
http://flemington.com.au/victoria-racing-club/racing-information-weather.asp

Looks like there is a fair amount of rain around in the Melbourne region over next few days:
.
http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/WeatherMap#VIC/Central/MELBOURNE


Anyone know much about the track and whether it is fast draining?

2 against the field

MIDAS TOUCH
FOX HUNT

Thrown 2 more arrows and backed Modun and Lost in the Moment

Terrific track. Won't be enough rain to be any worse than dead

Dunlop hoping for more rain for Red Cadeaux
By nicholas godfrey in melbourne 9:13AM 28 OCT 2011

HEAVY rain hit Melbourne on Friday afternoon - and Ed Dunlop is hoping it continues until Tuesday as he prepares Irish St Leger third Red Cadeaux for the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Dunlop plans to give his 33-1 shot a proper gallop on Saturday assuming the Werribee track isn't too firm. "If not, we'll gallop him on Sunday," said the trainer.

"We rode him to run a place in Ireland but I think we might have been closer if we'd pushed a bit more," he added, speaking to AAP Racing.

Dunlop has opted for local knowledge by booking Michael Rodd to partner the five-year-old.

Rodd, who won the Cup on Efficient in 2007, is sounding increasingly confident about his chances.

"I have had a look at a couple of his tapes and his form and it looks quite solid," he said. "Ed Dunlop wouldn't be bringing him out here if wasn't happy with him.

"He is a really laid-back horse with a lovely nature and has travelled over here really nice. He has got form around Americain, Jukebox Jury and Dunaden, so he has to be in there with a great chance at the weights,"

In other Cup news, Ebor winner Moyenne Corniche inched closer to a starting place when Linton was ruled out of the 24-runner field.

Linton has suffered a series of setbacks and will likely contest a lesser race over the carnival.

In his absence, Moyenne Corniche moves up to the number 25 spot, just ahead of stablemate Saptapadi and Bauer.

David Hayes is also expected to withdraw Tactic, but the situation is clouded by the exemptions on offer to the winners of Saturday's Lexus Stakes and Mackinnon Stakes, which means that horses need to be in the top 22 in the order of entry to be 100 per cent certain of getting a run.

Red Cadeaux looks massive value. Beaten top two in the betting already

Bauer need alot to go wrong saturday to get a run. amazed people still backing it.
THe winner of the Lexus will get straight into race, if its not already in the race.

possible Wet weather is against it also. I wouldnt count on a wet track, Flemington very well drained.

Vet checks - Cup contenders given the all clear
Clinton Payne
Friday, 28 October 2011


There were no casualties after the vast majority of the top 35 horses in the Melbourne Cup order of entry were checked for soundness by Racing Victoria vets on Friday.

Racing Victoria took the unprecedented step of checking the Melbourne Cup contenders after the Bauer fiasco last year when given until race morning to prove his fitness which many described as no chance leading up to final acceptances on Saturday.

Racing Victoria released that all horses were vetted except for Lamasery, who "had moved training location and will be vetted” on Saturday.

It is also believed Linton and Sahara Sun were not vetted after their respective connections indicated they won’t be accepting with either horse on Saturday.

Thrown 2 more darts on Saptapadi and Showcause

Fox Hunt for me. Had a piece of it after it's unlucky Ebor 5th. He has tactical speed and will run the trip right out. He's also very well weighted. Dunaden appears the main danger.

moyenne corniche. not racing today.
So 1 less chance of a horse going wrong for Bauer.
andn 1 less horse to win teh Lexus to stop others below getting in.

I thought Moyenne Corniche had to run today and place to get in the MC - has he been pulled out due to a setback?

no, they are counting on 1 or 2 pulling out which is likely.
So it will get a run in the cup
Tactic highly unlikely to run

Does any one know were i can watch the barrier draw live online cheers

If you're in the UK then no idea, but it's on in 8 minutes and i'll post it here as I see it.

bauer not in.
tried to tell you backers hard task

AMERICAIN (15)                   
JUKEBOX JURY (6)               
SHAMROCKER (24)               
DUNADEN (13)                     
GLASS HARMONIUM (23)     
MANIGHAR (21)               
UNUSUAL SUSPECT  (7) 
DRUNKEN SAILOR  (8)     
PRECEDENCE (2)             
MOURAYAN (14)               
RED CADEAUX (16)           
FOX HUNT (19)                   
LUCAS CRANACH (11)     
HAWK ISLAND (18)             
LOST IN THE MOMENT  (3)
ILLO   (1)                       
MODUN   (5)                     
AT FIRST SIGHT (10)         
OLDER THAN TIME (20)           
TULLAMORE (12)               
THE VERMINATOR (4)                     
MOYENNE CORNICHE (17)   
SAPTAPADI (22)               
NIWOT  (9)

Bauer can still get in as 1st reserve. Having backed him at 140 and laid at 40, I have an all green book regardless

getting confused here, Is Saptapadi getting a run?

yes

there is no reserve.
just go to the site like i said before

All go for Dunaden, ideal draw in 13 and European Geelong Cup winners have a super record in this

He can still get in the race according to this statement - 'Bauer misses out by one unless stewards use discretionary powers'.

Discretionary powers means the vrc (Victorian racing) have the power to remove horses inside the final 24, but not promote. But they didn't use their power, once the field is drawn it's set in stone.

what a messy way to organise a race imo

In that case, they reported this situation incorrectly here in the UK on the main racing programme.

They used to have the power to elevate horses into the 24, but they took it away. They just kept the power to eliminate horses (before the final field is announced), i'm not actually sure when they would use it.

the rules are very clear.

AS i said a while ago.
It faced a very hard task getting in
if MIDAS TOUCH paid up, TACTIC paid up and BOOMING, BAUER woul have been 4 off getting a run! not 1.

Bauer was very lucky to get so close. MIDAS TOUCH was well in the market and now not running,

Was very surprised people were backing Bauer tbh. Was always up against it in terms of getting into the race. I think he was available at 50 & 40/s after his last run which suggests it was going to be tough for a ruun.

Koo .. any further reflections on Saptapadi ? Ellison still seems very bullish but his last run was poor allied with a shocking ride ..

Any Mourayan fans .. ?

was as bad a ride as youd ever see.  Was still disappointed he never had that sparkling kick, as what he shows us at home is that he would be a genuine 115 horse in this country.

The John Smiths run goes to say hes a 105+ horse especially as he hadnt galloped for 2 weeks at least pre race after meeting with a setback preparing for royal ascot.  Since then he hasnt had a decent ride coupled with a searching gallop.  Maybe thats what he needs, so lets hope he gets it.

If we run to ebor form at least it makes me bang in the mix with many of the other europeans raiders.

Just a shame for me personally that i thought he wouldnt make the cut or id have made plans to have gone.

french stranglehold....Dunaden and Americain...both have been impressive with their Aussie trials so far.

BTW...I suggest you ALL email ATR because last night all the Flemington races were on a 2 minute (sometimes bigger - 5 and 10 minutes) tape delay.

Local restrictions mean ATR only have Audio commentary of ALL the Flemington Spring Carnival races.

basically everythings live until the horses come out the stalls. then all you get is audio comm.

cheers Koo, good luck. Had a few quid on at 66/1.

Any news on if that Jockey will get to ride Dunaden, Elg ? Going for a big race treble isn;t he ..

not taken much notice tbh lol

How he could have been 100-1 and Moyenne far shorter is beyond me Koo, ive HAD to back him at the price

where's the best place to be drawn? assume low to get a good position

put it this way...Glass Harmonium will need a miracle to win now from 23.

very easy place lay (if your that way inclined)

No excuses for Jukebox Jury....6 perfect with his race style.

You have that wrong sint - Bauer was backed into 20 after his 3rd in the GC - I know because I was laying him having backed him at big 3 figure prices. Courtesy of Bauer I have an all green book.

Final arrow Moyenne Corniche

where would you brits rank fox hunt among european stayers?

Seems to me like he's got to be right up there, 1/2 length of opinion at goodwood at WFA, running from the back and closing him down.

6th in the ebor, but giving weight to horses everywhere and got a little unlucky in running you could argue.

Plus he never seem to run a bad race.

But still he's only a 30-40 shot over here, thoughts?

seems a fair price Tommy. Very progressive.

Jonny, I dont think I have tbh. You said he was backed into 20's after his last run, which i've not disupted, but what I am saying is immediatey after that run he was available at double those odds. In the procedding days is when he got backed into 20's.

the jockey has been told by the trainer to go to Aus for the ride aswell when he stands a chance of becoming champion jock over here!

Nah sint, he got crunched in to 20s immediately after. I remember because I considered laying him at the time.

and yea I know about fox hunt's jockey, but racing post says he doesn't actually want to come. He's only going to miss tuesday's rides though apparently, cos he's banned for monday.

Ok then my apolgies.

This race looks a nightmare to predict. So many formlines make plenty appeal at big odds. Probably best to just not bet at all.

btw, re Bauer, there is usually a discrepancy with what the books offer and what punters on BF are willing to take.

Yea I know, but I checked betfair because I was looking to lay. Or do you mean he was still long with bookmakers?

Anyway i'm settling on foxhunt as my pick, with just enough on him to place to cover my bet. I really think this horse is a class above them at the weights. He came from the back to get within a 1/2 length of opinion poll in the goodwood.

And in the ebor he got blocked like crazy and still finished 3L back carrying heaps of weight.

His german st leger win wasn't exactly against great horses, but he had to sit out the front in it and just wore them down, not his style.

And the biggest thing is his racing style suits the Melbourne cup, he's just going to sit and wait and unleash. And i reckon with his low weight he's got them. Carrying 5.5kg (12 pounds) less than americain, should have him covered.

Snipster

29 Oct 11 21:26
Joined:

17 Sep 02
| Topic/replies: 26 | Blogger: Snipster's blog

where's the best place to be drawn? assume low to get a good position

7 to 14 is where you want to be drawn:

Draw
Horses drawn 1-7: 2-13-70
Horses drawn 8-14: 7-10-70
Horses drawn 15 or higher: 1-7-88
Shocking did amazingly well to win from stall 21 in 2009 as there has been a large big draw bias towards being drawn in the centre.
The likely reasoning for this is that horses drawn on the inside will struggle to get a run if they do not break well while horses drawn wide may have to expend a lot of energy to get a good early position.
In the past 8 years 14 of the 16 horses to finish 1st or 2nd have been drawn between stalls 7 and 14.

spoke to someone at atr. looks like it will audio commentary of the Cup.

Considering the race, with all the interviews and razzmatazz after and the fact they will have to show it other live races, it might be close to 15 minutes before a full replay is shown.

:o

Thanx ELG FFS perhaps a well fed pigeon might have been a better option? As Jim Royle would say technology - my ar*e!

Lumberg nice info TY.
4-5 yrs
run last 17D
53Kg +
drawn 7-14

Above criteria =

Mourayan
Lucas Cranach
Dunaden
At first sight

Sadly I'm not on any of these?!

Never realised just how important the draw is tbh. Dunaden probably a fair ew bet at 15/2.

Sint -  Nail & Head spring to mind?

My double figure winners   :-

Jukebox Jury
Red Cadeaux
Drunken Sailor
Fox Hunt
Illo
Tullamore
Shamrocker
The verminator
Manighar
Modun

Sad but true.

I like The Verminator at 100/1 for Froggy !!

Craig Williams loses ride on 2nd fav Dunaden

Patrick Bartley
October 31, 2011 - 6:10PM

Leading jockey Craig Williams has had his application for a stay of proceedings turned down by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and will now have to forego the mount on Melbourne Cup second favourite Dunaden.

In a hearing that took nearly four hours, Racing Victoria stewards strenuously opposed the request for the stay, sighting that the jockey had already had an appeal dismissed last Friday and the incident in the Bendigo Cup was clear cut interference.

After the hearing Williams said that it was his legal right to go to VCAT but would not take the issue any further and thanked owners and trainers that had "stuck" with him with rides on Melbourne Cup day.
Connections were keen for Williams to retain the ride, but have now given the ride to French rider Christophe Lemaire. Lemaire, who rode in Tokyo on Sunday, only arrived in Melbourne earlier this afternoon.

Dunaden, who won the Geelong Cup with Williams in the saddle, is an $8 second favourite, behind fellow French horse and last year's winner Americain.

Williams was in contention to win all three feature races this spring after claiming the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed and the Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker.

Dunaden's trainer Mikel Delzangles has been clear that his preference was for Williams to continue his partnership with the horse after they combined to win the Geelong Cup.
VCAT adjourned the hearing until this afternoon as co-tribunal member Judge John Nixon was unavailable for personal reasons


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/top-jockey-williams-loses-melbourne-...

Lemaire is the one jock I'd want on my horse if a local wasn't available.

whats the going??

good to soft?

Lucas cranach and Dunaden 4 me, would be great to see Moyenne win but think he's got alot on  - sorry Dan

On the international classification, SO YOU THINK is rated top stayer in the world.

Going dead four to dead five which in European terms is good or good to soft

ok thanks.

Are they showing the MC live on ATR tomorrow morning? If not, anyone have a link to where you can watch it live online?

It's live on ATR

Thanks liam - looking forward to it, even though I would have loved to have seen Bauer in the race.

4.00 am. set the alarm for 3.45 am

Grab some food and off to bed shortly after

delzangles is a real dab hand at these big races abroad imo.

Pleasing :D

well done Liam.

Unlucky Solving with Red Cadeuax, ran a cracker.

Elg, Dezangles top-class up and coming young trainer in Europe

Backed Red Cadeuax on June 29th

Just watched the finish on You Tube and thought the jockey on Red Cadeuax was very weak - just used hands and heels in the last furlong, probably thought he was going to win to cosily

yep unlucky..when Red Cadeaux kicked 300 out I thought the race was all over.

Manighar ran the race of his life...when did he grow a pair of balls? Americain = warrior.

Lucas Cranuch loooool....swinging away turning in.

Lumberg
30 Oct 11 14:25
Joined:
06 Apr 06
| Topic/replies: 444 | Blogger: Lumberg's blog
Snipster

29 Oct 11 21:26
Joined:

17 Sep 02
| Topic/replies: 26 | Blogger: Snipster's blog

where's the best place to be drawn? assume low to get a good position

7 to 14 is where you want to be drawn:

Draw
Horses drawn 1-7: 2-13-70
Horses drawn 8-14: 7-10-70
Horses drawn 15 or higher: 1-7-88
Shocking did amazingly well to win from stall 21 in 2009 as there has been a large big draw bias towards being drawn in the centre.
The likely reasoning for this is that horses drawn on the inside will struggle to get a run if they do not break well while horses drawn wide may have to expend a lot of energy to get a good early position.
In the past 8 years 14 of the 16 horses to finish 1st or 2nd have been drawn between stalls 7 and 14.

thanks lumberg, middle draw again dominated

Couldn't have been any closer Sint. Well spotted by you methinks. Great run for the money wish I'd gone e/w but it's just not in my nature. Hoping for a good run from SYT & ATD now. Well done all Dunaden backers & Lumberg that 7-14 draw was bob on.

The guys a lucky prick, no doubt about it.

Beginners luck maybe?


"IT was just a matter of time until a Sheik won the Melbourne Cup again.

Dubai's royal brothers Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheik Hamdan are a huge part of Melbourne history, but it was Qatar's Sheik Fahad al-Thani who raced Dunaden.

Sheik Hamdan has won the Cup twice - At Talaq (1986) and Jeune (1994) - but Sheik Mohammed, through Godolphin and Darley, is winless from 13 attempts with 26 starters, including Lost In The Moment (sixth) and Modun (last) yesterday.

For Sheik Fahad, a 22-year-old member of the Qatari royal family, it was victory at his first attempt.

Sheik Fahad has only been racing horses for a year and Dunaden was one of the first horses he bought under the Pearl Racing banner, which now has 45 horses.

When trainer Mikel Delzangles aired concerns about the challenge to take Dunaden to Australia to chase the Cup and said the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was a more logical option, it was Sheik Fahad who stepped in.

"I put my foot down and told them no Gold Cup this year," the Sheik said.

"I said 'Melbourne Cup this year and Gold Cup next year'.

"He might nearly have won the Gold Cup, but that would have put more weight on him for this race because it's a handicap."

Delzangles conceded the ultimate push came from Sheik Fahad to chase the Cup.

"This is one of the biggest races in the world to win and we got into the game to try and compete at the top level," Sheik Fahad said.

"His (Dunaden's) profile is the best profile for this race and he showed that today."

Like the sheiks before him, Sheik Fahad can't wait to come back.

"I'd very much like to come back again," Sheik Fahad said.

"I'll be back with others and maybe with this horse.

"The atmosphere is amazing. I'm not sure there is any other place in the world quite like this."

Sheik Fahad admitted to being slightly overwhelmed by his amazing success in just a year of racehorse ownership.

"You don't get these chances in life, maybe once in a lifetime, but I hope this luck continues," he said. "I'm very lucky."

Sheik Fahad's fairytale run could continue as soon as Sunday when another of his stars, Strong Suit, takes on champion mare Goldikova in the $US2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on turf at Churchill Downs in the US."

I backed Bauer at huge odds in 2008 - he got beat a nose having looked certain to win, his pilot looking weak in the finish.
I backed Red Cadeuax at huge odds in 2011 - he got beat a nose having looked certain to win, his pilot looking weak in the finish.

Luckily backed both e/w, and backed Dunaden this year too, but that nose cost me about 4 or 5k more in profit. Given the race Bauer ran in the Geelong Cup, it shows he would have been right in the mix again thia year in the MC. Having backed him at nearly 300 initially, and for him to miss out by 1, and a horse to come out on the day of the race but Bauer not be allowed to take his place... very, very disappointing and I feel especially sorry for the Cumani yard.
I did lay Bauer at much shorter enabling me to create an all green book but overall it was another year of close but no cigar.
Well done Dunaden backers; my sympathies Red Cadeaux backers - are English trained horses destined to never win the great race?

A lucky prick, eh , Force.

Your one angry sausage.

To be fair to Rodd on the runner up he gave it an absolute dream run throughout. Ed Dunlop seems a terrific bloke.

Americain was outstanding, what a terrific stayer he is. Great news down here that he is to race on in Australia now.

Rodd gave the horse an absolute brilliant ride. He did actually cop a fine for over use of the whip, so naturally using hands and heels would of beena bit tired at the very end. You cant really say he was really weak in the finish. Naturally he isnt the strongest but it does look worse with his habit of looking sideways when fighting out a close finish.
Initially i was thinking the same thing as the others but if you look closely again there really wasnt anything else he could do, he was pushing out hands and heels at the end of a 3200m race.
His positioning of the horse and jockeying throughout the race was brilliant, and whilst he is not the strogest jockey in a finish sometimes the best way to get the most out of a horse is to remain balanced whilst riding hands and heels. Flapping around needlessly as some jockeys in some countries do whilst appearing strong actually does nothing to make the horse go faster.

Same here johnnyrant.  Backed Bauer and Red Cadeaux each way.  Got the trifecta yesterday but that nose cost me an absolute boatload.!

agree I thought the jock on Red Cadeaux gave it a peach of a ride and in fairness to him he said after the race he was surprised how well the horse quickened. If, perhaps, Dunlop booked a jock who knew the horse a bit better then he could have delayed that turn of foot ? But that is pure guess work and Ed Dunlop seemed pretty happy with the horses run, although it must take some swalling to lose in a photo.

*swallowing

I backed two drawn low and one drawn wide- fox hunt. I was disappointed given the slow early pace that De Souza (probably my favourite jockey) took a position so far back in the field, think he should have made much more use of the horse early.

Fox hunt had no chance because the slow pace, i was annoyed at it cos I was on him too. He doesn't have any turn of foot what so ever, you can see him get left behind when they quickened before the straight. Then like the stayer that he is, he started to claw them back in the straight. He's a really decent stayer imo, only thing I think De souza could've done is call on him earlier, he could've sustained his run for sometime after the line given his euro form.

Agree he's one paced but to me that means he should have been pushed up behind the leader before the first turn. I've never understood why jockeys and trainers want to go to the other side of the world, only to produce a half hearted attempt. If you and I know he can't win from the back off a slow pace why don't johnston and de souza?

toatally agree in regard to the ride on Fox Hunt. I am sure it was johnston' idea to hold the horse up, but i am annoyed more use wasnt made of it. I have seen fox Hunt in the past gallop his rivals into the ground and i reckon they should of tried to lead all the way on it. after the slow pace it was never a hope and to see it fly home when the event was over makes it harder to take. I think sometimes De Sousa could use more initiative in a race. i dont even know why he was on it, he never wanted to be there in the 1st place.

"A lucky prick, eh , Force.

Your one angry sausage."

I backed the horse, im hardly angry about it, just pointing out how lucky it is for a rookie 23 year old owner, albeit a sheik, to win the Melbourne Cup.

He admits it himself and appears to be very humble in the win.

I mean the English know how hard it is to win a Melbourne Cup right, LOL.

slightly OT, can anyone tell me the distance of the Queen Elizabeth G3 Bauer will be contesting on Saturday? I am hoping it is further than 12furlongs.
Fair arguments regarding the jockey on Red C. Watching the race again, and the way he smoothly hit the front, I still think he should not have got beat because even though Dunaden rallied, Red C was tenderly handled. Of course, you can say classic pocket talking as that pixel cost me a lot but I think he could have been stronger in the finish. The ride he gave him up until the last half furlong was excellent, I'd agree.

Johnson thought they would run fast early and then slow up in the middle before going again at the end, that's what he told his jockey's would happen cos it was an aussie race. But horses who were meant to lead didn't jump well so the pace wasn't there at the start, i assume it was a preconeived plan to sit back based on how johnson thought it would be run.

I think once there was no pace early on he should've made the decision and pushed the horse up throughout the race. From what I saw of his european runs he was only getting quicker at the line, so i'm sure he would've had the energy to get up to a good position before the final 3 furlongs, but oh well.

The QE Stakes is 2600 METRES (13f)

Thanks Joel. Hmmm.... not quite Bauer's ideal distance - better over further.