Melbourne Cup

AOB is winning everything at the moment so have to respect BB. However, Saeed Bin Suroor has had the runner-up and placed horses in the Melbourne Cup many times down the years and his yard has been on fire since getting over the virus. At 40/1, Secret Number will do for me, though he needs a few to drop out but worth the risk at the price.

Horrible race.  Bordering on the route of all evil.  If someone dropped a bomb on the track I'd truly believe there was a God.

The Northumberland Plate run in Melbourne-for a vast sum of money!

headmaster........im not for flat races beyond 12f.......i dont see the point but i make an exception for this race.........its a great track and there has been some legendary performances.........M diva winning her 3rd being the one for me

why u hate it?

Oct 8, 2016 -- 11:38PM, The Headmaster wrote:

Horrible race.

Aussies and their Hosses,

If they aren't Elephantine they run in a 2m handicap - Jesus the racing we could have if the tote was used more ...

BDJ, it's reduced our entire Juvenile Hurdling crop to Class 4 Flat Handicappers and French juveniles that really want 3 miles and a fence.  It's also started to disrupt European 12f+ G1s, and at the end of the day it's an overblown 2m Handicap.  If I ruled the world I'd slash the prize money by 90% and give the whingeing Aussies what they want - a ban on foreign trained runners.  In return I'd expect the Aussies to accept a ban on them turning up at Newmarket HIT and waltzing off with our horses.

Don't get me wrong I love the internationalisation of Flat racing but this pantomime creates far too much trouble for my liking.

Almandine 14/1

Can't help thinking that there is more than a bit of leg-pulling and joshing going on with some of the posters more than somewhat curmudgeonly with their comments.

Having been lucky enough to get to see the race live and seen first hand the Aussies enthusiasm for the race and the occasion I can't agree at all with the more than mean spirited comments made on here. Any of my Aussie mates reading this would use these to show just how po faced and up ourselves we Poms are, which is pity. I find the Aussies the best people one could find to enjoy life and a day at the races. Judge it as a race comparable to the Grand National. Does it matter that its a handicap? Certainly not.The race attracts the top European stayers for good reason. Its a wonderful day to be part of and its a wonderful race to watch - not that Melbourne racecourse is the best I've ever been too around the world.

With so many of Europes horses taking part it is a great race to play n and I for one will be involved and up at 4 am to watch it on the first Tuesday in November.

This year its followed by the BC rather than the reverse so what a great week of international racing to look forward to.

Agree with Sandown. Massive respect for \Aussie racing and the fact their authorities have balls.

Amazing race - won by some good horses - a race that does stop a nation....

Main bet for me is HEARTBREAK CITY 14/1 I was really impressed with his run last time.

Agree with OP with Bondi Beach 11/1 that's my cover.

Good luck.

Think ots a great race and agree with all the positive comments above.

Also agree with sint in relation to Secret Number. Im having an e/w stab at a working mans price.

Love this race always have a bet in it. I think Big Orange  can improve on last years 5th place and is the e/w bet in the race at 14/1 will lead or very close to it will be hard to peg back

Love this race always have a bet in it. I think Big Orange  can improve on last years 5th place and is the e/w bet in the race at 14/1 will lead or very close to it will be hard to peg back

Jameka and Big Orange for me.

Jameka looks top class imo and you got to like the way she won the Crown Oaks at the Carnival last year. Just grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck turning in and then grinded it out...broke them one by one. It was gruesome viewing i.e. it wasn't like watching Winx go through the gears...just an extremely dour win. that was over 1m5f so bodes well for the extra 3 furlongs.

Big Orange is a fkin beast...type of horse you would love to own. very willing and all heart...tried to win the race the hard way last year but got his head down and battled all the way to the line when they passed him. Looks quality this season and that 2nd to Varizabad out in Dubai is pretty classy given what Varizabad has achieved. Form reads well...even Quest For More who mastered Varizabad in the Cadaran got beat up by Big O at Goodwood. Solid form all round. Loves the track. Will give his all. Can't see any reason not to back him.

Has a huge weight to carry but he strikes me as a Delta Blues type who also won this race off a big weight. I think the grittier older and more battle hardened horses can lump it especially with the weights compressed as they are. 

Will just wait on the draw now...don't like wide draws in this race. Australia horses fire out of the stalls and get into racing positions quickly and then drop anchor so being drawn high here means you're either going to have expend a lot of energy obtaining a good position early or settle for being trapped wide / position down the field. Nice draw under 10 for both and I'll be happy.

Jameka 3, Big Orange 7....cant ask for more.

Frankie out in 24 on Wicklow Brave so maybe potentially a golden horn / arc type ride from him? Would be nice for someone to take the pressure off Big Orange for a bit.

Love this time of the year with all these big international races coming thick and fast. Two I've backed are Almoonqith (50-1 EW Sp0rtingbet / 33-1 EW Betfair 4 places) and Almandin (14-1 EW SBet 6 places). I really liked Almoonqith's run in the Caulfield Cup (backed him after that race), staying on well from not a great position, he seems to be coming to the boil nicely. Cliff horse for me over the last two years!

Almandin is unexposed and he looks like he has had a great prep for this race, Kerrin McEvoy riding is also intriguing... I thought he would have been on one of the Godolphin horses!

Plenty of horses with chances as always in this race, I'm not hugely confident with my two picks (both drawn wide) but hopefully they will pick up some EW money.

Not had a play in the race yet, but Bondi Beach must hold strong claims, would imagine Moore will ride.

Exospheric @ 20/1 and Secret Number@ 40/1 for me.

Looking at the draw... cant believe the odds for BIG ORANGE at 14/1, unbelievable price... he was 5th last year over length behind the winner... and was drawn berth 23. This time drawn 7.

I actually think race will be won by a European horse - I couldn't have the Australian horses this year at all.

I'm hoping its either BIG ORANGE, HEARBREAK CITY or BONDI Beach (in that order)

Big Orange 16/1 with B 3. 6. 5

Uncle, Secret Number for me to. Go dolphin are on an upward curve at the end of this season.

I backed Secret Number ante-post at 40/1 and have done so again with sly bet who are going 33/1 for 6 places.

He has a plum draw in 10. He did not get in the race last year I believe? but ran at Flemington afterwards where he was an unlucky 2nd over 13f so I don't see the trip being an issue. He's strongest at the finish in all his races reading the RP in-running comments. In 2014 he had some top form behind horses like Telescope so he's got the back class to win this. No idea who the jockey is but I guess it's someone who can make the weight easy? 8st 4lb.

Anyone know what the forecast is?

Melbourne area
Partly cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending westerly in the morning then becoming light in the evening.

Min 9
Max 18

i'm also keen on secret number at the price sint, have played at the 40's... i know his form reads he likes some cut but i just think his best piece of form was at ascot on fast going and he has clearly had his issues down the years so they probably didn't have a lot of choice so really i think just not extremes either way will be fine...

slightly worried about his temperament as he can get warm and the distance is still a question mark as he can be keen but not stopping me having a dig at the 40's as he has always looked a nice horse and looks well weighted to me, i don't expect to see him till late and am hopeful for a decent run...the trainer whose horses are in good form had a runner a few years ago just touched off with richard hills on board at a big price so he knows the type needed to run well and the horse is fresh after a light campaign...lets hope he has grown up enough now to relax and drop the bit...we have to be hopeful

i fear jameka so have backed him as well and no doubt i'll spread a few sheckles around on a few others

If Kerrin can get Almandin well positioned from 17, i think he will run well.

Small punts on Big Orange, Heartbreak City and a nicely priced Exospheric for me.

I'm on bondi beach

Secret Number e/w for me, Yes I got a good memory(don't be sarcastic), but that leger run is good enough off this weight, plenty of dangers , I think QE is capable of a place .

I've had a little on Grand Marshall EW.

Backed Heartbreak City each way. Bad draw but hopefully will be dropped out and finish well

Will the MC be on ATR live? Exospheric, Big Orange & the 3 Godolphin outsiders for me, all e/w - Qewy, Secret Number, Beautiful Romance. Good luck all.

Yep on ATR

Thanks Facts

What does Good ground in Oz translate to over here ? Firm (Hard to Concrete in places) ?

Oct 30, 2016 -- 8:19PM, sintonian wrote:

I backed Secret Number ante-post at 40/1 and have done so again with sly bet who are going 33/1 for 6 places.He has a plum draw in 10. He did not get in the race last year I believe? but ran at Flemington afterwards where he was an unlucky 2nd over 13f so I don't see the trip being an issue. He's strongest at the finish in all his races reading the RP in-running comments. In 2014 he had some top form behind horses like Telescope so he's got the back class to win this. No idea who the jockey is but I guess it's someone who can make the weight easy? 8st 4lb.

What sort of stakes would SkyBet allow on this? I set up a new account and was offered £10 each way, a lot less than what I wanted. Cheers.

Iris

Thought you'd got me ,until the last half furlong or so. Excellent race between the two , both given great rides, especially MvInvoy, who ride him out with hands and heels to win.

Oct 10, 2016 -- 4:41AM, Facts wrote:

Almandine 14/1

Well played. Try to back it ew with Sky Bet top 6 but they never offered a proper bet, so gutted. Enjoy your winnings!

I was on Heartbreak City as well so that really was it's kiss of death :(

Enjoy Facts, good tip!

Thanks Angela. It was very close !

* McEvoy ( you'd have thought I could get the jockeys name right !!)

McEvoy gave Almandin a great ride, superb tussle with the Magic Man all the way to the line. Heartbreaking for Heartbreak City backers. Pace of the race was much better this year and helped some of the horses drawn wide.

Great start to the day with Almandin winning, just a bit gutted Almoonqith got done on the line for 4th!! I had another EW bet on him this morning when SkyBet pushed him out to 28-1 6 places... can't complain too much.

Well done Facts and other winners.

Well done winners and Facts :)

Amazing how McEvoy is winning big races... and top 6 horses drawn middle to high - that's very unusual...

But shame European trained horse didn't win...

MrDines

Thanks. Well done to you too

Thanks Iris. I didn't mind too much that a European horse failed to win !

You still need to brush up on your names though Facts!!!

Cheers

Fat fingers or Specsavers !!

Well done Facts I backed Qewy e/w but made the rookie error of putting half my stake down on here, e/w first 3 only

well done winners, cracking race as always

Thanks johnny

Glad we can pull the curtain down on this joke for another year.  It's just the Ebor on steroids, which is rather appropriate I suppose

Head



If I don't like anything or anyone I find it better to ignore whatever it is. That way I'm happier and so are the people who do like whatever it is I don't like.

You don't have to play. Or watch. Or even contribute to a thread about the race. Yet you do. Why is that do you suppose?

My previously raised point Sandown is that I can't ignore it.  Nobody can.  It has caused a seismic shift in our novice and juvenile hurdling population.  It's made it impossible to buy anything half decent at the HIT sales, it disrupts middle distance Pattern races in Europe.  And all so a few Aussies can get leathered watching the Ebor being re run for 4 Mill or whatever the ridiculous value of this handicap is.

This is a thread about the Melbourne Cup.  It didn't say happyclappy posts only at the top so I'm contributing.  If you don't like it - as you say, old boy - ignore it

I - for one ( for obvious reasons) will ignore it

Outstanding tipstering, btw, Facts.  A 14/1 winner pays the same in a proper race or a mickey mouse one

Thanks Headmaster. It certainly does. The Epsom ' Dash ' is far more important to me than The Derby.