Racing 2024 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)

Melbourne Cup winner?

  • 3.CIRCLE OF FIRE

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 4.WARP SPEED

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 5.KOVALICA

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 6.SHARP N SMART

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 7.JUST FINE

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 11.KNIGHTS CHOICE

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 12.OKITA SOUSHI

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 14.ZARDOZI

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 17.FANCY MAN

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 19.MANZOICE

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 20.MOSTLY CLOUDY

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 21.POSITIVITY

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 22.SAINT GEORGE

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 23.THE MAP

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 24.TRUST IN YOU

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    20
  • This poll will close: .

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Last top 10 thoughts before Tuesday. Will post my actual bets later if anyone is interested but...


1. BUCKAROO - Just has to go on top for me after that Caulfield Cup run. Whether there are doubts on the trip or not the eye test from that race said back me in a MC. Brings through the super strong WFA form which historically is very good and just has panels on what these others are coming through. Draws the carpark but really not that concerned when they have an age to find a position and he can slot in anywhere in the run and be fine.

2. ABSURDE - Brings across much stronger form than the Euros who have already been out here and dominated and price has barely budged the whole way through. Travelled and ran well enough last year in a stronger race and meeting the stablemate a kilo better off a good advantage.

3. VAUBAN - Another Euro who brings out much better form than the ones we have already seen out here. Failing last year as favourite isn't ideal but basically the same horse and getting a bigger price this year in a weaker field. I do have concerns on a firm track but his best is better than most we have seen.

4. SEA KING - Fantastic win in the Bendigo Cup making a run from a long way out and just going clear up the straight. Little between him and Onesmoothoperator but have to give him the slight edge coming through the Ebor together where he held an SP profile advantage and have seen nothing in their runs out here to move the needle on either of them.

5. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR - Great win in the Geelong Cup showing a decent turn of speed off a slowly run race. Should suit these conditions but have yo have him just behind Sea King.

6. SAINT GEORGE - Entire prep looked absolutely cooked coming up to the bend in the MV Gold Cup but really got warmed up late for a nice Cup trial. One time favourite and on his European form last year would be likely winning so you at least know he has a level in him that could win if 3200m at Flemington wakes him up.

7. OKITA SOUSHI - Finally found form in this country and running well. Was going like complete dog shit into the race last year and still ran pretty well so should go much better this year. Will be really strong at the end of 2 miles as well.

8. WARP SPEED - Went like shit at Caulfield but to be fair that's exactly what most were expecting once the track was soft. Flemington and a firm track are what he needs and at his best could easily be running into F4s here and we are getting a price now to find out for exotics.

9. MOSTLY CLOUDY - Looking for the Sheraz style blow out chances now for rough F4s because I don't think there is much between what we have here in the staying ranks and the ones at triple figures are only marginally behind those much shorter. He is a real tough 2 miler who will run the trip right and SPd $4.80 against Point King a couple runs ago who was like 4th or 5th pick in the betting before coming out.

10. FANCY MAN - Another real bolter to include for F4s. Was 3WNC in the Naturalism and ran well, ran a decent 3rd in the Herbert Power just behind Okita Soushi and then 6th in the Caulfield Cup was probably better than everything outside the first 3 home.
 

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Zardozi for mine, did what you'd expect a horse that wants further to do if they're any chance in a Cup when running over a mile but it was a good sign she hasn't gone backwards. Gets a good gate too. She'll be there when they're producing their runs. Matt Hill said it best.

I did like The Map at big odds and that bet is already on but drawn out there in the cheap seats isn't ideal.
 
I liked Zardozi in the Caulfield Cup but the run was just really bad looking towards Flemington and going OK in a fillies and mares mile race doesn't really undo the CC run. She was $2.25 over the mile in the Chelmsford so she is expected to run well over that sort of trip regardless
 

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Last top 10 thoughts before Tuesday. Will post my actual bets later if anyone is interested but...


1. BUCKAROO - Just has to go on top for me after that Caulfield Cup run. Whether there are doubts on the trip or not the eye test from that race said back me in a MC. Brings through the super strong WFA form which historically is very good and just has panels on what these others are coming through. Draws the carpark but really not that concerned when they have an age to find a position and he can slot in anywhere in the run and be fine.

2. ABSURDE - Brings across much stronger form than the Euros who have already been out here and dominated and price has barely budged the whole way through. Travelled and ran well enough last year in a stronger race and meeting the stablemate a kilo better off a good advantage.

3. VAUBAN - Another Euro who brings out much better form than the ones we have already seen out here. Failing last year as favourite isn't ideal but basically the same horse and getting a bigger price this year in a weaker field. I do have concerns on a firm track but his best is better than most we have seen.

4. SEA KING - Fantastic win in the Bendigo Cup making a run from a long way out and just going clear up the straight. Little between him and Onesmoothoperator but have to give him the slight edge coming through the Ebor together where he held an SP profile advantage and have seen nothing in their runs out here to move the needle on either of them.

5. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR - Great win in the Geelong Cup showing a decent turn of speed off a slowly run race. Should suit these conditions but have yo have him just behind Sea King.

6. SAINT GEORGE - Entire prep looked absolutely cooked coming up to the bend in the MV Gold Cup but really got warmed up late for a nice Cup trial. One time favourite and on his European form last year would be likely winning so you at least know he has a level in him that could win if 3200m at Flemington wakes him up.

7. OKITA SOUSHI - Finally found form in this country and running well. Was going like complete dog shit into the race last year and still ran pretty well so should go much better this year. Will be really strong at the end of 2 miles as well.

8. WARP SPEED - Went like shit at Caulfield but to be fair that's exactly what most were expecting once the track was soft. Flemington and a firm track are what he needs and at his best could easily be running into F4s here and we are getting a price now to find out for exotics.

9. MOSTLY CLOUDY - Looking for the Sheraz style blow out chances now for rough F4s because I don't think there is much between what we have here in the staying ranks and the ones at triple figures are only marginally behind those much shorter. He is a real tough 2 miler who will run the trip right and SPd $4.80 against Point King a couple runs ago who was like 4th or 5th pick in the betting before coming out.

10. FANCY MAN - Another real bolter to include for F4s. Was 3WNC in the Naturalism and ran well, ran a decent 3rd in the Herbert Power just behind Okita Soushi and then 6th in the Caulfield Cup was probably better than everything outside the first 3 home.
I had Sea King 3/4 in my F4’s… I have just tentatively scratched it from everything at the moment. You have already mentioned it but I can see it smothered up down in the inside and not able to wind up from the 800m mark aka (time honoured) Bendigo Cup.

Also Doyle flying over from USA, probably on the plane right now. To fly in and ride on the fly (pardon the pun) doesn’t fill me with any confidence. Time zones and all that… just my thoughts at the moment
 
also if i was in charge of the MC, and to give all the other races the biggest f you of all time, id make the prize money 30m. if the everest or whatever go bigger, id go bigger again.
it has to be the biggest prize in the land.
 
I really liked Saint George early on but form hasn’t been ideal. Still want to back but not confident. Finished well at the Valley recently and will like the good track. Can be in the finish. It’s hard to not look at Buckaroo, Vauban, Absurde and Zardozi and not get the winner from that lot but I’m a roughy guy so will have to have a bit on Saint George and Mostly Cloudy.

Like Circle of Fire too but has drawn the car park. Trust ins Zahra?
 
I had Sea King 3/4 in my F4’s… I have just tentatively scratched it from everything at the moment. You have already mentioned it but I can see it smothered up down in the inside and not able to wind up from the 800m mark aka (time honoured) Bendigo Cup.

Also Doyle flying over from USA, probably on the plane right now. To fly in and ride on the fly (pardon the pun) doesn’t fill me with any confidence. Time zones and all that… just my thoughts at the moment
Yep definitely could see it getting buried. Personally just put very little stock into both barriers and jockeys in these sort of races. Not enough difference for me to bother factoring that much into it
 
I really liked Saint George early on but form hasn’t been ideal. Still want to back but not confident. Finished well at the Valley recently and will like the good track. Can be in the finish. It’s hard to not look at Buckaroo, Vauban, Absurde and Zardozi and not get the winner from that lot but I’m a roughy guy so will have to have a bit on Saint George and Mostly Cloudy.

Like Circle of Fire too but has drawn the car park. Trust ins Zahra?
Saint George definitely has a lot of hallmarks of "cat" written all over it that will do nothing, and it was utterly awful in its only run at Flemington. But if it did turn up and build on coming home okay in the Moonee Valley Cup, it could be a blowout chance, especially with nothing on the back. I may well just have a little something each way on it - unless I find a better roughie I fancy instead, alongside a more obvious pick or two.
 
last 3 cup winners have had that kind of explosive turn of the foot in the straight to win it, VE/Gold Trip/WAF. which are the best horses who have that this year? buckaroo surely has the most if can stay right
 
Vauban - they have changed his preparation I.e. not left him 90+ days between runs & it sounds like they might not ride him near the speed.

If he settles mid field, can he peel out and mow down half the field down the straight?
 
last 3 cup winners have had that kind of explosive turn of the foot in the straight to win it, VE/Gold Trip/WAF. which are the best horses who have that this year? buckaroo surely has the most if can stay right
This is why I'm struggling to see how people have Vauban as their main winning chance. I guess he can just get going early and grind them into the ground with a sustained moderate pace run from a long way out?
 
also if i was in charge of the MC, and to give all the other races the biggest f you of all time, id make the prize money 30m. if the everest or whatever go bigger, id go bigger again.
it has to be the biggest prize in the land.

Unfortunately at the end of the day it's a handicap.

While we may love a big handicap with a huge field, I don't think it's very enticing for the Europeans.
 

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Racing 2024 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)

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