Racing Melbourne Cup 2023 ( no after the fact posts)

Melbourne Cup winner??

  • 2.ALENQUER(9) - Damien Oliver

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 8.RIGHT YOU ARE(15) - John Allen

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 13.OKITA SOUSHI(20) - Dylan Gibbons (a)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 14.SHERAZ(22) - Beau Mertens

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 16.MAGICAL LAGOON(7) - Mark Du Plessis

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 19.VIRTUOUS CIRCLE(6) - Craig Newitt

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 22.INTERPRETATION(17) - Teo Nugent

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 23.KALAPOUR(14) - Zac Lloyd (a)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    99
  • Poll closed .

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Post Caulfield Cup rankings

1A. GOLD TRIP - Really good run in the Caulfield Cup beating everything bar the winner heading this way comfortably. Expect Flemington to suit him a lot better and presume he meets WAF slightly better at the weights now heading there. Has the class and is already proven running out a strong 2 miles in the Melbourne Cup. All going to be weather dependent as to whether he is the top seed or not. If the track has give in it then it really improves his chances and puts the slows on his main rivals.

1B. WITHOUT A FIGHT - Brilliant winner of the Caulfield Cup. Had a couple lengths on Gold Trip and 5 lengths + on everything else heading this way so very hard to see anything else bar GT being able to turn the tables at Flemington. Technically he is unproven at the trip but with 2800m form in England the expectation is that shouldn't be a problem out here. His wheels don't spin on a wet surface though so if we have a soft track then its almost rule a line territory. Firm track though and he is the one to beat.

3. SOULCOMBE - Complete barrier rogue. Walked out 8 lengths behind them in the Caulfield Cup and ran really well considering. Made up good ground in that race through the 800-600 and was on the back of WAF and GT but then got crowded for a bit of room in the straight before plugging home reasonably. I think 2 miles at Flemington will suit him perfectly and that was a decent Cup trial all things considered but he is just consistently shit at the barriers and is just getting worse so no reason to think he wont miss the kick poorly at Flemington again and have to pass the whole field.

4. VAUBAN - Valiant King didn't exactly frank the form at Caulfield but he finished around these sort of horses and Vauban did beat him pretty comfortably by a couple lengths so would expect him to be in this sort of area still.

5. BREAKUP - Average at best Caulfield Cup run and he just didnt seem fast enough or good enough to sustain speed over 2400m. I expect the bigger Flemington track and the 2 miles to both be better suited for him but not by enough to be able to make up the difference on those already rated ahead of him.

Doesn't seem any point in going beyond this for winning chances for me. It was a strong Caulfield Cup and that is THE form race for Flemington with the other lead ups looking pretty lackluster. For the sake of looking deeper ill just round out the list with the best roughies for the back end of exotics.

ASHRUN - Currently $120 was one of the better runs out of the Bart Cummings. Off the scene for pretty much 2 years his first up run this prep was really good sitting 3WNC and getting beat 3.75L over 1700m. Backed that up in the Bart Cummings running on really well from last clocking the best last 800, 600 and 400 whilst giving away 5kg to the first two.

DAQUIANSWEET JUNIOR - Currently $101. As previously stated in this thread he is basically on the same prep as last year where he ran a credible 6th in the Cup and gets in nice and light in the weights. His 3200m form in this country is good and generally runs above market expectations when getting out to a trip so can see him running past some more tired horses at the end.

SPANISH MISSION - Currently $65. As said above he had been pegged as an out and out 2 miler since he got here and he has had 6 runs since that Spring for 5 goes at 2000m or less and one go at 2400m on a wet track which he doesn't go on. He is older, locally trained and had injuries so obviously not near his best but he has a lot more class potential than anything else in the dregs and his last start Turnbull 8th has a lot of merit crossing the line with most of these types.

VIRTUOUS CIRCLE - Currently $55. Had no luck in the Bart Cummings when running into traffic everywhere. Think he finishes considerably closer with luck and meets most of that field better of fat the weights should they meet again at Flemington.

MORE FELONS - Currently $300. For the plays tall believers. Yet to be seen but on his European form he isn't really any worse off than a lot of others also making up the numbers and he is a considerably better price than most of them. He will stay the 2 miles no problems and gets in light at the weights. For comparison he took on Absurde in the Ebor in their last race start before coming here and he was 14/1 vs 7/1 in that race carrying basically a kilo more and now meets him 3.5kg better off for a 3 length defeat in that race so I think id rather spec MF at 15x the price.


Trouble with a lot of the roughies though is they are on the day F4 add ons and if they run well before the Cup the odds will likely be gone and if they run like shit you probably dont want to be with them...
 
It is going better than last year. Outside of WAF, what beats it?
Case for Vauban:

Showed decent form in France as a young horse before being snapped up by Ricci and sent to Mullins for a juvenile hurdling campaign. It duly won the championship race for it's age at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021. What did Willie say post race? "I'd love to win the 2023 Melbourne Cup with him". Tried mixing it with the very best hurdlers last season and ran well but his jumping was always a bit of an issue and so it was decided to instead concentrate on a flat campaign. They obviously knew it was ridiculously well handicapped off 101 and was sent of a crazy short price to win what's normally a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot by over 7 lengths. That ensured it would get into the Cup provided it placed in the first three in it's own other run in a G£ at Naas.
Vauban was reported to be "fat as a bull" that day but still won cosily over a trip short of its best. Job done for the Cup. Willie has always spoken about this horse being a very good flat horse in the making.
He doesn't tend to waste bullets in this race and believes this to be his best chance yet. It will be fully fit (unlike Naas), racing over the correct distance and perhaps most tellingly Mullins thinks it is improving.

Class wise plenty to find with the best locals on form but it's Willie Mullins isn't it? And for jumps fans like me let me tell you that dude is one sharp cookie. If he thinks it will win then I'm not arguing!
 
Race in 4 now for mine (no surprise top 4 in the market). Still have Vauban one of them, GT (solid today), WAF, and Soulcombe. Watching replays of the latter (who haven’t backed, but will) looks more like he’s got physical rather than mental issues from the gates, wouldn’t be surprised if it’s hock related and they’ve held off treating it (maybe now 10 days out?).
 

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Its a race in 1 even if the track is good. GT will Makybe Diva them. they wont get close. Its a terrible field. WAF probably lost its chance with hte penalty and will struggle with 3200m, Breakup might be a chance if they decide to make it a torrid staying test. but otherwise its over
 
Case for Vauban:

Showed decent form in France as a young horse before being snapped up by Ricci and sent to Mullins for a juvenile hurdling campaign. It duly won the championship race for it's age at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021. What did Willie say post race? "I'd love to win the 2023 Melbourne Cup with him". Tried mixing it with the very best hurdlers last season and ran well but his jumping was always a bit of an issue and so it was decided to instead concentrate on a flat campaign. They obviously knew it was ridiculously well handicapped off 101 and was sent of a crazy short price to win what's normally a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot by over 7 lengths. That ensured it would get into the Cup provided it placed in the first three in it's own other run in a G£ at Naas.
Vauban was reported to be "fat as a bull" that day but still won cosily over a trip short of its best. Job done for the Cup. Willie has always spoken about this horse being a very good flat horse in the making.
He doesn't tend to waste bullets in this race and believes this to be his best chance yet. It will be fully fit (unlike Naas), racing over the correct distance and perhaps most tellingly Mullins thinks it is improving.

Class wise plenty to find with the best locals on form but it's Willie Mullins isn't it? And for jumps fans like me let me tell you that dude is one sharp cookie. If he thinks it will win then I'm not arguing!

So as I’ve been saying for months. Doesn’t actually have good enough form and we are relying on wily trainers and sharp owners
 
No hope of soft 5 or worse if BOM is accurate and GT meets a better field. Way unders at 5/1.
Better field compared to what?

There are about 4 horses that could be a chance, and 2 or 3 that would be roughies that, if everything perfectly fell their way, might be a chance. Then there is going to be an absolute garbage field full of tripe following them round. Conditions suiting, the gap will be much larger than it was in the Caufield Cup between the front couple and the rest.
 
Damien Oliver booked to ride Alenquer in his final cup. Thought they would have pulled the pin with Alenquer especially cos he has 56kgs in the cup. None the less good luck Ollie 😂

Looking as though JMac won’t have a ride in the cup unless he can get the Gold Trip ride. He doesn’t ride under 54kg and that doesn’t leave him with many other horses.
 
Long range Accuweather forecast suggesting 3.5 mls of rain on Cup Day. No doubt that’ll change between now and then but it’s worth monitoring given the impact a wet track could have on WAF.
 
So as I’ve been saying for months. Doesn’t actually have good enough form and we are relying on wily trainers and sharp owners
It's the potential for improvement on known flat form that I'm banking on, and give that extra credence as Mullins is of that opinion. I don't think it's a million miles away at the weights based on that Ascot performance, but yeah agree it's more a bet for Mullins disciples than form students. Probably be scanned and sent home in any case :straining:

It's the only raider that I can see spoiling the party. Big chance for me. Whether it should be as short as it is time will tell but along with Gold Trip, WAF and Soulcombe will be my only ones covered in the race. Strange as I usually have a good few each way shots at decent prices on side but it looks pretty turgid in roughie land this year.
 

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Better field compared to what?

There are about 4 horses that could be a chance, and 2 or 3 that would be roughies that, if everything perfectly fell their way, might be a chance. Then there is going to be an absolute garbage field full of tripe following them round. Conditions suiting, the gap will be much larger than it was in the Caufield Cup between the front couple and the rest.

Your kidding Emissary finished second and High Emocean third. WAF and Deauville Legend had no hope on a rain effected track forget they ran. Pretty sure Zara does not like GT chances on a good track with 58.5 kgs I think he will get the drifts and start a lot longer than 5/1
 
Its a race in 1 even if the track is good. GT will Makybe Diva them. they wont get close. Its a terrible field. WAF probably lost its chance with hte penalty and will struggle with 3200m, Breakup might be a chance if they decide to make it a torrid staying test. but otherwise its over
Not that fussed about WAF's penalty. Zahra will ride it at the weight. It's Not like it is going to have extra lead in the bag.
 
Your kidding Emissary finished second and High Emocean third. WAF and Deauville Legend had no hope on a rain effected track forget they ran. Pretty sure Zara does not like GT chances on a good track with 58.5 kgs I think he will get the drifts and start a lot longer than 5/1
i wouldnt take too much creedence on what jockeys pick. Notorious hopeless judges. Gold Trip has been flying on the dry tracks, him being a wet tracker is a fallacy. Plus they always water the tracks to please the whining poms
 
i wouldnt take too much creedence on what jockeys pick. Notorious hopeless judges. Gold Trip has been flying on the dry tracks, him being a wet tracker is a fallacy. Plus they always water the tracks to please the whining poms

It might be a fallacy for him but a wet track completely takes the main and possibly only danger out of the equation.
 
Your kidding Emissary finished second and High Emocean third. WAF and Deauville Legend had no hope on a rain effected track forget they ran. Pretty sure Zara does not like GT chances on a good track with 58.5 kgs I think he will get the drifts and start a lot longer than 5/1
Okay - the question was asked originally (indicated by the ? mark funnily enough), as it was not clearly apparent your reference was back to last year's cup.

Still don't agree with your opinion, but at least it makes sense now.
 
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Without a fight
Gold trip
Soulcombe
Vauban - massive unders at current price

In that order. Would be completly shocked if anything else was to win.

Pretty confident three of the four above will run the trifecta.
Future history, Ashrun & Breakup for the first 4 exotics.
 
Without a fight
Gold trip
Soulcombe
Vauban - massive unders at current price

In that order. Would be completly shocked if anything else was to win.

Pretty confident three of the four above will run the trifecta.
Future history, Ashrun & Breakup for the first 4 exotics.
Williams jumped off Soulcombe, tells me either it can’t win or the French mare he is riding has found 10 lengths. Suspect it’s the former.
 
Williams jumped off Soulcombe, tells me either it can’t win or the French mare he is riding has found 10 lengths. Suspect it’s the former.

It would take a monumental turnaround for Soulcombe to win but can definitely run top 4 given the lack of depth in the field.
 
So has to race outside his normal pattern

Once again, watching him leave the gates I reckon he has had hock issues pushing off - if they’ve treated it and done remedial barrier work (plenty of time) might see him jump better than we’re used to - if he does up to it 100%
 

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Racing Melbourne Cup 2023 ( no after the fact posts)

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