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...
 
No reason not to believe the trainer when he says it's improving, it's barely raced on the flat after all. It was also smashed into evens in a 16 runner handicap at Royal Ascot when it won. That wouldn't have happened with any other yard I can think of.
It's very much groundhog day for me with the way the market is going. The form of that Ascot win is hard to weigh up but this horse looks like it can go round again at the end of it's races. If Mullins thinks he finally has the horse to win this race then I'm not arguing. The blow out the other day had people purring too.
I can see Ryan Moore taking it up a fair way from home and burning the rest off.

Yeah and people were telling me Breakup wasn't completely cooked and was sharp enough to win at Caulfield after its scintillating Werribee trackwork too

All of what you are saying is possilbe - but the price is utterly heinous and you are not getting any value whatsover for all the chances that even half of what you say doesn't happen - it is an absolutely horrid bet.
 
Yeah and people were telling me Breakup wasn't completely cooked and was sharp enough to win at Caulfield after its scintillating Werribee trackwork too

All of what you are saying is possilbe - but the price is utterly heinous and you are not getting any value whatsover for all the chances that even half of what you say doesn't happen - it is an absolutely horrid bet.
Yep that price doesn't half look stingy based on the form book alone. No argument. But it isn't the race it was a few years ago, there's really not that many with realistic chances. If (when :)) it wins I'm guessing your take will be every now and then one comes in but you'll come out ahead opposing them in the long run?
 
Yep that price doesn't half look stingy based on the form book alone. No argument. But it isn't the race it was a few years ago, there's really not that many with realistic chances. If (when :)) it wins I'm guessing your take will be every now and then one comes in but you'll come out ahead opposing them in the long run?

Absolutely - even PoP won one but that doesn't mean I go looking for 100/1 shots every year
 

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Leaving the price aside what would be your spread on it's finishing position?

I think it runs well without winning similar to Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson - probably finishes 2nd-5th so I guess given the risk it completely busts up I set the spread line something like 3.8-3.9?
 
I think it runs well without winning similar to Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson - probably finishes 2nd-5th so I guess given the risk it completely busts up I set the spread line something like 3.8-3.9?
I'd go lower (not surprisingly) but not by much, I think you'd definitely get two way trade on your price.
 
My thoughts at the moment;

1. Vauban - very short on what he has done so far. The Ascot win was good, but he was up front, they jogged then he outsprinted them. I don't buy all the hype. Can he win? For sure, but there's no way he is a $3.50 fave.
2. Gold Trip - He's had a busy year, on tracks firmer than he likes. Perhaps last years field wasn't very strong. Rises 1kg - so assuming this field is similar quality to last year, is he a 2L better horse this year? Maybe. would like $10 for him personally.
3. Soulcombe - He will jump out dead last and have to run past 23 of them. His one start at 2800m he blew them away. Despite missing the start in the CC, his run was solid without being outstanding. Is he regressing slightly or was it a horse that is ready for further. I would have just liked to see him attack the line a little harder - perhaps being harsh considering he had to make up 6L in a fast run race. His earlier runs this prep have been fantastic. Well weighted. Can win, but will need luck and a great ride from magic man.
4. WAF - There is only 1 question lingering in my mind. Does the change of jockey + the fact that he is apparently settling allot better in his races now + the good track turnaround a 21L defeat from last year. I know he hates soft ground, but he was dead set going backwards last year. There have been so many great CC wins but the fact is the 3200m is a completely different race. I think he improves significantly, running top 4, but don't think he wins.

People are saying only the top 4 can win - I don't think that's the case at all.
 
My thoughts at the moment;

1. Vauban - very short on what he has done so far. The Ascot win was good, but he was up front, they jogged then he outsprinted them. I don't buy all the hype. Can he win? For sure, but there's no way he is a $3.50 fave.
2. Gold Trip - He's had a busy year, on tracks firmer than he likes. Perhaps last years field wasn't very strong. Rises 1kg - so assuming this field is similar quality to last year, is he a 2L better horse this year? Maybe. would like $10 for him personally.
3. Soulcombe - He will jump out dead last and have to run past 23 of them. His one start at 2800m he blew them away. Despite missing the start in the CC, his run was solid without being outstanding. Is he regressing slightly or was it a horse that is ready for further. I would have just liked to see him attack the line a little harder - perhaps being harsh considering he had to make up 6L in a fast run race. His earlier runs this prep have been fantastic. Well weighted. Can win, but will need luck and a great ride from magic man.
4. WAF - There is only 1 question lingering in my mind. Does the change of jockey + the fact that he is apparently settling allot better in his races now + the good track turnaround a 21L defeat from last year. I know he hates soft ground, but he was dead set going backwards last year. There have been so many great CC wins but the fact is the 3200m is a completely different race. I think he improves significantly, running top 4, but don't think he wins.

People are saying only the top 4 can win - I don't think that's the case at all.

Now do the rest of the field and you will realise why only the top 4 can win
 
Just been looking back at last year's renewal. I've been using the Racing Post to look at the subsequent form of the horses that finished behind Gold Trip (apologies if this is incomplete for some of the local horses?) but from what I can see the form of the race is pretty rancid. You have to go down as far as Knights Order in 9th before you find a horse that has finished in the first three in any race since that renewal.
Umm Without A Fight literally won a little race called the Caulfield Cup...

Young Werther & Interpretation have both won this spring and Duais was 4th in a Cox Plate.
 
Umm Without A Fight literally won a little race called the Caulfield Cup...

Young Werther & Interpretation have both won this spring and Duais was 4th in a Cox Plate.

HYM beaten a bees dick in the Hill Stakes too
 
Umm Without A Fight literally won a little race called the Caulfield Cup...

Young Werther & Interpretation have both won this spring and Duais was 4th in a Cox Plate.
Doesn't alter the fact that Knights Order in 9th has been the first one to post a top 3 finish since the race. It's a Cup...there are bound to be a few that do something afterwards!
 
Doesn't alter the fact that Knights Order in 9th has been the first one to post a top 3 finish since the race. It's a Cup...there are bound to be a few that do something afterwards!

In a cup run on a complete bog? There is tons of form out of the race? Not sure what the point is here but if it that's Gold Trip is actually a distance query based on the form of 1-8 out of last years Cup then it is an even more cooked opinion than suggesting Vauban is a bet at $4
 
Would expect track by cup time will be good 3 boarding on a firm 2 if weather prediction is right given normally watering. I suspect the track will be tinkered with and there will a heap of watering and the first race will be run on a track close to a slow 6 but rated good 4 with a statement it is close to a soft 5. Just pampering to the connections GT and Vauban. Sure the track needs to be watered from getting to hard but also nature should determine the conditions and if it suits horses that like a firm so be it, just like if natures produces a slow to heavy track suiting horse who like those conditions.

In what world is that happening
 

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In a cup run on a complete bog? There is tons of form out of the race? Not sure what the point is here but if it that's Gold Trip is actually a distance query based on the form of 1-8 out of last years Cup then it is an even more cooked opinion than suggesting Vauban is a bet at $4

Vauban at $4 might not be as cooked as u think - if the money keeps coming for him he may well start 5/2 so grabbing the 4’s now then laying off on Betfair is an option


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Vauban at $4 might not be as cooked as u think - if the money keeps coming for him he may well start 5/2 so grabbing the 4’s now then laying off on Betfair is an option


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Oh just outright laying the $4 and collecting the lot
 
Yeah and people were telling me Breakup wasn't completely cooked and was sharp enough to win at Caulfield after its scintillating Werribee trackwork too

All of what you are saying is possilbe - but the price is utterly heinous and you are not getting any value whatsover for all the chances that even half of what you say doesn't happen - it is an absolutely horrid bet.
Didn’t you say Gold Trip was cooked too?
 
Why don’t they skip Saturday and hope they make the field then?

Because it will no doubt be stronger and better and more suited next year (in reality it will most likely never be in as good a form as it is now and has most likely won its last rac)
 
Because it will no doubt be stronger and better and more suited next year (in reality it will most likely never be in as good a form as it is now and has most likely won its last rac)
Wait.. didn't you tip it Saturday? ;)
 
Lloyd has spoken and thinks Vauban is a good thing and WAF the danger. Given the odds are a bit short will play tris and first 4s with Vauban to win and 5 horses for second including WAF, Seperntine f 8 horses for thir and 10 horses for 4th
In what world is that happening

Extract from 2005 Melbourne Cup this the place in the world where it can happen.

Prior to the Melbourne Cup, whether Makybe Diva would start was in doubt, after her connections said she would not run if the track was "too firm". After the VRC decided to water the track, however, she was declared a starter.[10] On 1 November 2005, she made history in winning a record third Melbourne Cup. Settling towards the back of the field, she steadily made ground between runners around the home turn, before hitting the lead with around 300 m to go and holding a comfortable 1-1/4-length margin at the finish. Immediately after the race, trainer Lee Freedman said:

Go find the smallest child on this course, and there will be the only example of a person who will live long enough to see that again.
The win was not without controversy, however. Many, including rival trainers, suggested the track watering amounted to bad sportsmanship employed to give Makybe Diva the best chance to win the race.





In what world is that happening
 

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Racing Melbourne Cup 2023 ( no after the fact posts)

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