Horse Racing
Season
Melbourne Cup - Form Comments
Melbourne Cup – Form Comments
G1 – 3200m – Turf
| 1 | Cross Counter | Last year’s winner. Then won Gold Cup in Dubai, also at 3200m. Race tempo against when 4 lengths 4th to Search For A Song in Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September. Settles back. Won on good and good to soft ground. |
| 2 | Mer De Glace | Japanese visitor who has won six races on end including three straight at Gr 3 level in Japan before excellent one length win in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Generally settles back and finishes strongly. Rain affected ground would be a query. |
| 3 | Master Of Reality | Ran 4 lengths 3rd to Southern France and Downdraft in St Leger Trial (2800m) on very soft ground before 4 lengths 5th to Search For A Song in Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September. Races on speed. Possibly best on soft ground. |
| 4 | Mirage Dancer | Ex-Sir Michael Stoute. First start in Australia for Busuttin-Young stable when sound 1.2 lengths 3rd to Mer De Glace in Caulfield (2400m) on 19 October. Not won on soft ground but has handled it. Likely to settle handy to midfield. First run beyond 2400m. |
| 5 | Southern France | Sound when 3.7 lengths 3rd to Search For A Song in Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September. That followed 2 lengths win from Downdraft in St Leger trial (2800m) on very soft ground. Settles back. Handles all conditions. |
| 6 | Hunting Horn | Last of 8 behind Magical in Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) before shipped to Australia and scored 1.25 lengths win from Mr Quickie in Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on 26 October. Likely to settle handy to lead. Capable all conditions. |
| 7 | Latrobe | Second in Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington this time last year. Close 2nd to Twilight Payment at 2800m before winning 2400m Ballyroan Stakes. Last start, 5.5 lengths 6th to Search For A Song in Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September. Races handy, OK all conditions. |
| 8 | Mustajeer | Trained by Ger Lyons to win the rich Ebor Handicap (2771m) at York in August. Finished well at Australian debut, for trainer Kris Lees, when 1.8 lengths 6th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Rise in distance suits. Handles wet. Likely to settle back in the field. |
| 9 | Rostropovich | Ran 4.5 lengths 5th to Cross Counter in last year’s Melbourne Cup and then 7 lengths 7th to Exultant in Hong Kong Vase – when trained by Aidan O’Brien. Now with the David Hayes. Had no luck when 7.1 lengths 16th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Handles wet and dry. Likely to settle handy to midfield. |
| 10 | Twilight Payment | Won twice at 2800m at Leopardstown and The Curragh in May-June before 6.3 lengths 7th to Search For A Song in Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September. Races handy, capable wet or dry. |
| 11 | Finche | Sound 3.5 lengths 4th to Cross Counter in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Tracked wide, ran well when 1.6 lengths 5th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Capable all conditions and likely to settle in prominent position. |
| 12 | Prince Of Arran | UK galloper who races best in Melbourne where he’s won twice and was 3 lengths 3rd to Cross Counter in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Last start, scored head win from True Self in Geelong Cup (2400m) on 23 October. Races close to lead. Best form on good tracks but handles some give. |
| 13 | Raymond Tusk | Usually races handy but ridden back from outside barrier and had limited room in straight when 2 lengths 4th to Mustajeer in Ebor Handicap (2771m) at York on 24 August. Conceded weight to first three there. Looks at best on good ground. |
| 14 | Downdraft | Ran 2 lengths 2nd to Southern France in Irish St Leger Trial (2800m) on 16 August before 1.5 lengths 3rd to Hunting Horn in Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on 26 October. Impressive 1.5 lengths winner of Lexus Hotham (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday. Can race forward or back, handles wet and dry. |
| 15 | Magic Wand | Set solid pace and held on well when 3.9 lengths 4th to Lys Gracieux in Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on 26 October. Winner up to 2400m, not raced beyond that distance. Races on speed. OK all conditions. |
| 16 | Neufbosc | Ran 2nd to Kew Gardens in Grand Prix De Paris before export but yet to strike form in Australia. Fair effort when 4.8 lengths 9th to Prince Of Arran in Geelong Cup (2400m) on 23 October. Settles back in his races. Prefer on good ground. |
| 17 | Sound | Winner up to 3200m in Europe. Struck interference when 4 lengths 10th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Strong finisher suited by rise in distance and capable all conditions. |
| 18 | Surprise Baby | Won Adelaide Cup, this distance, at only sixth start in May. Impressed with 1.5 lengths win from Supernova in Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington on 5 October. Strong finisher who’s won on good and heavy ground. |
| 19 | Constantinople | Ex-Aidan O’Brien. First run for David Hayes training team when had no luck and was eye-catching 1.4 lengths 4th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Wins on dry but ran well only start on softish ground. Settles off the pace. |
| 20 | Il Paradiso | Winner over this distance at The Curragh in May before 3rd to Stradivarius in Lonsdale Cup (3251m) and 5.3 lengths 5th to Logician in English St Leger (2905m) at Doncaster on 14 September. Races on speed. Looks to be best on soft ground. |
| 21 | Steel Prince | Ran 4.5 lengths 7th to Prince Of Arran in Geelong Cup (2400m) on 23 October after missing a lead-up run and likely to be improved. Likes Flemington and can race handy to speed at this distance. All wins on good ground. |
| 22 | The Chosen One | New Zealander who impressed with strong finishing win, by a half length, from Prince Of Arran in the Herbert Power Stakes. Then ran on OK when 3.9 lengths 9th to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Ran 7.75 lengths 5th in Lexus Hotham (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday. Capable wet or dry and can produce a strong finish. |
| 23 | Vow And Declare | Ran very well when 0.75 lengths 2nd to Mr Quickie in Gr 1 Queensland Derby last season. Excellent return to racing, this season, with closing 4th to Kings Will Dream in Turnbull Stakes (2000m) before 1 length 2nd to Mer De Glace in Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 19 October. Strong finisher who likes good ground but did win maiden on soft track. |
| 24 | Youngstar | Ran 5.75 lengths 6th to Cross Counter in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Improved effort last start when 2.5 lengths 3rd to Hush Writer over 2600m at Randwick on 19 October. Generally settles well off the speed. Three of her four wins have come on soft ground. |
Others
02/11/2019
