With imported horses have won four of the past five Geelong Cups, it was no wonder that when betting markets opened on Monday, that punters were keen to take the $3.60 on offer about Forgotten Voice. The 9yo UK galloper has won his past two starts including the Glorious Stakes – a race which has been a good form reference with Gatewood, last year’s Geelong Cup winner, being placed in the Glorious Stakes of 2012. Ibicenco and Verdant ($6.00) are the next best in the market with Tanby ($7.00) and Crafty Cruiser ($8.00) the other runners under double figures.

Geelong Cup 2013 Field

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Geelong Cup Form Guide

1. TANBY – S Arnold (3)

From the very much in-form Hickmott stables (Seville – G1 Metrop, Fawkner – G1 Caulfield Cup, Sea Moon – G2 Herbert Power) this 7yo by Galileo lines up for his fifth start this preparation. In his previous four starts he hasn’t been able to get close to the winner with his latest effort being an eight length last of nine in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m). Does not appear to be going nearly as well as he was this time last year when he won the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m) and G2 Zipping Classic (2400m).

2. FORGOTTEN VOICE – B Prebble (6)

After two years on the sideline, the Nicky Henderson trained galloper returned to racing in July last year and in seven starts since; he has won five, including his most recent two starts. He came from midfield in a field of fifteen to win the Listed Wolverton Handicap (2000m) by a half a length before, six weeks later in early August, he come from last in the field of six to win the G3 Glorious Stakes (2414m) by again, half a length. Last year’s winner of the Geelong Cup, Gatewood, ran third in the 2012 edition of the Glorious Stakes behind Dandino and My Quest For Peace. The form is certainly there – as is the early money.

3. IBICENCO – B Rawiller (8)

After a poor effort in the Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) back in July, the Peter Moody trained runner was given an eight week freshen up. Aided by an outstanding Rawiller ride, he claimed the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield as a 50/1 chance, defeating Mr. O’Ceirin and Pakal when resuming. His second up run saw him get too far back in the G3 Naturalism Stakes, a slowly run race, and he was only starting to warm up when the winner, Mr. O’Ceirin, crossed the line. His next and most recent start was in the G1 Metropolitan Hcp (2400m). He finished twelfth (beaten 4.9 lengths) behind Seville but not much went right for him that run with a horse breaking down inside of him mid-race and, in a race dominated by the leading pair, having to come from the tail of the field. Can figure here on his best form.

4. MOUDRE – C. Williams (1)

Resumed from a spell with a big run – at 100/1 – and placed third behind Foreteller and Puissance De Lune in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) however, in three subsequent runs, the 8yo has struggled to match that first up effort. His latest run was a second to last placing in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m) at Caulfield a week and a half ago. He settled back in the field and whilst the race was dominated by those up on the speed, would think he still needs to find plenty of improvement to figure here.

5. BRIGANTIN – (5)

A former French galloper who had his first Australian start in this race last year and finished third (beaten 0.9 lengths) behind Gatewood. After that run he was transferred to the stables of Mornington trainer Pat Carey who gave the 7yo a lengthy spell. He has had three starts since returning to racing in September and it’s hard to see him reproducing last year’s effort off the back of his recent runs. Last start saw him finish second to last in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m) and over 17 lengths from the winner.

6. POLISH KNIGHT – D Dunn (8)

As a three year old this son of Encosta De Lago showed plenty of promise. He won the G2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) before running second (beaten a head) to Ethiopia in the ATC Derby (2400m) in April 2012. However in the eighteen months and nine starts since then, he has failed to run a place with the pick of his runs coming two starts ago when fourth in the G3 Colin Stephen (2400m) behind Julienas. His next start though was a disappointing eighth of thirteen in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m). He settled at the tail of the field from his wide gate and finished seven lengths from the winner last start. He’s drawn wide again, will get back in the run and it’s too hard to see him running these horses down.

7. CRAFTY CRUISER – M Walker (2)

Nothing if not honest is this 6yo Good Journey gelding who, two starts back, won the Listed Mornington Cup (2415m) before running a good fourth in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington two and a half weeks ago. He got back further than his normal racing pattern last start but made good ground in the straight to finish three lengths behind Araldo, Sea Moon and Gotta Take Care. Sea Moon subsequently won the G2 Herbert Power. He’ll go forward today and take up a prominent position and, whilst this is a step up in Grade on paper, it’s a race of limited depth. He’ll give his all as always and is capable of sticking on for a place.

8. VERDANT – C Williams (10)

This 7yo stayer from Robert Smerdon’s yard returned from a brief let-up with a promising third behind The Great Snowman over 1600m at Moonee Valley. Backing that up with a luckless fourth in a BM 90 (2000m) at Caulfield, it looked as though the son of Singspiel might be ready to produce his best. He next lined up in the G2 Herbert Power and whilst he had his chance in the run, found the class too much over the final stages and ran sixth (beaten 4 ¾ lengths) behind Sea Moon. Drawn the widest gate and this race does not appear to be much easier than his last start.

9. GOLDINI – C Schofield (7)

This former UK galloper has had seven starts in Australia since joining the David Hayes stables at the start of this year. Three of those runs have come in the past two months after he resumed from an eighteen week spell with the most recent being a seventh (beaten 7.1 lengths) in the G2 Herbert Power (2400m). That was a step up in class for him on his previous Australian starts and couldn’t see anything in that run that would suggest he’d be involved in the finish here.

10. WARWARICK – K McEvoy (4)

Stable-mate to Goldini, this High Chaparral mare’s record would indicate that she’ll struggle in this race. She’s been racing predominately in Benchmark and Restricted races around the Victorian provincial circuit with mixed results. She resumed from a twelve week spell in a Cranbourne Open (2080m) class race and finished midfield and cannot seeing her winning this race, second up, off of that effort.

OVERVIEW

It’s far from a vintage Geelong Cup and with no apparent leader entered in the race, it could be, as it was last year, ran at a very leisurely speed. It’s hard to go past Forgotten Voice whose most recent performances would suggest he has enough class on these rivals to overcome any lack of speed in the race. Think Ibicenco, who has been ridden well back in his past two starts, will be ridden a little more aggressively in this race. His first up effort was good and had genuine excuses at his next two. A dry track and being ridden closer to the lead could see him produce a better performance. Consistent Crafty Cruiser goes in because of that trait. You know what you’ll get from him as compared to some of the other that are struggling to find form.

1. FORGOTTEN VOICE
2. IBICENCO
3. CRAFTY CRUISER

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In the news:

The Geelong Cup has been a guide to the chances of the European raiders in the Melbourne Cup in recent years but only one has taken up the challenge on Wednesday.

Forgotten Voice, who missed a start in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup as the first emergency, is the dominant favourite for the Group Three 2400m race.

Melbourne Cup winners Dunaden (2011) Americain (2010) and Media Puzzle (2002) have all ticked off the Geelong Cup before going on to bigger riches.

Forgotten Voice, to be ridden by Brett Prebble, is looking for a weight penalty from a Geelong Cup win to lift him in the order of entry for the final 24 in the Melbourne Cup.

Although the Nicky Henderson-trained Forgotten Voice is the only official overseas entry, Verdant, Goldoni, Brigantin and Ibicenco all did their early racing in Europe before being brought to Australia.

Ibicenco’s trainer Peter Moody knows his charge can cope with the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup following his win in last year’s Sandown Cup over the distance and is a little concerned the Geelong Cup might be too short.

He is also surprised there are not more internationals targeting Geelong.

“He probably needs the two miles but he will be amongst it as he’s been in good form,” Moody said.

“I’m surprised there is only one international this year. The last few years have been good racing for them.”

Upholding the local breed will be Tanby, a half-brother to Saturday’s Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner.

Like Fawkner, he is raced by Lloyd Williams in partnership with his wife Sue and son Nick who said he believes the seven-year-old is approaching the form that brought him victory in the Zipping Classic last year and a Group One third in the Australian Cup in the autumn.

“He’s going well,” Williams said.

“He needs a lot of work to get to his best and we think this run you should see the form he was in in the autumn and late last spring.

“We think he’ll run a very, very forward race.

“A bit of brotherly love would be fantastic and I think he’s a terrific chance tomorrow.”