1:37pm ADST – Here’s a picture of Zydeco as she streaks away to win the Wakeful Stakes earlier today…
1:35pm ADST – Glen Boss has been confirmed as the rider of Kelinni in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. That’s a significant booking methinks…
GROUP 1 COOLMORE STUD STAKES (1200m)
Winner: 11. Nechita – W: $5.00, P: $2.20
Second: 10. Jolie Bay – P: $2.30
Third: 6. Shamexpress – P: $6.90
Fourth: 8. Knight Exemplar
Nechita proves her doubters – including me – wrong by winning in stirring fashion. She pulled away late to record a dominant victory, from Jolie Bay and Shamexpress. Of course, our each way selection Knight Exemplar runs fourth. That would have been nice!!! Snitzerland was fifth.
But it was nice to see the emotion from John Thompson as Nechita returned to scale. Group 1s are the pinnacle of our sport, and to see such emotion is something that highlights all that is good about racing.
1:04pm ADST – The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is the first of the Group 1s on the card, and it has emerged as a top class race in the last five or six years. With Australia’s speed-influenced industry, it is a stepping stone to tackling the older sprinters. Since it was moved from late August/early September to its current spot on the calendar, the winners have included Sepoy (2011), Star Witness (2010), Headway (2009), Northern Meteor (2008), Weekend Hussler (2007) and Gold Edition (2006). Pretty outstanding honour roll!
This year looks another great edition of the race. SNITZERLAND has the picket fence next to her name and although she had to fight hard at her last start, she was still too good. Has to go up another notch here but this has been her target all spring and I’m sure she’ll be spot on. For me, the value lies with KNIGHT EXEMPLAR, who is untapped and I think may be a very nice sprinter. He hasn’t raced since the Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick a month ago, but he more than matched Jolie Bay (who also races here) on that occasion and it took a track record to beat her last start. I will be having something on him each way. I’m a fan of NECHITA but I’m worried this may be an afterthought for her, they’ve had plenty of time to direct her here but I just don’t know whether it is ideal. And I think LANKAN RUPEE is also a chance. But Snitzerland for me, with Knight Exemplar a good each way chance.
12:58pm ADST – Here’s Kelinni winning the Lexus Stakes. As you can see, he’s not the greatest horse to look at, but for him to reach the Cup is quite something. He ran second in a 1400m race at Rosehill back on July 7 – my first race meeting back in Australia after my overseas trip!
12:55pm ADST – Terry O’Sullivan says Exceptionally will head to the Zipping Classic in two weeks after failing to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Personally, I’d prefer to see her in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with a cold ride. Would be the perfect race for her! Of the other runners, Gatewood will go for a spell but will stay in Australia under the care of Chris Waller.
12:50pm ADST – Now it’s time for the first of the Group 1s, the Coolmore Stud Stakes. We’ll have our preview shortly.
GROUP 2 WAKEFUL STAKES (2000m)
Winner: 4. Zydeco – W: $2.90, P: $1.50
Second: 6. Maraatib – P: $8.50
Third: 5. Transonic – P: $3.10
Fourth: 1. Dear Demi
Zydeco proves she has a bright future as a stayer with a strong win in the Wakeful Stakes. It never looked in much doubt and she won it with ease. Maraatib hit the line strongly for second, while Transonic fought on strongly. As a grandstand jockey, I have no idea what Jimmy Cassidy was doing on Dear Demi. She needs to get out with clear running, and she is still a chance in the Oaks. I’d still say it’s a two horse race – Zydeco and Dear Demi – on Thursday.
12:30pm ADST – The next race on the card is the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for the three year old fillies. It is the main lead up race to the Crown Oaks on Thursday, with 34 fillies winning both the Wakeful and the Oaks since 1932. Of the past 25 winners of the Crown Oaks, 18 have had their final lead up in the Wakeful Stakes. Recent winners here have included Atlantic Jewel (2011), Brazilian Pulse (2010), Faint Perfume (2009), Zarita (2007), Tuesday Joy (2006), Serenade Rose (2005) and Hollow Bullet (2004). Clearly, it is a race for a classy filly.
The class seems to lie with the top one, DEAR DEMI. She has been looking for this trip for a month and a half, so I think she’ll relish getting out to the 2000m. That said, though, ZYDECO looks a potential staying filly with a tremendous turn of foot, so I’ll have her on top today. I think these two will fight out the Oaks on Thursday. Of the rest, I’ll be keeping an eye on LA ZUMA, who is by Zabeel and should improve as she goes further and further, and also the Goulburn filly ZUCCOTTO. But it does look a race for the favourites.
12:27pm ADST – Kelinni has not been penalised for today’s win and will carry 51kg on Tuesday. He meets Glencadam Gold 1.5kg better for a three length defeat in The Metropolitan at Randwick in early October.
12:20pm ADST – The top 24 for the Melbourne Cup as it stands currently is as follows:
Dunaden
Kelinni
Americain
Red Cadeaux
Jakkalberry
Winchester
Ethiopia
Voila Ici
Lights Of Heaven
Cavalryman
Sanagas
Mount Athos
Maluckyday
Green Moon
Mourayan
Niwot
Zabeelionaire
Glencadam Gold
My Quest For Peace
Tac de Boistron
Fiorente
Galileo’s Choice
Precedence
Unusual Suspect
12:18pm ADST – Kelinni has been posted up between $21 and $34 for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but will probably shorten over the next few days. I couldn’t have him personally. I’ll put up the top 24 as it stands currently in a few moments.
12:15pm ADST – The track has been upgraded to a Good 3 following the running of the second race. It’s firm out there.
12:13pm ADST – Next up is the Wakeful Stakes for the fillies, the primary lead up to the Crown Oaks on Thursday.
GROUP 3 LEXUS STAKES (2500m)
Winner: 4. Kelinni – W: $8.60, P: $2.50
Second: 12. Dare To Dream – P: $2.50
Third: 8. Exceptionally – P: $2.60
Fourth: 5. Ibicenco
It’s Kelinni who will be back here on Tuesday in the Melbourne Cup after just winning the Lexus Stakes. There were a couple of hard luck stories in the race – Dare To Dream and Ibicenco especially. Both were outstanding and we might see one or both of them next week. Exceptionally was probably ridden too close for her liking but battled away solidly for third, it’s been the story of her preparation though. The favourite Gatewood was plain.
11:57am ADST – Here’s a photo from Steve Hart of the two horse war between Lunar Rise and Tatra in the first:
11:53am ADST – Ben Smith (@AnchorInHope) has asked us on Twitter, when does the Channel 7 contract expire for the Melbourne Cup Carnival? There are different reports about when it expires. It was extended in 2006 until the end of this year’s carnival, but I believe it has since been extended further. I’ll aim to get an official response for you throughout the day.
11:51am ADST – The Melbourne Cup picture as it stands at the moment: Unusual Suspect is number 23, with Moudre 24, Lost In The Moment 25 and Brigantin 26. If the Lexus winner pushes ahead to the Cup, Moudre would be just outside the final 24.
11:47am ADST – Okay, let’s look at Race 2, the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) – the old Hotham Handicap. It’s the last realistic chance for horses outside the final Melbourne Cup field to jump in ahead of tonight’s acceptances – although the Mackinnon Stakes also offers ballot exemption later today. Horses that have done the Lexus Stakes-Melbourne Cup double include Shocking (2009), Brew (2000), Think Big (1974), Foxzami (1949), Sirius (1944), Dark Felt (1943), White Nose (1931) and King Ingoda (1922). Other winners in recent times have included Niwot (2011), Maluckyday (2010) and Maybe Better (2006).
It’s hard to overlook the Geelong Cup winner GATEWOOD here, but I’m really hoping to see EXCEPTIONALLY win. She’s been in stunning form this prepartion without winning, and I think the Melbourne Cup would be a race she’d be really well suited in down in the weights. She’d also show that it is possible for the “bushies” to get a horse into the Melbourne Cup. So I’ll be cheering Exceptionally. Gatewood’s definitely the main danger, while I also give hopes to DARE TO DREAM and PEAL OF BELLS down from Sydney. EXCLUDED’s next best. Whoever wins here will definitely deserve their spot in the race.
11:34am ADST – It seems like this happens every year, but the complaints are already flooding in about Channel 7’s coverage. Most of the gripes revolve around the fact they don’t show the mounting yard whatsoever and their focus on the celebrity element of the races. My personal opinion? I think they have to cater for everyone, but perhaps they could use one of their digital channels show the mounting yard before each race – especially given TVN is not allowed to show footage from the ring.
11:30am ADST – The next race is the Lexus Stakes – all thirteen horses running here must win to get a run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. We will have a look at this race closer to jump time.
GROUP 3 CARBINE CLUB STAKES (1600m)
Winner: 5. Lunar Rise – W: $7.90, P: $2.30
Second: 1. Tatra – P: $2.30
Third: 3. Proverb – P: $2.10
Fourth: 8. Union Gap
A weird little race sees Bart Cummings win the first of 39 races over the Melbourne Cup Carnival. That’s surely a sign this will be a good week? Lunar Rise proves too strong late for Tatra late, with Proverb hitting the line nicely for third. Our tip Al Aneed was all over the place, not racing tractably and just looked green. He’ll be a better horse with more racing under his belt.
11:19am ADST – A picture taken from the Flemington mounting yard this morning:
11:17am ADST – They are heading out onto the track for the first on Derby Day. Cheering Al Aneed hard!
11:14am ADST – Please feel free to get in on the conversation by tweeting me at @AndrewNJHawkins. Would love to hear your thoughts about today’s card!
11:12am ADST – The first race on the card is the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) for the three year olds. This race has produced some nice types in recent years, including Galah (2011), Kidnapped (2009), Dr Doute’s (2008), Permaiscuous (2006), Testafiable (2005), Al Maher (2004), Sir Dex (2003), Delago Brom (2002), Over (1999) and Saintly (1995). This year’s race brings together a number of horses stepping up to the trip for the first time, in addition to a number of horses dropping back in journey. That makes for one intriguing lineup. I do think the market has it right though.
I was really taken by the win at Caulfield of AL ANEED. He flew late along the rail under a masterful ride from Glen Boss and he shapes as though 1600m at Flemington will really suit. I’m very keen on his chances. LUNAR RISE is down for Bart Cummings, and he drops back from the Spring Champion Stakes where he finished behind two very nice horses in Proisir and It’s A Dundeel. I’m not sure the drop back in distance suits, but at this stage he should be fine. TATRA also drops back in distance, but only from 1800m. He had absolutely no luck last start in the UCI Stakes, and back to 1600m fresh should suit. And UNION GAP has been the street corner tip, so must be included.
11:05am ADST – With 15 minutes until the first, here are my tips for the meeting. However, I will give a full analysis of each race 15 minutes prior to every race.
Race 1 – Al Aneed
Race 2 – Exceptionally
Race 3 – Zydeco
Race 4 – Snitzerland
Race 5 – Ocean Park
Race 6 – It’s A Dundeel
Race 7 – Soft Sand
Race 8 – Howmuchdoyouloveme
Race 9 – Fawkner
11:00am ADST – Of course, much of the interest lies in tonight’s confirmation of the final Melbourne Cup field. We should be able to make some sort of a prediction about the final field following the Lexus Stakes and the Mackinnon Stakes, but horses can still drop out throughout the day. We’ve already had last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed withdrawn with a suspensory injury this morning – early reports suggest she is likely to be retired.
10:54am ADST – The track is currently a Dead 4, with the prospect of an upgrade later in the day. The penetrometer is 4.75 across the course proper – down the straight, it is a reading of 4.78 on the inside, 4.84 on the outside (or down the grandstand rail). This suggests you may see horses drift to the inside of the track during the two straight races – the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and the Group 2 Yellowglen Sprint (1200m).
10:40am ADST – Welcome to Flemington for Derby Day, the biggest and best raceday on the Australian calendar. It’s Andrew Hawkins here, live from Melbourne on what is a beautiful spring day. Nine races are on the card today: four at Group 1 level, two at Group 2 level and three at Group 3 level. It promises to be an exceptional day of racing with some of the best horseflesh on display. It also promises to be an incredible day off the track, with more than 120 000 people expected to flock to Flemington. We here at Just Horse Racing will bring you all the latest news and views in regards to today’s racing, with the occasional look at what’s happening here off the track. We hope you will enjoy our coverage of Derby Day!
