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MELBOURNE CUP 2000
Flemington, November 7th

Monday 6th November
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The Field

In a weekend when we've seen British runners attempting to strike gold in far shores, it is probably appropriate that we end this period in Melbourne for the Foster's Melbourne Cup

I've got quite a good recent record in the race and it is interesting trying to work out the different strategies employed, the slow careful preparation on the British challenge, against the Aussie approach, with some entrants having had their prep race over the weekend!!!.

The British challenge is a strong one, and in a race where we've been knocking on the door in recent years, Artic Owl, Far Cry, and Enzeli representing Ireland all have been running well of late and should again be competitive. 

The likely favourite is Freemason, winner of the Queensland Derby who put in a first-class trial for the big race in the Mackinnon Stakes on 4th November finishing an eye catching third. He has had what seems to be an ideal preparation and can be expected to go close

Far Cry is likely to be amongst the favourites and this consistent sort who successfully made the transition from handicapper to Group class this summer should go well if he able to travel through out. The same applies to Enzeli and Artic Owl 

Others to appeal to me are Diatribe, the recent winner of the Caulfield Cup, (where he beat Freemason, Kaapstad Way, and Majestic avenue, amongst others) Kaapstad Way, who was only a length behind Diatribe, and obviously is being primed for this race; Majestive Avenue winner of the Herbert Power Handicap (Group 2) at Caulfield, and Yippyio, who ran in this event in 1998, and is weighted to finished upsides Majestic Avenue on Herbert Power form. He appears to be another horse who is being primed for this event 

Because of the complexities of the race, (Fast opening 6f, then usually the pace is steadied, before the sprint home) what ideally you want is a horse able to travel throughout who isn't an out an out stayer. In the back of my mind I wonder how much this will suit Far Cry, and Enzeli, The fitment of a visor indicates that this is a concern to the Far Cry camp. I expect therefore Far Cry to try and make a long run for home. He may be dangerous if he's able to do this. If I do a British challenger it would be Artic Owl, whose recently wins at 1m4f prove that this wont be a problem, and he looks an ideal type for the race.

Will he win? Although I expect a gallant effort I expect it to end in glorious defeat. Diatribe, Freemason, Kaapstad Way, and an outsider Yippyio will be where I'll be looking for the winner.... Freemason gets the vote

Selections

No*1 Choice - Freemason
(e/w) Alternative(s) _ Kaapstaad Way, (if you wanted to do a British runner, then I'd suggest Artic Owl)
Long SHOT: Yippyio
Best of the British: Artic Owl

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MELBOURNE CUP 1999
Flemington, November 2nd

1 November 1999
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11/4 TIE THE KNOT           40 REBBOR 
4 SKY HEIGHTS                50 LADY ELISE 
13/2 LAEBEEL                     66 MISS DANEHILL 
9 TRAVELMATE                66 NAZZARO 
10 YAVANA'S PACE           66 SKYBEAU 
12 ARENA                            66 ZAZABELLE 
14 THE HIND                      66 SECOND COMING 
18 STREAK                          66 THE MESSAGE 
20 INTERGAZE                    100 LAHAR 
20 ROGAN JOSH                  100 BREW 
20 CENTRAL PARK            100 CHEVIOT 
22 AMERIQUE                     100 ILZE 
33 BOHEMIATH                  100 MULQUEEN 
33 FIGUREHEAD                 100 STRIDING EDGE 
40 ABLE MASTER               100 THE WARRIOR 
40 MARIDPOUR                  100 ZABUAN 
40 SEASQUILL
Each Way 1/4 Odds 1,2,3,4 All Quoted

Having selected the winner of this race for the last two seasons I have paid close attention to it, I really would like to win it again, if the Gods look kindly on me. Straight away I don’t want to be a killjoy but I don’t believe Kayf Tara would have won anyway. Whilst its disappointing that he couldn’t run, the likely hard ground would have been against him 

Can a British horse win this year... hate to say so but its very unlikely this year. I do think that Yavana's Pace, Travelmate, and Central Park lack recent runs. Many of the home challengers have been running over the last couple of weeks which seems to work for them. Laebeel, Sky Heights, and Tie the Knot have run a couple of runs over the last two week. I think that might catch out our horses. I can see them running honorable races in defeat, and may be eachway value Of the home challenge I like claims of Laebeel, Tie the Knot, Sky Heights, Arena, and Rogan Josh. At the moment this is what I’d suggest; 

British Challenge, Central Park is fairly waited for a Group One horse, and you really need a mile and a half horse to win this, and I suspect he’ll do best of ours if he gets the trip. Yavana's Pace’s worries me and I’d to see him start before backing him. obviously this is not possible.

I do like Laebeel, who seems to have been laid out for this and ran well in the Caulfield Cup, a couple of weeks ago, probably should have beaten Sky Height so I think he’ll go close. I also like the claims of Arena, and Rogan Josh, the former is a Derby winner who looked the likely winner turning for home last year, but weaken close home, and Rogan Josh, who is creeping into form just at the right time.

Bets.... ICG
Small win bet on Labeel and eachway bets on Arena and Rogon Josh

You ?
Any combination bets on these or Sky Height, Tie the Knot, and if you prefer the British horses, Central Park will give you a good run for your money....Please though take a price though,.. I told 16/1 the evening before on Zaebeel, then found out he was backed off the boards and was the 3/1 favourite !!!

This page was updated - Monday December 24, 2001 05:08:46 AM