1. Dunaden
Pros: Brings brilliant form into the race, having won the Caulfield Cup in impressive fashion. He has established himself over the distance and at the track with his win last year. He is such a strong horse and has improved from when he was victorious here last year. Jockey Craig Williams knows how to win a big race.
Cons: Only two things stand out. Has to carry the highest weight to victory (59kg) in 43 years after receiving an extra 1kg penalty for his most recent win and has to overcome barrier 16, although with his racing style, that mightn't prove an issue. Does get back and will have to pass a lot of horses in the second half of the race.
2.Americain
Pros: He is clearly in great form following his strong finishing effort in the Caulfield Cup, despite a poor ride and an in-form and motivated jockey gets on board in Damien Oliver. He has won over course and distance and was close up in this race last year. He has been heavily supported into clear favourite in past two weeks.
Cons: The last horse to win Melbourne Cups two years apart - apart from Makybe Diva who won three on a row - was Peter Pan in 1934. Americain comes back for this third tilt attempting to become the first eight-year-old to win the race since Catalogue in 1938. He carries 58kg, a weight which proved too much for him 12 months ago. His racing pattern means he can find traffic trouble.
3.Jakkalberry
Pros: Well-travelled galloper who has had the one run in Australia ahead of this race, beaten 6.4 lengths in the Caulfield Cup where he did not enjoy a lot of luck. Has won a lot of races (10) and is one of the most experienced horses in the race.
Cons: He is probably a level below the high profile European stayers and this is Marco Botti's first Cups runner. He has a European jockey on its back, albeit one with experience of riding in Australia, while he may lack the versatility to overcome a poor barrier (19)
4.Red Cadeaux
Pros: He went within a whisker of winning this race last year and as a result gets in well at the weights, up just two kilos, carrying 3.5 kg less than the horse who beat him that day, Dunaden. His form in UK has been excellent, winning a Group Two race at York, and failing to miss a place in six run in past 12 months. Good local jockey on board.
Cons: He may have missed his chance to win this race last year and history tells you, second chance horses don't generally win this race (Brew was the last one in 2000). He has to overcome a wide barrier and his tendency to get back and sweep home in his races can mean he finds trouble.
5. Winchester:
Pros: Former international who has put in several decent, if unspectacular, runs leading into this race. He always seems to be running on, indicating the 3200m will suit.
Cons: Has a tough barrier (22) and an inexperienced Cup jockey, Jamie Mott, on board. He hasn't won a race since August last year and hasn't come close to running a place in his four runs in Australia. He is backing up three days after his run in Mackinnon Stakes.
6. Voila Ici:
Pros: He comes from one of the best stables in Australia and has had several runs to acclimatise to this country. He was impressive running second in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield in September. He will go forward from middle barrier and make his own luck in front.
Cons: He was simply awful in the Caulfield Cup where he finished a clear last. He doesn't appear to like firm tracks and must overcome the poor record of eight year-olds in the race.
7. Cavalryman
Pros: Well-credentialed Godoplhin galloper who has had plenty of success in this distance range before, including a second in his most recent run. He likes to have his runs spaced, which suits the five-week spell coming into this, while he has one of the greatest jockeys (Frankie Dettori) in history on his back. Drawn well.
Cons: Imports of this profile rarely seem to perform well in the Cup. While there is no doubt he will run out the 3200m, he may lack the turn of foot to get himself into the race at the right time. His European form is second rate when compared to Dunaden, Americain and the like.
8. Mount Athos
Pros: A promising six-year-old gelding on the up after three wins in the UK, spaced well apart this year. Trainer Luca Cumani has gone very close to winning this race before while Ryan Moore is rated as one of the best jockeys in the world at the moment. He gets a good barrier and a winnable weight.
Cons: He comes into this race off an 11-week break and traditionally the raiders have needed a run in Australia before the big race to find their best. Not much doubt he is on the up, but does he measure up to this quality just yet?
9. Sanagas
Pros: He has the greatest trainer this race will ever know and was a pretty decent run coming from back in the field in the Caulfield Cup, beaten 4.7 lengths.
Cons: He has struggled to adapt to Australian conditions since his arrival and there is a major doubt whether he has the form or class to cause an upset here. Drawn inside but that may mean he finds traffic on way home.
10. Ethiopia
Pros: Most promising young stayer in the land, having won the ATC Derby in the autumn in impressive fashion at just his fourth start. He has not been knocked around going into this, with just a three start campaign which culminated in a super run in the Cox Plate, when fourth after sitting on the speed.
Cons: Still inexperienced and there are doubts over the depth of the field he beat to win the Derby. Trainer Pat Carey hesitated whether to send him to this race this year or wait until 2013. Has he made the right move? Tactical question whether he pushes forward or goes back from barrier 13.
11. Fiorente
Pros: He recorded an impressive win over quality UK stayers in July, before a little tune-up in France ahead of his trip to the Gai Waterhouse stable. The first lady of Australian racing has kept a close eye on his preparation and is confident enough to let him run, despite thoughts he maybe better suited with an Australian campaign under his belt.
Cons: He has had just one run in past four months and comes into this race without a lead-up Australian start. He has had just nine starts and that inexperience may cost him, seeing the largest field he has ever faced has been 14.
12. Galileo's Choice
Pros: Is trained by the man who broke Australia's greatest race wide open when he came from Ireland to snatch the Cup on Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002. Dermot Weld knows what type of horse is needed to win this race and this seven-year-old is a winner, having won his past three, including a hurdle in February. He has a good middle barrier, allowing for tactical diversity.
Cons: It's hard to assess the class of horse he has been beating back home, winning Group Three races with small fields. He has to handle the hustle and bustle of our greatest race with an imported jockey in the saddle on what could be a firm track.
13. Glencadam Gold
Pros: Import who progressed well when joining Gai Waterhourse's stables earlier this year winning four races, culminating in a Group One success in the Metropolitan (2400m). He was certainly on the up after that run of wins and looms a serious player in staying races for years to come.
Cons: Well beaten when favourite in the Caulfield Cup having not handled the pressure of the big Group One handicap. It's hard to believe he can turn that performance around against a better field over 800m more. He has an inexperienced jockey to boot.
14. Green Moon
Pros: He has been very consistent since landing in this country, including a courageous second in last year's Caulfield Cup and a recent win at Flemington in the Turnbull Stakes. Doesn't mind having to do it tough in his races and gets in well at just 53.5kgs. He has drawn perfectly.
Cons: He was well beaten when favourite in the Cox Plate. He did not seem at home at Moonee Valley and never looked like threatening. That is the major concern - whether he has lost his form and/or fitness.
15.Maluckyday
Pros: Unlucky not to win this race in 2010, the connections have had to be patient with him with just eight starts in the past 24 months. He should handle the two miles without a concern, gets drawn to get a nice run and has a two-time Cup winning jockey on his back.
Cons: Questions over whether he has the brilliance he did two years back. He was left flat footed in the Geelong Cup when unplaced and was unable to win a lower quality staying race at Flemington four weeks ago.
16.Mourayan
Pros: Tough campaigner who has been set for this race since being scratched on Cup day last year. Mightn't win that often, but is extremely honest in his races and did get the chocolates at his most recent race over 2000m at Randwick on October 6. He has drawn well and will likely go forward.
Cons: Does he have the class to win this race? Probably not. He has not run over two miles since running third in the much lesser quality Sandown Cup two years ago while his two wins in Australia have been over 2500m and 2000m.
17. My Quest for Peace
Pros: He took his best European form to Caulfield for the Cup and finished a creditable fifth after looming as the winner when he got through to hit the lead about 300m out. He will derive great benefit from that run and should improve here with a Cup winning hoop on his back from the inside barrier. Will set two or three back the fence and get a charmed run.
Cons: On face value he looks a very similar type to Manighar when he came here for two campaigns for Cumani. He was never far off the mark, but lacked the sprint and the class to claim a big race. With the run this one had at Caulfield, he should have won, yet was beaten 1.6 lengths by four horses who had much tougher runs.
18. Niwot
Pros: Lexus Stakes winner from 2011 who came on to finish as the first local bred home in last year's Cup when eighth. Relishes the two miles, having won the Sydney Cup in the autumn, and significantly, they haven't had to back him up quickly this year. That makes him the best of the absolute roughies.
Cons: He lacks the class of many of his rivals and tends to grind out in his races. He has an awkward barrier (15) and Dwayne Dunn will have to work out whether to send him forward and let him race back like he usually does.
19. Tac de Boistron
Pros: Well-performed former French galloper who gets in well at the weights and has the services of a world class jockey. Had the one run in Australia, which is always a positive for a European, when well beaten in Geelong Cup.
Cons: He didn't seem to like the hard track at Geelong and could see a similar firm track here. He has a very hard barrier (21) and Olivier Doleuze faces a tough ask trying to find a position. His European form is of a lower standard than his rivals.
20. Lights of Heaven
Pros: Talented mare who gave her all when third in the Caulfield Cup, a form line which has her well-placed for a race like this. She won the Brisbane Cup easily in June and has come back off a light campaign to be very competitive. She has the hottest jockey-trainer combination in the country.
Cons: She had her chance to win the Caulfield Cup after being given a great ride, yet was outpointed by Dunaden late. Could she overturn that result here given just 1kg relative difference in the weights? On face value no, especially with a tough barrier (17) which will mean she may be trapped deep.
21. Precedence
Pros: Grand campaigner who has been in this race twice before finishing eighth in 2010 and 11th last year. Bart Cummings will have him timed to run well here and his effort in the Moonee Valley Cup was solid for a horse set to run a much longer race.
Cons: This horse's best days are behind him and he comes into this race in reasonable form but nothing strong enough to suggest he can beat these. Wide barrier means he will have to work early to get himself in the right place to win
22. Unusual Suspect
Pros: Well-travelled horse who ran ninth in this race last year. He has had more starts than any other horse in race by some distance.
Cons: Out of form and gets barrier 23. Faces a huge task to find his best and be competitive here.
23. Zabeelionaire
Pros: SA Derby winner who is bred to run this race, being by Zabeel. His runs in the Caulfield Cup, when sixth, and the Mackinnon Stakes, when a closing fifth, gave every indication that he is spot on for this assignment. He has a winnable weight and an in-form trainer on his side.
Cons: This is the toughest assignment of his career and while he has been solid in his preparation, he has yet to show that he belongs in this elite class. This is all compounded by the fact he has come up with barrier 24, meaning Craig Newitt will need to be very good to get him a smother.
24. Kelinni
Pros: In-form stayer who earned his way into this race with a tough victory in Saturday's Lexus Stakes. That was his fourth win this campaign, while he was narrowly beaten in the Metropolitan Handicap at his previous start. He has a feather weight of 51kg, Glen Boss on his back and a favourable barrier. Drops 6kg from Saturday.
Cons: He has been up since July 7, which means he could reach this race on the way down after such a long campaign. He has to back up quickly and lacks a real turn of foot. He tends to over-race and that could prove costly in his first trip over the two miles.
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