With the Spring Racing Carnival fast approaching, racing writer Justin Devine takes a look at the big three races of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and identifies the leading hopes as well as a roughie or two.
CAULFIELD CUP
The time-honoured Caulfield Cup will be run on Saturday 16th October over 2400m. Superstar mare VERRY ELLEEGANT won the race last year while international raiders MER DE GLACE (2019) and BEST SOLUTION (2018) have taken the prize offshore in recent years. Four-year-old gallopers have won four of the last six Caulfield Cups.
🥇INCENTIVISE $7 – Can a horse go from a Sunshine Coast maiden in April to a win in the Caulfield Cup in October? The answer is a resounding YES! Since winning his maiden on the Sunshine Coast INCENTIVISE is unbeaten. His most recent win was a 12 length thrashing of his rivals in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup. The 5yo has since relocated to master trainer Peter Moody’s stable in Melbourne and is thriving in the conditions. He is the sort of horse that dreams are made of!
🥈EXPLOSIVE JACK $26 – With three wins and a third in four derby runs EXPLOSIVE JACK is one of the most exciting staying prospects in the country. He tries his heart out and the Maher and Eustace team have an outstanding record at 2000m+. As a four-year-old, he is ready to fire and will be trained to the minute for his Caulfield Cup tilt.
💰DEGRAVES $41 – The Irish import raced greenly on Australian debut back in June and was still too good for his rivals over 1620m at Flemington. On resumption last Saturday, he was heavily backed and looked a tad disappointing when only finishing 4th. I think he will be better for the run and trust Team Williams have been working hard to iron out his quirks. As a 4yo import, he fits the Caulfield Cup profile nicely and is worth a sneaky bet at odds.
COX PLATE
First run in 1922 The W.S Cox Plate is Australasia’s premier weight-for-age race. The winners’ list is a who’s who of the turf with the incomparable WINX winning the race four times in a row.
🥇ZAAKI $4.50 – The English import enjoyed an outstanding winter carnival in Brisbane winning three times with the highlight being a 7+ length win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup at WFA. Seasoned racegoers described the Doomben Cup win as “Winx like”. It is hard to argue with that assessment. His trainer Annabel Neasham couldn’t be happier with how he is progressing and feels he is ready to improve. ZAAKI is the clear top pick.
🥈VERRY ELLEEGANT $9 – VERRY ELLEEGANT is the best racehorse in Australia. She is looking to emulate MIGHT AND POWER in winning the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in successive seasons. Her first-up run in the Group 1 Winx Stakes on Saturday was terrific over 1400m finishing 2nd. She will relish getting out over further and will be a winning chance as they turn into the Moonee Valley straight.
💰ELEPHANT $21 – The unbeaten NZ galloper impressed on Australian debut with a good win when first up and looks to have plenty of upside. Kiwi gallopers have enjoyed success in the race before and ELEPHANT might be a galloper who improves as the races get harder. Is he good enough to match it with the best? Not sure yet! He might be.
MELBOURNE CUP
The race that stops the nation continues to excite and capture the hearts of racing fans worldwide.
🥇REALM OF FLOWERS $15 – REALM OF FLOWERS zoomed home over 3200m in the Sydney Cup earlier this year after a luckless run, recording the best closing sectionals in the race. A 4+ length Andrew Ramsden Stakes Stakes win means that the mare is already in the field. That is a huge advantage in regards to preparation. She will be ready to peak come the first Tuesday in November.
🥈TWILIGHT PAYMENT $23 – TWILIGHT PAYMENT is chasing back to back Cup wins after leading all the way in last year’s race at big odds. Last year’s Cup was his only run in Australia and he has since won at Group 3 level in Ireland over 2800m. Returning international horses have a good record in the Cup. I can see no reason why TWILIGHT PAYMENT won’t be thereabouts again for the prolific Cups winning Team Williams.
💰 GRAND PROMENADE $61 – The 5yo gelding is another consistent stayer out of the Maher and Eustace yard. He has won three times at distances of 2400m+ in recent times and finished second behind REALM OF FLOWERS in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes. He will gain plenty of benefit from his first-up run last week. I expect him to get the 3200m and give a great sight. He is worth a ticket at odds.
BET ON THE MELBOURNE CUP HERE: