Best Bets – Melbourne Cup Day

This lightly raced Canberra galloper TAKE THE RAP is very fast. He’s had 4 starts, won 3 of them and just goes bang when they open the gates. This is by far his hardest test to date but when you can run 58sec for 1000m under 60.5kg on a soft track, then you have talent. And he can do that. Great each way bet.

Horses for courses and LION’S ROAR just loves the Randwick Mile. He’ll have to get back from this bad gate but on his day he is very powerful late and this looks his day to me. GRINGOTTS is the obvious danger but he has drawn right off the track and will need some luck. Quinella them but if you can get the $20 for Lion’s Roar they are offering then have a go. I will.

Class wins on these big days and the one with the best history is DUBLIN DOWN. If the track is playing well on the inside, which it should be, I think he sits about 3rd until the clock tower then Zac Purton gives him a dig and he explodes away. He’s 3rd up and weighted to beat these. Damehood can burst home into 2nd for the quinella.

This is always a nice whet-your-appetite staying race for the Cup that follow. And I think we may see a Cup contender for next year in NEWFOUNDLAND. He’s lightly raced but quite gifted and can run time. With a lightweight here and a perfect draw he sits in about 3rd all the way and just outsprints these home. I like him a lot. Ahuriri can come from well back and quinella the race.

Best horse has won the past 5 Cups and will again today. He’s BUCKAROO. If Joao Moreira finds cover early and he is able to get him out into clear air as they turn for home, he simply should outsprint these to the line. Lots and lots of people doubt his ability to run 2 miles but to me he maps and profiles a lot like Verry Elleegant did the year she was too strong late. For exotic players, Englishman ONESMOOTHOPERATOR looks to be thriving since coming to Australia and his Geelong Cup win was arrogant. TRUST IN YOU is currently a $126 chance but I think he can be right in the finish of this boxing away while ZARDOZI and VAUBAN are tried and tested stars on their day and must be included. Good luck but I think Buckaroo wins this comfortably.