Only Good Horses Win This Race
“You had a tear in your eye,” remarked a racing scribe to Bart Cummings, after the Cummings trained Saintly had just won the Melbourne Cup.
“Yeah, I didn’t have enough on it,” replied Bart.
There is plenty to play for in Saturday’s Melbourne Cup, which looks to be one of the most hotly contested renewals in many a year. This marathon race is loaded with class though, and its difficult to find a outright favorite. Looking closer, one can find an argument for a few of the runners, Guaranteed Havoc – a 10yo mare likely having her final race – has outstanding recent form and as a dual Classic Cup winner may well give her connections a “farewell gift”. Not A Chance comes off a good 2nd in the Track King Open and if horseprincess can get this mare fit, she will be right there at the business end. Cronus is a rather classy looking Natural Champion who will be fresh and ready for this race – this 8yo stallion gets my vote to win it after an impressive run over 3200m in the HakunaMatata Scottish cup.
It should be a great race and if the pace is on from the start, it will be a true test of staying ability.
RECAP: ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 5
06/25/2016
| Pos | Gate | Horse | Stable | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Guaranteed Havoc | Desert Wind Stables | Kizzie Jerman | 3:07.439 |
| 2 | 3 | Cronus | coniston | Jo Ivester | 3:07.716 |
| 3 | 1 | Secret Trojan | Dixon Racing | Delta Leeming | 3:08.171 |
| 4 | 5 | Bruticus | junior’s farms | Stephane Pitre | 3:08.597 |
| 5 | 11 | Not A Chance | Moonlight Stables | Melda Pratten | 3:08.698 |
1. Secret Trojan |
8yo mare from Dixon Racing, Career earnings: $3,197,165 Overall rating: Marvelous(77) – Competitive |
Stable comments: – “In all honesty, I don’t think that Secret Trojan is quite ready to take on the quality stayers she faces in the cup – this run will be more about gauging where she is against her peers. Moonlight Stables has been in very good form of late and Not A Chance looks to be the one to beat. Bones’ Mr Mutley would be a huge challenger on his day, but I feel this final comes too soon after his attempt in the Track King Open. Big B is no stranger to the Cup winning podium and B’s Bomber looks a real threat in this field.”
2. Addie Over Dan |
7yo stallion from crowsrock, Career earnings: $3,835,029 Overall rating: Tremendous(70) – Competitive |
Stable comments: – “Young runner who is still in training, has been the top epic runner in its age group so now looking to jump up to the open age cups. Run well last week and should of finished higher but was hurt by the jockey running on the outside fence around the turns, hoping for a better run from the jock here.”
3. Cronus |
8yo stallion from coniston, Career earnings: $4,700,347 Overall rating: Majestic(81) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “The final has turned out to be a lot tougher than I originally anticipated and it wasn’t ideal running Cronus in the heats over an unsuitable long trip. If I can get Cronus back to full health which it looks like I will I would be disappointed if the horse that won me the HakunaMatata grand national a few weeks back doesn’t run really well again. Whatever happens he is still only 8 and I plan to continue training him next season so if he doesn’t win this season he will certainly be back for another go next season.”
4. Trinidad Catcher |
10yo mare from Smogville, Career earnings: $6,254,125 Overall rating: Grand(69) – Fast finisher |
Stable comments: – “Blimey that race has filled up! Hmmmm, my chances, I would say are nil. The horse of mine I do love, the first horse of mine to ever have a stat of 20 and she has been in great shape since winning the final league race one season ago. Hardly trained, just kept her going as she moved so well. I’ve tried a few experiments which are blips on her form (racing in the TK Open the same week as a league race, and racing in a league race 3 days after winning the Classic). For this race she is in great shape, however 3200m is going to be too long to take on the bigger horses. Jockey wise I don’t have the perfect pairing. It’s a pairing that has won before, but never hit the top speeds. The extra distance may work to the jockey’s advantage though as he is fairly laid back. I’m happy to just be involved, a top half finish for sure, if I could take home the 5th money prize I’d be delighted. I think a Natural Champion will win it.”
5. Bruticus |
10yo stallion from junior’s farms, Career earnings: $7,943,711 Overall rating: Marvelous(75) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “Well,I’m bringing Bruticus to another cup race. My thoughts…..Bruticus is at the end of his final season of racing. Sired by Master Man out of Feature King. Initially was hoping for a Competitive, but got a NC. So, I trained him for Epics. I like my chances of possibly placing in the final, but the competition looks stiff to say the least with Cronus, Mr. Mutley, Gauranteed Havoc….. And I squirm a little every time I see one of those horses whose name starts with a B’s, as in B’s Bomber. Bruticus had a chance in last season’s TK Open final. He ran a 63.16 on Fast going, but that B’s horse was there too and ran a 63.19. Sooooooooooo,lol. There are surprises many times in Cup final’s, but if I were me, I’d have to give the nod to B’s Bomber, a great stable, and not taking anything away from the others I mentioned.”
6. Champagne Wishes |
7yo stallion from Blackjack Farms, Career earnings: $5,283,135 Overall rating: Tremendous(74) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “A big race with lots of big names and familiar runners in the epic scene seem to be in the field. Already looking rather full and tough. Wishes is a young horse and it is his first Open Epic World Cup race. Looking to see more how he stands against the crowd for next season and the season after. A bit young to win I personally think.”
7. B’s Bomber |
10yo stallion from BIG-B, Career earnings: $8,502,638 Overall rating: Majestic(82) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “
8. Guaranteed Havoc |
10yo mare from Desert Wind Stables, Career earnings: $7,101,356 Overall rating: Majestic(82) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “Having forgotten about entering the Open qualifiers, I am pinning my hopes on this race to provide a final cup for Guaranteed Havoc before she retires. She prefers good ground but if the weatherman is to be believed, there is a chance it will just nudge from dead to good by Saturday. The jockey has only managed to have one previous outing with her but hopefully this will not be a hindrance.
9. Mr Mutley |
9yo stallion from Bones Graveyard Stud, Career earnings: $7,474,701 Overall rating: Marvelous(78) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “Coming off a disappointing race so all I can do is hope for a better showing”
10. Inspector Gadget |
9yo stallion from Magoo’s Fine Equine, Career earnings: $6,541,431 Overall rating: Tremendous(74) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “
11. Not A Chance |
9yo mare from Moonlight Stables, Career earnings: $7,002,011 Overall rating: Majestic(82) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “I’d like to think Not A Chance actually *has* a chance in the Melbourne cup. But she is going up against some pretty stiff competition. She’s been racing league this season against Mr. Mutley and hasn’t managed beat him to the finish line in their last 3 meetings. However, she is well rested, has lots of stamina and loves a dead track so maybe let’s “give her a chance”
12. Covered |
9yo mare from Pcking, Career earnings: $661,334 Overall rating: Average(25) |
Stable comments: – “
13. Barking Assembly |
8yo stallion from swindin, Career earnings: $2,522,313 Overall rating: Tremendous(73) – Natural champion |
Stable comments: – “