From HeraldSun.com.au
Sunday 3rd October 2010
New Zealand stayer Harris Tweed has put his Melbourne Cup campaign on track with a hard fought win over 2500 metres at Flemington.
New Zealand stayer Harris Tweed has put his Melbourne Cup campaign on track with a hard fought win in Sunday's Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.
Trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker, the Montjeu five-year-old drew on his reserves after making the running from the home turn and held off Exceptionally to score by a head with Above Average 2-1/2 lengths away third.
Last year Harris Tweed finished fifth to Shocking in the Melbourne Cup and TAB Sportsbet firmed him up from $41 to $26 to win this year.
Harris Tweed is also in the Caulfield Cup but Murray Baker may look for another lead up option for the gelding.
Last year he finished 10th to Viewed in the Caulfield Cup but Baker queried whether it was the right race for him.
"I have to think about it," Baker said.
"I am not sure he has enough zip for the Caulfield Cup but he can stay and he should improve a lot with this run."
Harris Tweed has been slow to come to hand this campaign but Baker has been encouraged by his recent improvement.
"Coming out of a New Zealand winter he has taken a lot of getting fit," Baker said.
"He has been well behind the eight ball but have we have thought the last couple of weeks that he has really picked up.
"He is an improving horse and he does like it here in Australia.
"He seems to thrive here and race a lot better."
Harris Tweed was having his third run this campaign after unplaced runs over 1700 metres at Flemington and in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Jockey Brad Rawiller said that with 58.5kg on Sunday Harris Tweed had a tough run racing near the lead all the way before taking the lead three-wide on the home turn.
"He had to make the running in the straight which is a long way home but he did a good job and I'm looking forward to the Melbourne Cup now," Rawiller said.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Herculean Prince impressively wins The Metropolitan at Randwick
The Metropolitan (2400m) is a traditional lead up to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
The last galloper to win the Metrop-Caulfield Cup double was Tawqeet in 2006, while the last horse to win the Metrop-Melbourne Cup double was Macdougal all the way back in 1959.
In one of the most outstanding performances I have seen Herculean Prince 'destroyed' the Metropolitan field at Randwick today 2/10/10. Watch this space. This is a very good stayer.
This was a write up I read about Herculean prior to the race.
2. Herculian Prince (6) – a hot favourite for this race until his failure in last week’s Colin Stephen Quality as a $1.40 favourite. He was eased out in the market, but good support has seen him find his way back into favourite again in what has been one of the most remarkable betting occurrences of the year. Based on his last run, you’d say no, but based on market support, you’d say yes. Glastonbury ran last in the Colin Stephen in 1994 as favourite before winning the Metropolitan a week later at 25-1. Punters haven’t made the same mistake again, and I think that if you forgive last week’s run, he’s a fair favourite. Likely leader, just not sure whether we can trust him now.
The last galloper to win the Metrop-Caulfield Cup double was Tawqeet in 2006, while the last horse to win the Metrop-Melbourne Cup double was Macdougal all the way back in 1959.
In one of the most outstanding performances I have seen Herculean Prince 'destroyed' the Metropolitan field at Randwick today 2/10/10. Watch this space. This is a very good stayer.
This was a write up I read about Herculean prior to the race.
2. Herculian Prince (6) – a hot favourite for this race until his failure in last week’s Colin Stephen Quality as a $1.40 favourite. He was eased out in the market, but good support has seen him find his way back into favourite again in what has been one of the most remarkable betting occurrences of the year. Based on his last run, you’d say no, but based on market support, you’d say yes. Glastonbury ran last in the Colin Stephen in 1994 as favourite before winning the Metropolitan a week later at 25-1. Punters haven’t made the same mistake again, and I think that if you forgive last week’s run, he’s a fair favourite. Likely leader, just not sure whether we can trust him now.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Americain Geelong Cup
Geelong Advertiser
Bradley Green
A CONTINENTAL Europe flavour could be added to next month's $215,000 Centrebet Geelong Cup (2406m).
Leading French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is considering entering classy stayer Americain in the Group 3 race on October 21 as an ideal hitout for his Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign.
Americain is owned by several prominent Melbourne businessmen - including Gerry Ryan - and is due to arrive at Werribee's new international quarantine centre on AFL grand final day.
Americain has placed in 11 of his 18 starts, including six wins.
The lightly-raced six-year-old has won his last three starts, including the Group 2 Kergolay Stakes (3000m) in his last start on August 22 where he edged out the Luca Cumani-trained Maighar who is also bound for Melbourne.
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The Geelong Racing Club's business development manager John Dunne said they were also hopeful Cumani may also enter a runner in the Geelong Cup for the third straight year.
Cumani won the Geelong Cup in 2008 with Bauer while Basaltico was unplaced last year.
Drunken Sailor, a last winner over 2800m at Goodwood a fortnight ago, could be the stable's contender.
The six-year-old currently sits 42nd on the Melbourne Cup's order of entry with 53kg while Cumani has also not ruled out a return for Bauer, who is now an eight-year-old and hasn't raced for more than a year because of a tendon injury.
Dunne said the powerful Godolphin stable - which had its first Geelong Cup runner in Crime Scene last year - was unlikey to return this year as is team is not due to arrive down under in time.
Dunne said it was fantastic that more European horses were targeting a Melbourne Cup start through the Geelong Cup following the success of Bauer and the Dermot Weld-trained Media Puzzle (2002).
"There's no doubt the win of Bauer has been a great fillip for the Geelong Cup," Dunne said.
"Because Luca Cumani then went back home and told his fellow international trainers that probably the preferred pathway to the Melbourne Cup is through the Geelong Cup, being 10 days out (from the Group 1 race).
"Last year we had two international horses contest the Cup for the first time and this year were hoping to have at least that many again, if not more.
"In recent years the Geelong Cup winner has got about a one-and-a-half to two kilogram penalty which boosts them to a sufficient weight to get a run in the Melbourne Cup, so that's the big plus for our race."
Meanwhile, it's believed that the ambassadors for this year's Geelong Cup will be announced this week.
Bradley Green
A CONTINENTAL Europe flavour could be added to next month's $215,000 Centrebet Geelong Cup (2406m).
Leading French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is considering entering classy stayer Americain in the Group 3 race on October 21 as an ideal hitout for his Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign.
Americain is owned by several prominent Melbourne businessmen - including Gerry Ryan - and is due to arrive at Werribee's new international quarantine centre on AFL grand final day.
Americain has placed in 11 of his 18 starts, including six wins.
The lightly-raced six-year-old has won his last three starts, including the Group 2 Kergolay Stakes (3000m) in his last start on August 22 where he edged out the Luca Cumani-trained Maighar who is also bound for Melbourne.
Have your say on the feedback form below
The Geelong Racing Club's business development manager John Dunne said they were also hopeful Cumani may also enter a runner in the Geelong Cup for the third straight year.
Cumani won the Geelong Cup in 2008 with Bauer while Basaltico was unplaced last year.
Drunken Sailor, a last winner over 2800m at Goodwood a fortnight ago, could be the stable's contender.
The six-year-old currently sits 42nd on the Melbourne Cup's order of entry with 53kg while Cumani has also not ruled out a return for Bauer, who is now an eight-year-old and hasn't raced for more than a year because of a tendon injury.
Dunne said the powerful Godolphin stable - which had its first Geelong Cup runner in Crime Scene last year - was unlikey to return this year as is team is not due to arrive down under in time.
Dunne said it was fantastic that more European horses were targeting a Melbourne Cup start through the Geelong Cup following the success of Bauer and the Dermot Weld-trained Media Puzzle (2002).
"There's no doubt the win of Bauer has been a great fillip for the Geelong Cup," Dunne said.
"Because Luca Cumani then went back home and told his fellow international trainers that probably the preferred pathway to the Melbourne Cup is through the Geelong Cup, being 10 days out (from the Group 1 race).
"Last year we had two international horses contest the Cup for the first time and this year were hoping to have at least that many again, if not more.
"In recent years the Geelong Cup winner has got about a one-and-a-half to two kilogram penalty which boosts them to a sufficient weight to get a run in the Melbourne Cup, so that's the big plus for our race."
Meanwhile, it's believed that the ambassadors for this year's Geelong Cup will be announced this week.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
landlocked - Anthony Cummings
From Races.com.au
26/8/10
The Anthony Cummings-trained Landlocked has improved his chances of a berth in the 2010 Melbourne Cup after winning first-up at Canterbury yesterday.
A four-year-old son of boom sire of stayers Zabeel, Landlocked went out at $12 and enjoyed a forceful win over 1200m in the STC Members Handicap.
Landlocked, raced by Gerry Harvey, is currently one of the long-priced hopefuls for the $6 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 paying $151 at SportsBet.
26/8/10
The Anthony Cummings-trained Landlocked has improved his chances of a berth in the 2010 Melbourne Cup after winning first-up at Canterbury yesterday.
A four-year-old son of boom sire of stayers Zabeel, Landlocked went out at $12 and enjoyed a forceful win over 1200m in the STC Members Handicap.
Landlocked, raced by Gerry Harvey, is currently one of the long-priced hopefuls for the $6 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 paying $151 at SportsBet.
Alcopop - Moudre
From HeraldSun.com.au
30/8/10
TRAINER Jake Stephens is likely to keep Alcopop in Adelaide for one more run after an encouraging return to racing in Saturday's Penny Edition Stakes.
Stephens was more than happy with Alcopop's first-up fifth behind Victorian Spacecraft, beaten just over three lengths, and is leaning towards the Sin City Cup (formerly the Tokyo City Cup) at Morphettville in a fortnight.
"He pulled up well this morning. We'll just see how he progresses over the next few days," Stephens said yesterday. "He'd put on a lot of weight over the past week or so, and I thought his run was pretty good having missed a crucial gallop.
"It was pleasing that he had a good run behind them. I didn't want him to have a gut-buster first-up."
Stephens said he would talk to connections this week before making a decision but the Listed 1600m feature loomed as a suitable secondup mission. "I'll talk to John and Pat (Kelton, owners). A lot of the Melbourne horses are very forward and he might be best suited by racing at the mile here and then heading over," he said.
Alcopop remains a $26 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup chance, with the big mover in markets coming from the Ciaron Maher-trained Moudre, who now heads betting for the Caulfield Cup at $10 with Shoot Out after his brilliant Caulfield win.
Connections have reportedly knocked back offers believed to be as high as $2m for the rising star who now has to win the Naturalism Stakes on September 18 to guarantee a Caulfield Cup start.
30/8/10
TRAINER Jake Stephens is likely to keep Alcopop in Adelaide for one more run after an encouraging return to racing in Saturday's Penny Edition Stakes.
Stephens was more than happy with Alcopop's first-up fifth behind Victorian Spacecraft, beaten just over three lengths, and is leaning towards the Sin City Cup (formerly the Tokyo City Cup) at Morphettville in a fortnight.
"He pulled up well this morning. We'll just see how he progresses over the next few days," Stephens said yesterday. "He'd put on a lot of weight over the past week or so, and I thought his run was pretty good having missed a crucial gallop.
"It was pleasing that he had a good run behind them. I didn't want him to have a gut-buster first-up."
Stephens said he would talk to connections this week before making a decision but the Listed 1600m feature loomed as a suitable secondup mission. "I'll talk to John and Pat (Kelton, owners). A lot of the Melbourne horses are very forward and he might be best suited by racing at the mile here and then heading over," he said.
Alcopop remains a $26 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup chance, with the big mover in markets coming from the Ciaron Maher-trained Moudre, who now heads betting for the Caulfield Cup at $10 with Shoot Out after his brilliant Caulfield win.
Connections have reportedly knocked back offers believed to be as high as $2m for the rising star who now has to win the Naturalism Stakes on September 18 to guarantee a Caulfield Cup start.
Rite of Passage - Sans Frontieres - Darina - Bart Cummings
From CupCarnival.com.au
30/8/10
Other overseas raiders still on target for a tilt in the Melbourne Cup this November include Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage and brilliant Danehill mare Profound Beauty.
Both runners are trained by two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld, the only European mentor to win the Melbourne Cup.
Leading the international entries in the Melbourne Cup betting markets at SportsBet is Jeremy Noseda’s in-form British galloper Sans Frontieres paying $17 for a win.
Queensland Derby winning mare Dariana is still the $13 favourite to give Bart Cummings his unprecedented 13th Melbourne Cup victory.
To get the best Melbourne Cup odds before the weights are released this Wednesday jump online and sign up to SportsBet today, new punters will even receive a free $100 bet!
30/8/10
Other overseas raiders still on target for a tilt in the Melbourne Cup this November include Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage and brilliant Danehill mare Profound Beauty.
Both runners are trained by two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld, the only European mentor to win the Melbourne Cup.
Leading the international entries in the Melbourne Cup betting markets at SportsBet is Jeremy Noseda’s in-form British galloper Sans Frontieres paying $17 for a win.
Queensland Derby winning mare Dariana is still the $13 favourite to give Bart Cummings his unprecedented 13th Melbourne Cup victory.
To get the best Melbourne Cup odds before the weights are released this Wednesday jump online and sign up to SportsBet today, new punters will even receive a free $100 bet!
Luca Cumani - Drunken Sailor - Alcopop - Manighar - Purple Moon - Bauer
From Races.com.au
NEWS - MELBOURNE CUP
30 AUGUST 2010
Drunken Sailor, prepared by premier Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani, enjoyed a quality win at Goodwood on Saturday to further improve his chances of a run in the 2010 Melbourne Cup this November.
Six-year-old Drunken Sailor is shaping up as Cumani’s top Melbourne Cup chance this year after he claimed a last-stride win in the Listed March Stakes (2800m) on Saturday.
Making his fifth straight appearance at the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Cumani is hoping this year is his year in the Melbourne Cup after twice training the second placegetters in the world’s richest handicap with Bauer (2008) and Purple Moon (2007).
Having shown continual improvement over his 31 career starts, Tendulkar gelding Drunken Sailor has won over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m proving himself as a genuine stayer with an impressive turn of foot and making him a real contender for the $6 million Flemington feature on November 2.
Manighar is Cumani’s other top chance in the 150th Melbourne Cup, after finishing second to fellow Cup contender Americain in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) in France last weekend.
However Purple Moon has been ruled out due to injury and Bauer, who hasn’t raced since suffering a tendon injury when beaten by a mere nose in the 2008 Melbourne Cup by Viewed, is still in doubt.
Eight-year-old grey Bauer has the Persian Punch Stakes (2800m) scheduled as his return to racing at Sailsbury on Thursday night and his performance there will determine whether Cumani presses on to the Melbourne Cup with him.
Drunken Sailor is currently paying $61 through SportsBet in the early Melbourne Cup markets, his odds sure to shorten, while Manighar is higher up at $31.
Both are expected to arrive in Melbourne on September 25 following a bout in quarantine that they enter on Wednesday.
This Wednesday, September 1, is also when the 2010 Melbourne Cup weights will be announced.
In other 2010 Melbourne Cup news, last year’s favourite Alcopop was defeated in his first-up spring start on Saturday.
Alcopop finished fifth to classy Galileo four-year-old Spacecraft in the $80,000 Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.
Trainer Mick Price is now more confident of Spacecraft’s chances in the 2010 Caulfield Cup on October 16, Spacecraft currently a $34 chance at SportsBet.
For all the best odds on the spring features don’t waste your wagering dollars at the TAB. Sign up to leading online bookmaker SportsBet instead and join thousands of happy punters already enjoying the riches of betting online!
NEWS - MELBOURNE CUP
30 AUGUST 2010
Drunken Sailor, prepared by premier Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani, enjoyed a quality win at Goodwood on Saturday to further improve his chances of a run in the 2010 Melbourne Cup this November.
Six-year-old Drunken Sailor is shaping up as Cumani’s top Melbourne Cup chance this year after he claimed a last-stride win in the Listed March Stakes (2800m) on Saturday.
Making his fifth straight appearance at the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Cumani is hoping this year is his year in the Melbourne Cup after twice training the second placegetters in the world’s richest handicap with Bauer (2008) and Purple Moon (2007).
Having shown continual improvement over his 31 career starts, Tendulkar gelding Drunken Sailor has won over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m proving himself as a genuine stayer with an impressive turn of foot and making him a real contender for the $6 million Flemington feature on November 2.
Manighar is Cumani’s other top chance in the 150th Melbourne Cup, after finishing second to fellow Cup contender Americain in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) in France last weekend.
However Purple Moon has been ruled out due to injury and Bauer, who hasn’t raced since suffering a tendon injury when beaten by a mere nose in the 2008 Melbourne Cup by Viewed, is still in doubt.
Eight-year-old grey Bauer has the Persian Punch Stakes (2800m) scheduled as his return to racing at Sailsbury on Thursday night and his performance there will determine whether Cumani presses on to the Melbourne Cup with him.
Drunken Sailor is currently paying $61 through SportsBet in the early Melbourne Cup markets, his odds sure to shorten, while Manighar is higher up at $31.
Both are expected to arrive in Melbourne on September 25 following a bout in quarantine that they enter on Wednesday.
This Wednesday, September 1, is also when the 2010 Melbourne Cup weights will be announced.
In other 2010 Melbourne Cup news, last year’s favourite Alcopop was defeated in his first-up spring start on Saturday.
Alcopop finished fifth to classy Galileo four-year-old Spacecraft in the $80,000 Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville.
Trainer Mick Price is now more confident of Spacecraft’s chances in the 2010 Caulfield Cup on October 16, Spacecraft currently a $34 chance at SportsBet.
For all the best odds on the spring features don’t waste your wagering dollars at the TAB. Sign up to leading online bookmaker SportsBet instead and join thousands of happy punters already enjoying the riches of betting online!
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