With the Melbourne Cup is fast approaching, Justhorseracing will over the next few weeks provide you with an in-depth look at the major players to contest the big race and how they are tracking, as well as giving you a preview of where they’ll run next, and a review of how they fared the weekend prior.
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And for the punters wanting to find some value, you need not worry. Week by week we will preview several value runners that should be monitored closely as they head towards possible Spring glory!
Melbourne Cup
Who ran last weekend?
Caravan Rolls On joined the Danny O’Brien camp towards the end of the Spring last year and bolted home in the Sandown Cup (3200m). He was immediately spelled with the aim being the Melbourne Cup. He resumed at the Valley a few weeks back on a biased track behind St Jean, then ran last Saturday in the Harry White Classic (2400m) at Sportingbet Park and was very admirable given he was wide with no cover on a hot speed yet stuck on for fifth. He is down in the order of the entry and would need to win the Herbert Power.
Big Memory just failed to pick up Brambles when resuming over 1700m at Flemington, then went to the JRA Cup and finished in the bunch behind The Cleaner, ending up eighth. Another that is down in the order of entry and would also need to win the Herbert Power in order to get a spot.
Who runs this weekend?
The current top pick in betting for the Cup is The Offer, and he hasn’t really deterred punters yet after two runs this Spring. He was very good late in the Dato Tan Chin Nam behind The Cleaner, then went to the Underwood and was strong late and through the line when ninth to Foreteller. The key is getting to a bigger track, fitter and up to a distance this Saturday in the Turnbull, so it’s close to D-Day for him.
View the Turnbull Stakes market HERE
Boom kiwi stayer Who Shot Thebarman was tipped by everyone who wanted to listen in the Sydney Cup (3200m), but he was no match for The Offer before being transferred to Chris Waller. His first two runs back from a break were plain, then he came to Flemington and was quite impressive in winning, albeit in weak company. He runs in the Bart Cummings (2500m) this Saturday at Flemington and finds a really good race.
View the The Bart Cummings market HERE
One of the best kiwis across the Tasman to perhaps tackle the bigger riches in Australia is Puccini, the New Zealand Derby winner who didn’t really flatter in the Autumn when racing in Sydney, but has really impressed in two runs back home during the Spring, including a last start win in the Group lll Metric Mile (1600m). He will go around as favourite this Saturday in the $250,000 ($NZ) Livamol Classic (2040m), formerly the Kelt Capital, and that will tell us whether he firstly comes over, and then whether he tackles the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup or both.
View the Livamol Classic market HERE
Where is the value?
The United Stakes is a quality animal who caught the eye of everyone with his fast finishing third at the Valley in late August behind Mourinho, who has since placed behind The Cleaner at Group level, so the form has held up. The horse hasn’t been seen since, so not sure if he can get into the race, but he is classy and has a turn of foot, plus he is in the right stable.
Zanbagh was one of the better three year old fillies last season when trained by the late Guy Walter. Her opening two runs this Spring with Patrick Payne have been solid when you consider the bias has been against her on both occasions. She is nominated for the Benalla Cup this Sunday and would need to win that, then perform well in the Caulfield Cup to warrant a start, but we do know she can stay.
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