A win in Europe’s richest handicap and the temptation to have a crack at the prize money on offer in Australia’s most famous race has led Scottish trainer Iain Jardine and the horse Nakeeta to Melbourne. Jardine will saddle up Nakeeta at Flemington on Tuesday, trying to become the first… Read More »
Ben Melham reckons he’s unlucky not to already have a Caulfield Cup on the mantelpiece after one ride on lrish horse Johannes Vermeer. The jockey has now turned his attention to winning an even bigger prize -Tuesday’s $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer, who is… Read More »
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Cismontane is aiming to become the first winner of the Lexus Stakes since Shocking in 2009 to claim the Melbourne Cup. Cismontane put up a tough staying performance in Saturday’s Lexus (2500m) to earn his way to the Cup which Waterhouse won in 2013… Read More »
A guest speaking role before the 2003 Melbourne Cup sparked Harry Herbert’s interest in the Melbourne Cup. Through Highclere Racing, Herbert has his fourth runner in the Cup when the Chris Waller-trained Libran lines up in Tuesday’s race. Highclere Racing was founded in 1992 and has become one of Europe’s… Read More »
Archer won the first two Melbourne Cups more than 150 years ago and yet there is no memorial to honour the champion thoroughbred anywhere in Australia. But that’s all set to change, according to the manager of Archer Racecourse in his NSW home town of Nowra. Lynn Locke, long-serving chief… Read More »
As Hugo Palmer attempts to become the first British trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, two familiar faces will be saddling up rival runners at Flemington. Tuesday’s $6 million Melbourne Cup has been 12 months in the planning with the Palmer-trained Wall Of Fire and the horse pressed his claims… Read More »
A Queensland jockey has suffered serious injuries in a fall at a north Queensland race meeting on Saturday at Home Hill races. The 45-year–old Jeff Felix was hurt when the horse he was riding fell shortly after the start of a race at Home Hill on Saturday. The Queensland Racing Integrity… Read More »
Trainer Andreas Wohler has been planning to meet with jockey Kerrin McEvoy to discuss Melbourne Cup tactics over a cup of coffee. But the German trainer doesn’t know what they’ll discuss after Red Cardinal drew barrier 24 in Tuesday’s race at Flemington. McEvoy’s first Cup win, on Brew in 2000,… Read More »
Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes is bemused with the Melbourne Cup price of Boom Time. The surprise winner of last month’s Caulfield Cup is a $26 chance in latest betting for Tuesday’s race. Hayes reasons the Caulfield Cup form is strong for the Flemington showpiece in which Lindsay Park also… Read More »
SOME STATISTICS ABOUT THE MELBOURNE CUP: * First run in 1861 under the banner of the Victorian Turf Club and won by the Etienne de Mestre-trained Archer who beat the favourite Mormon by six lengths. The prize was 1420 pounds and the trophy a gold watch. * Archer came back… Read More »
Thomas Hobson couldn’t jump over a twig but owner Rich Ricci believes the former hurdler is well handicapped for the Melbourne Cup, provided he can handle his wide barrier. Ricci has returned for another attempt at the $6 million Melbourne Cup he failed to win by a half-length two years… Read More »
Who Shot Thebarman’s bid for history as the oldest Melbourne Cup winner is over with the nine-year-old withdrawn from the field with an elevated temperature. Trainer Chris Waller said the gelding had presented with a high temperature on Sunday afternoon. “It is obviously of great disappointment to the owners, my… Read More »
The man who has owned more Melbourne Cup winners than anyone else has a thirst for more. Retired Melbourne businessman Lloyd Williams has six horses in this year’s Melbourne Cup on Tuesday including last year’s winner Almandin. Williams won his first Cup with the TJ Smith-trained Just A Dash in… Read More »
LLOYD WILLIAMS MELBOURNE CUP WINNERS: 1981: Just A Dash (trainer TJ Smith. Jockey Peter Cook) 1985: What A Nuisance (John Meagher. Pat Hyland) 2007: Efficient (Graeme Rogerson. Michael Rodd) 2012: Green Moon (Robert Hickmott. Brett Prebble) 2016: Almandin (Robert Hickmott. Kerrin McEvoy) RUNNERS THIS YEAR: Almandin (Robert Hickmott. Frankie Dettori)… Read More »
Trainer Bob Baffert says it is time for Arrogate to retire from racing following a disappointing run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Arrogate, the all-time leading money winner among North American thoroughbreds and last year’s Classic champion, never threatened winner Gun Runner on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), finishing… Read More »
Veteran Who Shot Thebarman has been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup with an elevated temperature. Trainer Chris Waller said the nine-year-old had presented with the high temperature on Sunday afternoon. “It is obviously of great disappointment to the owners, my staff and I, however the welfare of the horse comes… Read More »
Gun Runner has won the $6 million ($A7.84 million) Breeders’ Cup Classic in impressive fashion at Del Mar, trouncing a celebrated field that included last year’s winner and favourite Arrogate. Florent Geroux piloted the four-year-old to a 2 1/4 length all-the-way win over Collected in front of a packed grandstand… Read More »
The prospect of Almandin becoming a dual Melbourne Cup winner has the star stayer the sentimental favourite of the six runners for part-owner Nick Williams in Australia’s most famous race. Williams and his father Lloyd have an interest in a quarter of the field in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup including international… Read More »
Kiwi dairy farming brothers the O’Learys will be hoping Who Shot Thebarman has aged well as the nine-year-old aims to become the oldest horse to win the Melbourne Cup. It will be Who Shot Thebarman’s fourth attempt at the $6 million Melbourne Cup, but the four brothers and their wives… Read More »
Irish trainer Willie Mullins has booked riders with Australian experience for his three Melbourne Cup runners. In previous trips to the Melbourne Cup, Mullins has enlisted European jockeys but has switched to Hong Kong-based Zac Purton (Max Dynamite) and Joao Moreira (Thomas Hobson) with local rider Stephen Baster picking up… Read More »
