TRIP BACKGROUND

Which Horse Has The Distance In Their Legs?


TRIP BACKGROUND


Which Horse Has The Distance In Their Legs?

In recent times there has been a strong emphasis on the correlation between Melbourne Cup winning efforts and the number of kilometres a horse has travelled in their lead up preparation for the race.

Dunaden had
a short sharp prep

Racing and Sports has prepared a table of previous Cup winners (and some placegetters) showing the number of runs this preparation and the number of kilometres covered prior to running in the Cup

It should prove a useful guide in deciding which of the Cup fancies best fit the historical data.


Analysis of Historical Data

The analysis of these figures is not as straight forward as it seems. The average number of runs since a spell is 6. The average race distance covered by winners going into the race is just over 12km.

Other points of interest are that mares in general seem to have a lighter preparation than male horses. eg 5 runs and 9km travelled.

No mare has won the Cup in the last 45 years that has travelled more than Jezabeel did at 11.4km in 1998.

Horses which have to specifically qualify for a start, not surprisingly, seem to have covered more race km than those horses who have been specifically set for the race.



If we analyse Bart Cummings' 12 Cup winners we also see the trend for mares "confirmed".

For example, both the mares he has trained to win the Cup, Let's Elope and Light Fingers had 6 runs since a spell and had travelled 10.8km and 9km respectively.

His other male winners had an average of 6.5 runs from a spell and covered an average of 11.7km going into the Cup.

It seems the ideal preparation for a horse going into the Melbourne Cup is for it have had between 6 - 8 runs from a spell and travelled somewhere between 10.5km and 14.5km in lead up races. Over 60% of Cup winners in the last 45 years fitted this specification.

However the advent of international horses, trainers and training techniques has seen those decrease – especially in terms of the number of lead up runs.
Year
 
Horse
 
Kms
 
RFS
 
2022   Gold Trip
Emissary
High Emocean 		  9.9
8.5
11.9 		  5
4
5		 
2021   Verry Elleegant
Incentivise
Spanish Mission 		  7.0
6.0
16.2 		  4
3
5		 
2020   Twilight Payment
Tiger Moth
Prince Of Arran 		  11.2
6.8
12.0 		  4
3
4		 
2019   Vow And Declare
Prince Of Arran
Il Paradiso 		  4.4
12.4
14.2 		  2
5
5		 
2018   Cross Counter
Marmelo
A Prince Of Arran 		  11.6
11.5
21.2 		  5
4
7		 
2017   Rekindling
Johannes Vermeer
Max Dynamite 		  15.0
14.9
5.6 		  6
7
2		 
2016   Almandin
Heartbreak City
Hartnell 		  8.9
9.2
9.0 		  4
3
5		 
2015   Prince Of Penzance
Max Dynamite
Criterion 		  9.9
9.7
8.1 		  5
3
4		 
2014   Protectionist
Red Cadeaux
Who Shot Thebarman 		  12.0
10.2
10.1 		  5
4
5		 
2013   Fiorente
Red Cadeaux
Mount Athos 		  7.0
17.1
11.1 		  4
7
4		 
2012   Green Moon
Fiorente
Jakkalberry 		  7.0
11.6
12.7 		  4
5
5		 
2011   Dunaden
Red Cadeaux
Lucas Cranach 		  5.4
22.6
12.0 		  2
8
5		 
2010   Americain
Maluckyday
So You Think 		  14.4
10.0
9.2 		  5
5
5		 
2009   Shocking
Crime Scene
Mourilyan 		  11.8
9.2
8.6 		  6
4
3		 
2008   Viewed
Bauer
C'est La Guerre 		  7.6
7.8
7.5 		  4
3
4		 
2007   Efficient
Purple Moon
Mahler 		  7
9.6
17.4 		  4
4
7		 
2006   Delta Blue
Pop Rock
Maybe Better 		  2.4
2.4
15.8 		  1
1
9		 
2005   Makybe Diva
On A Jeune
Excellent 		  7
12.4
5.5 		  4
7
3		 
2004   Makybe Diva
Vinnie Roe
Zazzman 		  7.4
5.2
13.6 		  4
2
7		 
2003   Makybe Diva
She's Archie
Jardines Lookout 		  7.4
9.4
- 		  4
5
FU		 
2002   Media Puzzle
Mr. Prudent
Beekeeper 		  20.1
11.3
4.4 		  8
6
2		 
2001   Ethereal
Give The Slip
Persian Punch 		  7.4
-
9.2 		  4
FU
3		 
2000   Brew
Yippyio
Second Coming 		  9.26
10.30
6.00 		  5
5
3		 
1999   Rogan Josh
Central Park
Zazabelle
Lahar 		  11.64
8.44
12.30
7.54 		  6
4
6
4		 
1998   Jezabeel
Champagne
Persian Punch 		  11.40
10.50
16.38 		  6
6
5		 
1997   Might And Power
Doriemus
Markham 		  8.10
7.40
9.60 		  5
4
5		 
1996   Saintly
Count Chivas
Skybeau 		  11.54
11.2
14.34 		  6
6
7		 
1995   Doriemus
Nothin' Leica Dane
Vintage Crop 		  8.7
13.1
14.8 		  4
7
5		 
1994   Jeune
Paris Lane
Oompala 		  10.7
12.7
28.7 		  6
7
14		 
1993   Vintage Crop
Te Akau Nick
Mercator 		  17.1
8.7
11.9 		  6
4
5		 
1992   Subzero
Veandercross
Castletown 		  11.4
10.0
11.4 		  6
5
6		 
1991   Let's Elope
Shiva's Revenge
Magnolia Hall 		  10.8
9.04
14.8 		  6
5
7		 
1990   Kingston Rule
The Phantom
Mr Brooker 		  13.42
9.04
12.2 		  8
5
6		 
1989   Tawriffic
Super Impose
Kudz 		  17.0
14.6
12.51 		  8
8
6		 
1988   Empire Rose
Natski
Na Botto 		  7.1
13.3
14.55 		  4
6
8		 
1987   Kensei
Empire Rose
Rosedale 		  12.2
9
11.5 		  6
5
6		 
1986   At Talaq
Rising Fear
Sea Legend 		  11.8
20.7
14.1 		  6
9
7		 
1985   What A Nuisance   16.62   8 
1984   Black Knight   17.6   9 
1983   Kiwi   10.3   6 
1982   Gurners Lane   16.95   8 
1981   Just A Dash   14.1   7 
1980   Belldale Ball   10.5   6 
1979   Hyperno   10.6   6 
1978   Arwon   17.2   8 
1977   Gold And Black   12.6   7 
1976   Van Der Hum   17.35   8 
1975   Think Big   11.0   6 
1974   Think Big   14.75   7 
1973   Gala Supreme   11.8   6 
1972   Piping Lane   11.9   6 
1971   Silver Knight   13.65   7 
1970   Baghdad Note   10.8   6 
1969   Rain Lover   11.4   6 
1968   Rain Lover   12.6   7 
1967   Red Handed   11.05   6 
1966   Galilee   12.9   8 
1965   Light Fingers   9   6 
1964   Polo Prince   11.9   6 
1963   Gatum Gatum   17   8 
1962   Even Stevens   9.5   6 
1961   Lord Fury   12.8   7 
1960   Hi Jinx   10.3   5 

There seems to be a correlation between age of the horse and km travelled going into the Cup. For example 5YO's seem to need more racing eg 7.1 runs and 13.65km against 4YO's at 6.9 runs and 13.1km.


No front page content has been created yet.

Most Read

More News

Features