Australians don't need much more than those three famous words (The Melbourne Cup) to get excited.
Considered the most watched 200 seconds in Australia each year, this two mile handicap horse race means much more than an equine event. It's a day of community, a public holiday in Melbourne and a celebration nationwide. In 1895, while on a lecture tour, Mark Twain was quoted as saying "Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me." Let's check out last five editions of our First Tuesday in November.
• 2005 – MAKYBE DIVA 7m (Desert King x Tugela) (7-2 fav)
Jockey: Glen Boss, Trainer: Lee Freedman
Barrier: 14, Weight: 58.0kg
Gross Time: 3:19.79, 600m Sectional: 35.48
Margin: 1.3L, Track: Dead, Starters: 24
2nd: On a Jeune (D Gauci-51.0kg), 3rd: Xcellent (M Coleman-54.0kg)
Crowd: 106,479
Makybe Diva became a legend As racecaller Greg Miles said “A Champion becomes a Legend” – how apt a description. The build up to the possibility of a horse winning three Melbourne Cups in a row was astounding. It pervaded much more than the racing media. Her Autumn was fantastic where she won the Australian Cup and a sensational BMW win over hometown hero Grand Armee. But a trip to Japan for two runs were, for her, unsuccessful at least on paper. Any background tuna fishing dialogue was a bonus. Fair to say on the racetrack that trip may have provided her with a residual fitness which put ping in her legs and a greater propensity to be competitive below 3200m. A first up Memsie win at seven furlongs proved that after which Turnbull and Cox Plate triumphs ensued. Freedman knew it would be a task to get to two miles without a 2400m run but he long advocated her considerable heart-lung capacity. Again she jumped out and again Boss put her in the ideal spot. Interestingly the first four over the line were the last four in running at halfway. Glen was told not to go for hero runs inside as any loss of momentum with the 58kg would wreck her chances. But he was 'in the zone' and rode her with such precision that it was a carbon copy of the 2003 race. In fact all three wins were won by exactly the same margin. You could argue On a Jeune was stiff and Xcellent was meritorious but who could downgrade the achievement or performance. Freedman was again in quoting mode saying “Go find the smallest child on this course, and there will be the only example of a person who will live long enough to see that again.” She enjoys her immortality as a mum but she is much more than that to us.
• 2006 – DELTA BLUES 6g (Dance in the Dark x Dixie Splash) (16-1)
Jockey: Yasunari Iwata, Trainer: Katsuhiko Sumii
Barrier: 10, Weight: 56.0kg
Gross Time: 3:21.42, 600m Sectional: 35.82
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good, Starters: 23
2nd: Pop Rock (D Oliver-53.0kg), 3rd: Maybe Better (C Munce-50.0kg)
Crowd: 106,691
The Japanese quinella was remarkable Photo by Bronwen Healy It was going to be hard to compete with the year before for media interest. 2006 turned out to be a fascinating event for a far different reasons and from far wider fields. Japan had always been a player in the Australian industry but rarely before on the track itself. Eye Popper was given a good hope in 2005 but here we had two elite stayers in outstanding form. On top of the Japanese we had the world's biggest name in staying as Coolmore sent Yeats off an Ascot Gold Cup win but could be reproduce 4000m back to the hard and fast speed of our racing. Early indications suggested not as the hustle and bustle in the first 500m caused Yeats to drift back whereas Delta Blues had little drama sitting near the lead for a greater portion of the race. Kieron Fallon eventually worked Yeats to the lead and poured the pressure on trying to make it as strong a staying test as was possible. That suited the Japanese horses who are used to fast, intense races. With 300 to go Delta Blues had a margin but Damien Oliver on Pop Rock challenged and they drew away by four lengths. Pop Rock ducked in under the strain and Delta Blues nosed him out in an historic moment for Japanese racing. Jockey Iwata could only conjure the following English – “Very happy, very happy.”
• 2007 – EFFICIENT 4g (Zabeel x Refused The Dance) (16-1)
Jockey: Michael Rodd, Trainer: Graeme Rogerson
Barrier: 9, Weight: 54.5kg
Gross Time: 3:23.34, 600m Sectional: 35.58
Margin: 0.5L, Track: Dead, Starters: 21
2nd: Purple Moon (D Oliver-53.5kg), 3rd: Mahler (S Baster-50.5kg)
Crowd: 102,411
Efficient ran down Purple Moon Photo by Bronwen Healy Efficient showed as a 3yo that he had undeniable class over the longer trip. His Derby was a success for stamina over speed. However in spite of the good run at Moonee Valley, his Memsie, Turnbull and importantly Cox Plate runs were hardly inspiring. He must be an incredibly well grounded and clean winded horse to jump from 2040 to 3200 off four runs because his last start was the worst, at least on paper, for a Cup winner in many a long year. On settling Michael Rodd put Efficient one off the fence but 3L behind Ebor winner Purple Moon who had run an excellent but very unlucky 6th in the Caulfield Cup. The Europeans again wanted a fast tempo so Tungsten Strike led with Coolmore's Mahler, coming of English St Leger form, nearby. Of the favourites only the Caulfield Cup's Master O'Reilly was disappointing. As Mahler ran to the head of proceedings at the 400, Oliver was right there to challenge. He had given Purple Moon a 9.5 ride out of 10 – the only mark down because he lost. Efficient made up 5L in the last 300 getting his prey down in the final 75m and to be fair he deserved to win having had to make such substantial ground around the entire field. Injury has forced him out again.
2nd: Bauer (C Brown-52.0kg), 3rd: C'est La Guerre (B Prebble-54.0kg)
Crowd: 107,280
Viewed nosed out Bauer in the tightest Cup finish Photo by Bronwen Healy There is never a bad Melbourne Cup when Bart wins – even if it is 40-1. But this one had it all. Seven Europeans added to the race in many ways. Aidan O'Brien had three to run, Luca Cumani two and even Dermot was back. The race was spectacular from gate opens to a week later. You could sense something happening when the Ballydoyle trio worked forward early. The plan was to make the pace and it was a triangle of speed. Alessandro Volta led with Honolulu outside and Septimus in the trail. They were five in front with a mile to go. While this was happening others got great runs. Gallopin dropped out after chocking down but by the turn, Blake Shinn allowed Viewed to stride, hitting the lead a long way out. He was a sitting shot. At the 200 the challengers were coming to stop Bart's 12th win. Nose for nose over the last few metres it looked a dead heat. But the margin was found for the son of Scenic giving Bart G1 number 250. Lloyd Williams pair were unlucky not to finish much closer. While it was the closest margin in history there were other mayhem moments from the race. Luca Cumani was close again but as we'd learn later, imagine the madness if Bauer had won because it was revealed shockwave therapy treatment was illegally used up to a certain time to treat a muscular issue. Then it was shown that using the electronic timing devices, Bauer actually ran a quicker time than Viewed but that was because it is positioned in the saddle and Viewed was a longer barrelled horse. It was a great call by Greg Miles. Sadly he is no more.
• 2009 – SHOCKING 4h (Street Cry x Maria Di Castiglia) (9-1)
Jockey: Corey Brown, Trainer: Mark Kavanagh
Barrier: 21, Weight: 51.0kg
Gross Time: 3:23.87, 600m Sectional: 36.60
Margin: 0.8L, Track: Dead, Starters: 23
2nd: Crime Scene (K McEvoy-53.0kg), 3rd: Mourilyan (G Schofield-54.5kg)
Crowd: 102,181
Shocking had a wide run and still got home Photo by Bronwen Healy It was 12 months almost to the minute since Corey Brown's racing world hit a low. He thought he'd won the every jockey's dream, a Melbourne Cup but was just nosed out on Bauer. But if you thought he'd had troubles, how about Mark Kavanagh. He thought he'd win a Caulfield Cup with Maldivian then the famous barrier incident, however a year later he'd come back and win a Cox Plate. Then this year he had the Derby elect in Shamoline Warrior only for him to succumb race morn. Well Shocking had come via a Brisbane winter when outstayed in the Derby on wet ground. But he was inexperienced. He was considered a Cups horse most of the way but nothing was falling into place as he kept running into Alcopop seeking to get into the Caulfield Cup. But that never happened and focus turned to Flemington. The Lexus win on Derby day was emphatic and made him one of the favourites – then barrier 21 came out. What could Brown do about that? Very little so it worked out. Changingoftheguard came out in the morning controversially as Alcopop became the punter's pal. Warringah set up the speed with Roman Emperor nearby but Shocking was trapped three wide the entire. It was slow early which helped his cause as McEvoy rode the Godolphin entrant Crime Scene superbly. Into the straight and as McEvoy moved out, Brown still had something left. He ranged alongside and grabbed the overseas horse in the final furlong with another staying on for third. There were so many sidelight stories as Brown had been on Vigor but he failed to gain a start as those connections played a risky game. He had asked Kav to wait to see if he was available and he did. When asked how long he's been trying to win a Melbourne Cup, Kav said “I'm 52 – since I was 6. Everyone be quiet – if this is a dream I don't want to wake up.”
RACE PROFILE
o There have been five multiple winners – Archer (1861+62), Peter Pan (1932+34), Rain Lover (1968+69), Think Big (1974-75) & Makybe Diva (2003+04+05).
o Eleven horses have done the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double – Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner's Lane (1982), Let's Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might and Power (1997) & Ethereal (2001).
o Of the last 17 winners, 10 have won their last start and 7 were defeated of which 3 were placed. Only Viewed, Efficient, Makybe Diva '03 and Jezabeel when knocked down at Caulfield were unplaced.
o Highest weight to win – Carbine 65.5kg in 1890.
o Shortest price to win – Phar Lap 11-8 on – 1930.
o Barriers have been of little importance with the 900m run to the first turn. Since 1988 Kingston Rule drew 1, Might and Power 2, Saintly 3, Media Puzzle 3 as well as Empire Rose 20, Doriemus 21, Rogan Josh 21, Brew 23.
o Leading Trainers - Bart Cummings (12), Etienne de Mestre (5), Lee Freedman (5).
o Leading Jockeys – Bobbie Lewis (4), Harry White (4).
o Winners by Age – 3yo x 23, 4yo x 43, 5yo x 43, 6yo x 28, 7yo x 10, 8yo+ x 2.
o By comparison with the Caulfield Cup, only seven 4yos have won at Flemington in the last 26 years.
o First Female Trainer to win – Sheila Laxon – Ethereal 2001
o First Million Dollar race – What a Nuisance 1985.
o While horses like Might and Power made all the running and Delta Blues was on pace, most recent winners have been well and truly in the second half of the field.
o Mare victories are a conundrum. They have won 5 of the last 10 and 7 of the last 20 Cups but that isn't the norm. Before Empire Rose in 1988 you had to go back to Light Fingers in 1965.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 6yo (4 times)
o Last 10 Winners Average Weight of winner – 53.5kg
o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <5-8> - 3 times
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – 12-1
o Breakdown of winners – 3 geldings, 4 mares & 3 entires
o Last 10 Years Turnbull Stks / Melbourne Cup double – Makybe Diva ('05)
o Last 10 Years Geelong Cup / Melbourne Cup double – Media Puzzle ('02)
o Last 10 Years Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double – Ethereal ('01)
o Last 10 Years Sydney Cup / Melbourne Cup double – Makybe Diva ('04)
o Last 10 Years Cox Plate / Melbourne Cup double – Makybe Diva ('05)
o Last 10 Years Lexus / Melbourne Cup double – Shocking ('09), Brew ('00)
o Last 10 Years BMW Stks / Melbourne Cup double – Makybe Diva ('05)
o Last 10 Years Brisbane Cup / Melbourne Cup double – Viewed ('08)
o Last 10 Years Qld Oaks / Melbourne Cup double – Ethereal ('01)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
After there was a period of time when this was shaping as a weak Melbourne Cup, things have fallen in the right areas.
The star can do it again Photo by Racing and Sports
Not only do we have some very sound staying handicap form locally, and a pretty good influx of European and Asian horses, we have our own champion to add to the mix.
Horses from Australia, New Zealand, UAE via Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, France, Japan and other areas of the British Isles have come to celebrate the 150th Cup.
Yet could it be that they came in the wrong year? Did they run into the best horse we've produced since Kingston Town? And by we I mean Bart because SYT was born in New Zealand.
So You Think is the proverbial star. His Timeform ratings are now up there with Might and Power and Better Loosen Up and quickly hitting stratospheric heights. He may not even need to reach 133 to score in the Cup.
He is also getting close to the greatest Spring of all time, certainly right there with the best ever seen and done by Phar Lap, Rising Fast and Makybe Diva.
From the gate he should camp right on the speed with cover. Even when they tried to ride him back on Saturday he still was running fourth.
56kg is also no bother. Besides the two miles, which is naturally an issue for a horse who hasn't been there, the other is the crowd and what that might do to him but he handled Derby day pretty darn well. Mind you a few more drunken revellers could be a problem.
The words space job have been mentioned in dispatches and if he gets a deadish track and a good run, it might be just that.
Having said all that, the quinella might be equally as good a thing. Descarado has done not a thing wrong all Spring bar for working too hard in the Turnbull. He showed that was no drama in the Caulfield Cup – a race which will have the same conditions on Tuesday and one which rated highly for comparison.
He was holding, in fact, coming away from them on the line and ran as well in the Mackinnon. It would give High Chaparral the quinella.
No doubt internationals like Holberg and Americain are worthy of close attention for trifectas given their ratings and runs.
Give some hope to Linton who should handle the track and was the cart horse for Maluckyday on Saturday. He looks like two miles is right up his alley. Greys win Cups too (Subzero/Efficient).
Also thought Once Were Wild was fantastic in the Lexus being left as the last one standing on-pace and had the temerity to hold on for third. She likes the sting out and Gai is having a top Spring in Melbourne.
We had seen international victories before from the Irish and the Japanese before. But this handsome stallion had some very pronounced form at home before heading south. To make sure he got a start he won the Geelong Cup and when the track came up slow on Cup day well that played right into his hands. In the 150th running of the Cup you had a champion So You Think trying to do what few could dream of in winning two Cox Plates and then a Melbourne Cup. Could Bart do it again? Gerald Mosse held Americain around midfield. As the slow track stopped a few chances, So You Think swept up and looked the winner and the sharply improving Maluckyday surged late but the big French horse trained by Alain De Royer Dupre just wound up like he’d joined in and won by a widening three lengths. It was one of the great Cup trifectas.
