Melbourne Cup
- Thread starter LBM
- Start date
Colin Phillips
At the Start
Have you got figures for the Australian horses, Suny?
John Gosden's Gatewood won the Geelong Cup today with Andre Fabre's Brigantin third. This is the race used in 2002 by Dermot Weld to get Media Puzzle qualified for the Melbourne Cup, which he went on to win. Dunaden achieved the same double last year. I imagine Brigantin is being aimed at the big race, but does anyone know the plans for Gatewood, for whom the 2m trip looks a doubt?
edgt
Senior Jockey
Galileos Choice has 10f speed and 2 mile stamina and is trained by the maestro.
He must be on any short list.
He must be on any short list.
On The Bridle
At the Start
How many Cumani plots have been rolled over in this race...I went in on Galileos again at 22/1
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Galileo Choice is a very good propsect for the national hunt season
I rate Mount Athos 15 pounds better than him and will carry only one more pound in the handicap
on what we have seen in Europe MA beats GC in a canter for me
I rate Mount Athos 15 pounds better than him and will carry only one more pound in the handicap
on what we have seen in Europe MA beats GC in a canter for me
On The Bridle
At the Start
I was hoping the figures would not come out that badly.....I don't think GC is fully exposed but hasn't got 15lbs up his sleeve..saver on MA so...thanks Sunybay
On The Bridle
At the Start
Galileos got loose yesterday morning and did about 4 laps of the track.....doesn't help his chances but stamina shouldn't be in doubt now 
jft2005
Conditional
providing he gets in, ill be backing Shahwardi
LBM
At the Start
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2003
- Messages
- 401
MOUNT Athos has beaten the Melbourne Cup handicapper, according to the Dermot Weld stable.
Mark Weld, representing his father, believes Luca Cumani's stayer has got under Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter's guard for next Tuesday's Cup.
Mount Athos will carry 54kg in the Cup - 5kg less than topweight and 2011 winner Dunaden.
"If you asked me to pick out one horse that has got away on the handicapper, it's Mount Athos - there's no question,'' Weld said. "It was the reaction at home when the weights came out was the guy that had been really favourably treated was him.
"If he's got another half a kg, that would be been fair. You would have a smile on your face if you were the Cumanis.''
Weld, who will saddle up Irish raider Galileo's Choice, revealed the family stable had tried to buy Mount Athos with a view to winning a third Cup.
Galileo's Choice will attempt to emulate the deeds of Weld gallopers Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Muzzle (2002), but Weld said French Cup winners Americain and Dunaden had set a high standard.
"The French in the past couple of years have been slowly trying to make the race their own by stealing the crown from the Irish, they are very good horses and their form in the Caulfield Cup was outstanding,'' Weld said.
"But the one horse for me that really stands out is Mount Athos. I think he is extremely favourably weighted.
"He's a horse we tried to buy on numerous occasions with a view to trying to win this race. I'm not surprised to see him here.
"He's a very good horse trained by a highly experienced trainer who has come painfully close to winning the race a couple of times. It would not be overdue if he happened to win it.
Mark Weld, representing his father, believes Luca Cumani's stayer has got under Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter's guard for next Tuesday's Cup.
Mount Athos will carry 54kg in the Cup - 5kg less than topweight and 2011 winner Dunaden.
"If you asked me to pick out one horse that has got away on the handicapper, it's Mount Athos - there's no question,'' Weld said. "It was the reaction at home when the weights came out was the guy that had been really favourably treated was him.
"If he's got another half a kg, that would be been fair. You would have a smile on your face if you were the Cumanis.''
Weld, who will saddle up Irish raider Galileo's Choice, revealed the family stable had tried to buy Mount Athos with a view to winning a third Cup.
Galileo's Choice will attempt to emulate the deeds of Weld gallopers Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Muzzle (2002), but Weld said French Cup winners Americain and Dunaden had set a high standard.
"The French in the past couple of years have been slowly trying to make the race their own by stealing the crown from the Irish, they are very good horses and their form in the Caulfield Cup was outstanding,'' Weld said.
"But the one horse for me that really stands out is Mount Athos. I think he is extremely favourably weighted.
"He's a horse we tried to buy on numerous occasions with a view to trying to win this race. I'm not surprised to see him here.
"He's a very good horse trained by a highly experienced trainer who has come painfully close to winning the race a couple of times. It would not be overdue if he happened to win it.
chaumi
Rookie
I'm surprised there hasn't been much in the English press (or here) about the chances of Fiorente. Guaranteed a run (unless anything unexpected goes wrong), moved from Stoute to an Australian trainer for lots of money specifically for this run, she's already proved she can take European imports and win a group 1 (Glencadam Gold).
Lots of encouraging reports (incl. on the gallops) if you search ''Fiorente Melbourne Cup'' on Google. Trainer seems bullish. Ridden by an up and coming NZ born rider.
Fiorente has some high class form, particularly against Joshua Tree in the Princess Of Wales (JT winning the Canadian International a couple of weeks ago). Clearly a top class one and a half miler, with the likelihood of being improved at longer distances.
2 miles in this race could be right up his street. Surely ought to be in anyone's top six. Best priced 30 on Bet365 (4 places EW), best at the moment around 40 on Betfair (but difficult to tell which way it's going to go from here)
Run in mid Sept may well have been just needed (though beaten well and truly behind Orfevre, but also reportedly took a bump from Meandre at a critical point), but the negative could be trainer intends to run in blinkers first time. Looks good on the gallops videos but seems a strange decision to go for them first time in one of the biggest races you're ever going to run in. I hope that decision turns out to be an inspired one.
Lots of encouraging reports (incl. on the gallops) if you search ''Fiorente Melbourne Cup'' on Google. Trainer seems bullish. Ridden by an up and coming NZ born rider.
Fiorente has some high class form, particularly against Joshua Tree in the Princess Of Wales (JT winning the Canadian International a couple of weeks ago). Clearly a top class one and a half miler, with the likelihood of being improved at longer distances.
2 miles in this race could be right up his street. Surely ought to be in anyone's top six. Best priced 30 on Bet365 (4 places EW), best at the moment around 40 on Betfair (but difficult to tell which way it's going to go from here)
Run in mid Sept may well have been just needed (though beaten well and truly behind Orfevre, but also reportedly took a bump from Meandre at a critical point), but the negative could be trainer intends to run in blinkers first time. Looks good on the gallops videos but seems a strange decision to go for them first time in one of the biggest races you're ever going to run in. I hope that decision turns out to be an inspired one.
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Tanlic
Senior Jockey
I don't think I have ever had a bet in the Melbourne Cup if I had it must have lost. It's not a arce I have paid much attention to in the past tbh.
However I am very keen on Mount Athos who might just be as suggested "Well IN"
I reckon DW could be right and he's maybe even better than we've seen from him so far.
He's a very likeable horse.
The travel etc is always a worry and can knock a horse back a stone which we witnessed with Black Caviar at Ascot IMO.
Hopefully he takes it all in his stride and wins it for Luca who I believe has been trying to win this race for years? or so I was told by an Aussie friend..
However I am very keen on Mount Athos who might just be as suggested "Well IN"
I reckon DW could be right and he's maybe even better than we've seen from him so far.
He's a very likeable horse.
The travel etc is always a worry and can knock a horse back a stone which we witnessed with Black Caviar at Ascot IMO.
Hopefully he takes it all in his stride and wins it for Luca who I believe has been trying to win this race for years? or so I was told by an Aussie friend..
On The Bridle
At the Start
Getting close now and Galileo's Choice starting to harden in the market. French two and Mount Athos also being well supported. Looking forward to it now and plan to get up to watch it. Anyone know the off time GMT?