The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicked off on Saturday with a great day of racing on Derby Day, and we now look forward to one of the biggest race days of the year, including the Melbourne Cup itself.
As many might know, this year’s Melbourne Cup contender for OTI and connections is the Phillip Stokes trained gelding Daqiansweet Junior. The Adelaide Cup winner has been very much under the radar this preparation, but Phillip believes he couldn’t be in better form going into the race on Tuesday.
Last seen in the Group 3 Bart Cummings, the 5yo has had four weeks of solid work in the lead up to Tuesday’s run and pleased in his final piece of serious work last Tuesday. Jockey Daniel Moor said “He’s in great order and moves very well. I’m very happy with him.”
The final field for the Melbourne Cup was revealed on Saturday after the last race at Flemington, with the barrier draw held at the same time. ‘DJ’ will jump from barrier 13 in a field of 23 (we have one scratching after this morning’s vettings) with Daniel Moor on board, carrying 53kg.
See all race details and the full field here.
We have a number of other runners on Cup Day, with the first of those being Sous Les Nuages in Race 2 for Matt Cumani and jockey Michael Dee. He’s been allocated 54kgs and barrier 4 in a field of 15. The 6yo gelding impressed with a nice win at Morphettville two starts ago and we hope to see him continue his good form, although a wet track would work against him.
See all race details and the full field here.
We also have Regal Lion and Future Score in the Listed Murphy Plate (Race 6) up against eachother. Regal Lion, who is trained by Annabel Neasham, will be ridden by Blaike McDougall carrying 55kg, while Matt Cumani’s Future Score has Fred Kersley with 54kg on board. Future Score returns from his break first up, whereas Regal Lion comes to Flemington fourth up, hoping for a repeat of his winning performance at Sandown two starts ago.
See all race details and the full field here.
Post the Melbourne Cup, in Race 8, we have an Australian debut runner in Green Fly, who is trained by the father and son duo Anthony and Sam Freedman. The 4yo entire (3 in French time) arrived in Australia in late July and since has been pleasing his new trainers with his work. The son of Frankel has had eight career starts for two wins, two seconds and a third, and we’re hoping he can add to that consistent record with a forward showing on Tuesday.
See all race details and the full field here.
Away from Flemington, we also look forward to seeing Gambu step out beyond 2400m for the first time at Eagle Farm, a journey we feel he’ll appreciate. He should be able to build into the race when he likes from the wide alley and is a live chance.
See all race details and the full field here.
Best of luck to all involved in a great day’s racing on Tuesday!