For Frankie Dettori, the jockey who has a lot of legendary races around the world, many times over, The Melbourne Cup is ‘unfinished business’. He has never won this prestigious title, despite many tries. He is now slotted to ride last year’s winner Almandin, the ultra-impressive winner of the listed JRA Cup last month. And the pick of the bunch. Damian Oliver was booked to ride him but lost the ride when he was suspended for rough-house tactics in the Cox Plate. The charismatic Frankie Dettori has promised to rejuvenate his famous star jump dismount if he can win a first Melbourne Cup.
The Melbourne Cup is steeped in tradition and folklore, with the names Phar Lap, Tulloch and Makybe Diva as recognisable as any in the annals of Australia's sporting history. Wall Of Fire is one of the top hopes for this prestigious crown. This English horse has had a run here and it was a good one, second to Lord Fandango over the 2400m of the Herbert Power Handicap. He should be able to find a spot from barrier 15 under master jockey Craig Williams.
Johannes Vermeer has been equally impressive in his only two Australian starts to date. He is a quality horse from one of the world’s top trainers in Aidan O’Brien, though his owner Lloyd Williams has probably had as much to do with this preparation. He probably should’ve won the Caulfield Cup, but at least he escaped a penalty. Has a good chance in the top five.
Out of the 11 internationals, who will tackle 'the race that stops a nation' this year with Marmelo on top. He will be ridden by top jockey Hugh Bowman in the Cup and was an eye-catcher in the Caulfield Cup coming from last on the turn to rattle home for sixth.
One time favourite Red Cardinal has history stacked against it as he hasn’t had an Australian lead-up race and will also come from barrier 24. But he did win a Group 3 over the Cup distance in the US in June and will be ridden by dual Cup winning Jockey Kerrin McEvoy. He is also trained by Andreas Wohler, the trainer of 2014 winner Protectionist. Another crowd puller, Nakeeta, won the Ebor Hendicap at York in his last start. The Ebor is often a lead-up race to this, but his win there was a bit of a surprise. Deserves respect but is drawn badly.
Tiberian is one of the roughies. Although he has won four of his last five in good company in France, he’s got an awful barrier and is having his first run in Australia, like a few of the internationals. Godolphin on the other-hand chose not to bring in any internationals into the race. Qewy’s trainer Charlie Appleby chose to give the Melbourne Cup a miss. Instead they are represented locally by Hartnell trained by James Cummings the grandson of Cups King Bart Cummings. Hartnell, 3rd last year, was really flat in his last race and it’s a surprise to see him here but the stable reckon he has thrived after a freshen up. On his day he’s the clear second best horse in Australia behind the mare but a place looks best.
Wicklow Brave has a much better barrier this year. On his staying prowess you’d probably respect him, but he’s now another nine-year-old.
It’s a tough battle of the horses. The Melbourne Cup is no longer just the race that famously stops a nation. It’s now a race that stops many around the world.
Gate | Horse Name | Age | Origin | Pedigree | Trainer | Owner | Jockey | Race Form |
1 | Bondi Beach | 6 | IRE | Galileo-One Moment In Time(Danehill) | Robert Hickmott | L J Williams | M.J.Walker | 13:4-3-2 |
2 | Max Dynamite | 9 | FR | Great Journey-Mascara(Monsun) | Willie Mullins | Ecurie Haras De Quetieville | Z.Purton | 23:4-4-3 |
3 | Johannes Vermeer | 5 | IRE | Galileo-Inca Princess(Holy Roman Emperor ) | Aidan O’Brien | N C Williams, Mr & Mrs L J Williams | Ben Melham | 12:4-2-2 |
4 | Rekindling | 4 | GB | High Chaparral-Sitara(Salse) | Joseph O’Brien | Lloyd J Williams | C.Brown | 9:3-2-0 |
5 | Big Duke | 6 | IRE | Raven’s Pass-Hazarayna(Polish Precedent) | Darren Weir | Australian Bloodstock | Brenton Avdulla | 19:7-4-3 |
6 | Ventura Storm | 5 | IRE | Zoffany-Sarawati(Haafhd) | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Middleham Park Racing LXXII | G.Boss | 17:6-2-1 |
7 | Libran | 7 | IRE | Lawman-True Crystal(Sadlers Wells) | Chris Waller | Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Australia Ltd | D.Dunn | 29:9-3-1 |
8 | Wicklow Brave | 9 | GB | Beat Hollow-Moraine(Rainbow Quest) | Willie Mullins |
Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland), Ltd |
Glen Boss | 37:10-4-5 |
9 | Boom Time | 6 | AUS | Flying Spur-Bit Of A Ride(Snippets) | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Ferrari Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | Corey Parish | 32:7-2-7 |
10 | Amelie's Star | 6 | AUS | Testa Rossa-Zazita (Zabeel) | Darren Weir | P Hodgens | Dean Yendall | 18:6-2-2 |
11 | Single Gaze | 5 | AUS | Not A Single Doubt-Redaluca’s Gaze(Intergaze) | Nick Olive | N Olive | Kathy O’Hara | 27:5-6-3 |
12 | Hartnell | 7 | GB | Authorized-Debonnaire(Anabaa) | James Cummings | Godolphin | Damian Lane | 36:11-11-2 |
13 | Humidor | 5 | NZ | Teofilo-Zalika(Zabeel) | Darren Weir | Jomara Bloodstock Ltd | Blake Shinn | 21:6-7-2 |
14 | Almandin | 8 | GER | Monsun-Anatola(Tiger Hill) | Robert Hickmott | Gestüt Schlenderhan | Frankie Dettori | 15:6-4-1 |
15 | Wall Of Fire | 5 | IRE | Canford Cliffs-Bright Sapphire(Galileo) | Hugo Palmer | Australian Racing Stables | Craig Williams | 14:4-3-0 |
16 | Marmelo | 5 | GB | Duke Of Marmalade-Capriolla(In The Wings) | Hughie Morrison | The Fairy Story Partnership | Hugh Bowman | 10:3-4-1 |
17 | Cismontane | 5 | NZ | High Chaparral-Viviane(Volksraad) | Gai Waterhouse | Glenvallen Investments Pty Ltd & Others | Beau Mertens | 19:5–5–4 |
18 | Gallante | 7 | IRE | Montjeu-Crazy Volume(Machiavellian) | Robert Hickmott | Mr N C Williams | M.J.Dee | 19:4-1-3 |
19 | Nakeeta | 7 | GB | Sixties Icon-Easy Red(Hunting Lion) | Iain Jardine | M Channo | Glyn Schofield | 31:5-8-3 |
20 | Who Shot Thebarman | 9 | NZ | Yamanin Vital-Ears Carol(Carolingian) | Chris Waller | O'Leary Brothers | Tommy Berry | 47:10-7-3 |
21 | Thomas Hobson | 8 | GB | Halling-La Spezia(Danehill Dancer) | Willie Mullins | Mrs S Ricci | J.Moreira | 24:9-4-2 |
22 | Us Army Ranger | 5 | IRE | Galileo-Moonstone(Dalakhani) | Aidan O’Brien | Mrs John Magnier | J.P.Spencer | 12:2-3-2 |
23 | Tiberian | 6 | FR | Tiberius Caesar-Toamasina(Marju) | Alain Coutetil | "E.A.R.L. Haras Du Logis, Heiko Volz | Olivier Pesilier | 17:6-4-0 |
24 | Red Cardinal | 6 | IRE | Montjeu-Notable(Zafonic) | Andreas Wohler | Australian Bloodstock Stable | Kerrin McEvoy | 9:5-3-1 |
1) Marmelo
2) Johannes Vermeer
3) Hartnell