O’Brien really isn’t filling me with confidence about this. Septimus just doesn’t appear to like the going. He might be the world’s greatest trainer (according to Gai Waterhouse, the sarcasm dripping from her pursed little shitty lips this morning), but if he’s going to go to the effort and cost involved in bringing a horse over for the Melbourne Cup, then surely he should have something here that prefers a hard track. I mean, its Australia for fucks sake, it hasn’t rained here in 17years. Its not exactly like racing with 3 miles of Kildare turf underfoot. He’s been banging on about watering the track since he went to mass in Melbourne on Sunday with about 6 TV crews in tow (didn’t half look silly I have to say). Needless to say, he’s drawn much derision from the racing community over here as a result.
I’m personally (for what its worth, which isn’t much) looking to Nom Du Jeu.
Though really, you would have to go with Mad Rush if you’re being intelligent, great horse, Luca Comani trained and Damien Oliver on board (Oliver going for his 4th Melbourne Cup). Form would suggest that the favourite is in that position for a reason.
My roughie (as they call it here, whatevcer it means) is Yellowstone - Jane Chappel Hyam trained, I know it came last or something in the St Ledger, but its a stayer and thats what you need in this race.
It would be great if Septimus won it though, it would shut a lot of people up over here, especially Bart Cummnings and Gai, the horrible little bastard.
So close to Cumani doing it. Disaster for Ballydoyle there. Mussay I didn’t think much of Corey Brown, couldn’t he have got a slap or two into Bauer late on instead of sitting up his neck?
Winner’s prep was a last in the Mackinnon Stakes on saturday…
I don’t know what the fuck O’Brien was thinking, but that was a suicide run. All three horses (Allesandro Volta, Honololou, Septimus) bate it out of the start and had a 10 length lead and then got inevitably caught. It was utter stupidity.
O’Brien will be back next year, hopefully he’s learned from this. He really needs to give his horses a run before the cup over here, something he didn’t do this year. Oh, and bring a few horses that like a hard track. And maybe even use some Aussie jockeys.
Buckhurst will take stopping for Joseph and nick williams in the Cup. There’s about 30 European/ ex European horses ahead of him in the weights. I mentioned him back April as one maybe for the Irish derby after his maiden win but he’s been aimed low but last weeks run in the lep caught my eye. He’s a beautifully balanced colt and stayed on lovely behind a decent beast in Norway. He’s number 59 in the weights and I’m not positive he will he get a run but he is definitely to my mind the most likely European winner of the race. He finishes with a rattle in his races and that’s suited to the cup now. I was surprised Joseph went off and paid six figures for twilight payment but he’s entered up in the cup but is thoroughly exposed coming from Jim booger’s. I just wonder is his job to ensure an end to end gallop. He was front running when landing two group races over the summer. I’d urge anybody interested to watch buck hurst finishing off his race in the lep anyway. He’s 33s at the moment.
It’s very tricky to weight up the aussies form as I don’t quite understand their pattern system but when you see a whole host of ex coolmore yokes entered up you’d wonder how strong it is. One thing I did do was look at their breeding and a lot of them are more milers and ten furlong horses. I forget who’s mentioned in the past but the cup used to be a slowly enough run affair but I’d say the Europeans have changed that for ever more with a host of Frankels, Galileo and Australia’s on route down under. They’ll stay every inch off two miles. A few of the aussies would prefer a test of speed I’d suggest. It’s tricky enough to work out six weeks before a race but theirs some amount off pace even from the ballydoyle/nick Williams runners. I think this will suit buckhurst really well.
Fairly token selection for me but I’ve gone for Magic wand despite the bad draw. I actually think this could help her as she’ll have to be dropped in and will hopefully settle better so she can get the trip. She’s good form with Anthony Van Dyke, Iridessa, Magical and bricks and mortar who’ve won group ones and ran well in breeders cup in the past few weeks. She ran well in her prep too. I think 20s is a decent price particularly with 5 and 6 places available.
Currently a soft 6. Flemington got a good rinse over the weekend. At best, it’ll get to a 5, but you’ll definitely want something that appreciates a cut in the ground.
I looked this morning and thought stratum was very interesting for Tony bloom And willie Mullins. I’d rate the horse he gave weight to in York as 125 mare and he gave her a few pounds and a right run. Bloom doesn’t waste his money and it’s over a 100k to get a horse down there And I’d imagine very tricky with covid 19 so I think it’s telling they travelled. I’d think 33s is a big price anyway. I’d say Joseph and Aidan will ensure it’s a stamina test too so that’ll suit. There’s 9 or 10 of these with European form and I wouldn’t fancy any of them to give that Gosden filly much of a race over two miles.
That tiger moth is a grade one horse I’d imagine but his draw is awful. Aidan apparently waxed lyrical Irish champions weekend but he’s got a tough draw.
