MELBOURNE CUP 2019 PREVIEW
FLEMINGTON RACE 7 – 15:00 AEDT
OPEN G1
3200m
$7,750,000
SOFT 6
Rail OUT 3m entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 1x434 | CROSS COUNTER | C APPLEBY | WILLIAM BUICK (5) | 57.5 | $14 |
| 2 | 1x1x1 | MER DE GLACE | H SHIMIZU | D LANE (2) | 56.0 | $6.50 |
| 3 | 14335 | MASTER OF REALITY | J O'BRIEN | L DETTORI (1) | 55.5 | $21 |
| 4 | 322x3 | MIRAGE DANCER | T B & N YOUNG | B MELHAM (13) | 55.5 | $34 |
| 5 | 64413 | SOUTHERN FRANCE | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | M ZAHRA (14) | 55.5 | $26 |
| 6 | 65881 | HUNTING HORN | A O'BRIEN | J A HEFFERNAN (11) | 55.0 | $35 |
| 7 | 44216 | LATROBE | J O'BRIEN | J B MC DONALD (22) | 55.0 | $26 |
| 8 | 23516 | MUSTAJEER | K LEES | D OLIVER (6) | 55.0 | $18 |
| 9 | 7x790 | ROSTROPOVICH | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | D DUNN (12) | 55.0 | $71 |
| 10 | 411x7 | TWILIGHT PAYMENT | J O'BRIEN | H BOWMAN (19) | 55.0 | $67 |
| 11 | x5125 | FINCHE | C WALLER | K MCEVOY (4) | 54.0 | $10 |
| 12 | 58321 | PRINCE OF ARRAN | CHARLIE FELLOWES | M WALKER (8) | 54.0 | $17 |
| 13 | 37x4x | RAYMOND TUSK | RICHARD HANNON JR | J P SPENCER (3) | 54.0 | $18 |
| 14 | 12x31 | DOWNDRAFT | J O'BRIEN | J ALLEN (15) | 53.5 | $19 |
| 15 | 20224 | MAGIC WAND | A O'BRIEN | R L MOORE (24) | 53.5 | $27 |
| 16 | 80709 | NEUFBOSC | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | L NOLEN (23) | 53.5 | $151 |
| 17 | 8x070 | SOUND | M MORONEY | J WINKS (10) | 53.5 | $101 |
| 18 | 32x41 | SURPRISE BABY | P PREUSKER | JORDAN CHILDS (20) | 53.5 | $15 |
| 19 | 12224 | CONSTANTINOPLE | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | J MOREIRA (7) | 52.5 | $8 |
| 20 | 17135 | IL PARADISO | A O'BRIEN | W M LORDAN (17) | 52.5 | $14 |
| 21 | 1x467 | STEEL PRINCE | A FREEDMAN | B PREBBLE (16) | 52.5 | $61 |
| 22 | 59195 | THE CHOSEN ONE | M B & A FORSMAN | TIM CLARK (18) | 52.0 | $81 |
| 23 | 21x42 | VOW AND DECLARE | D O'BRIEN | C WILLIAMS (21) | 52.0 | $12 |
| 24 | 87873 | YOUNGSTAR | C WALLER | TOMMY BERRY (9) | 52.0 | $41 |
OVERVIEW
Australia’s most famous race is here. The race that stops the nation brings great intrigue in 2019 with a number of overseas runners up against the Aussie stayers. The internationals have dominated our staying races recently, in particular the Caulfield Cup & Cox Plate, which were won by Japanese horses in dominant fashion. Can an Aussie take out the Cup? Or will it be another international success?
SPEED MAP
The 2019 Cup looks to be relatively slowly run with a distinct lack of pace in the field. Magic Wand may cross and lead them along but apart from that, there doesn’t seem to be any other noted frontrunners. Finche may elect to push forward from barrier 4 along with Prince of Arran and Downdraft. The rest of the speed looks muddling but we can expect them to be strung out with such a large field.
KEY RUNNERS
- MER DE GLACE ($6.50)
Caulfield Cup winner from two weeks ago, the Japanese galloper was simply too good for them in the 2400m event. He has strung together 6 wins on the trot now but this will be his first attempt at 3200m; in fact he had never won at a distance greater than 2200m prior to the Caulfield Cup. Is he too brilliant for the two miles? There's only one way to find out.
- SOUTHERN FRANCE ($26)
New addition to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace yard after being trained Aidan O’Brien and brings form lines from some of Europe’s best stayers. Won the Irish St Leger Trial by two lengths before beating fellow Melbourne Cup starters Downdraft and Master Of Reality in his next start. Was strong through the line and will have no difficulty in handling the distance based on these runs.
- PRINCE OF ARRAN ($19)
Continues to find his best form on Australian soil by winning the Geelong Cup last start and placing in the Herbert Power Stakes before that. Bar the winner, was the run of the race in the Melbourne Cup last year and rises only one kilogram on that performance. Draws to get a lovely run from barrier eight and will be right in it all the way.
- IL PARADISO ($15)
Lightly raced Northern Hemisphere three-year-old who fits the profile of recent winners and will carry only 52.5 kilograms on Tuesday. Was only beaten one and a quarter length by the form stayer of the last three years Stradivarius while also recording a 12-length victory prior to that over this distance. Has the services of Wayne Lordan who has ridden him from 3 of last four starts.
- VOW AND DECLARE ($13)
The lightly weighted four-year-old has been set for the first Tuesday in November after his second in the Queensland Derby and victory in the Tattersalls Cup over 3000m. Worked home well first up over 2000 metres and was strong through the line once again in the Caulfield Cup. Appears to handle the distance but jumping from barrier 21 will be his only concern.
- CONSTANTINOPLE ($8)
He has been the Melbourne Cup favourite for the last two weeks following his luckless 4th in the Caulfield Cup where he was held up until the furlong and charged home late. He has since drifted since the barrier draw but there are concerns that he has a couple of quirks which could flare up with the big Cup day crowd and also that he is a perennial bridesmaid having placed 5 times in 8 starts in the Northern Hemisphere. In the field with 52.5kg with Joao Moreira on board so he's weighted to win - can it put it all together?
BLUEY’S PICK
- PRINCE OF ARRAN ($19)
Proved himself as a genuine stayer in this race last year and lost no fans last start when he was dour in taking out the Geelong Cup. Will be peaking third up here and has every chance to go two better than 2018 and claim the Cup.
First 4 Selections: 12-5-19-2
