Paddy,
Yeah things were getting a little dull weren't they! Nothing like a lively debate just inside the parameters of the forum's behavioural rules to liven up the middle of the week.
Now down to the imports. I believe they are unfairly maligned and have in fact performed very well in the Cup since Vintage Crop's breakthrough. How are these for size and don't forget, they leave the good ones at home;
1993 - Vintage Crop WON 14/1 - 3 OS starters
1994 - no placings - 4 OS starters
1995 - Vintage Crop 3rd 8/1, Quick Ransom 4th - 3 OS starters
1996 - no placings - 3 OS starters
1997 - Harbour Dues 4th - 3 OS starters
1998 - Persian Punch 3rd 12/1, Taufan's Melody 4th ( won Caul Cup ), Yorkshire 5th - 6 OS starters
1999 - Central Park 2nd 50/1 (57.5kgs), Travelmate 5th - 4 OS starters
2000 - Arctic Owl 5th - 5 OS starters
2001 - Give The Slip 2nd, Persian Punch 3rd (57.5kgs) - 4 OS starters.
One winner and 5 placers in 9 years plus a Caulfield Cup winner. No disgrace really considering they make up only 15% of the field sizes. The trend seems to be that the horses with form up to 2 miles go okay - the 4000m plodders like Drum Taps have struggled with the speed. Better be careful wiping the 57+ horses too. Last two years two placings and Vintage Crop in 1995 had 59.
Methinks its going to be the round dozen for Bart this time though - he has that look about him again! Magical Miss Caul Cup, Benarrivo Melb Cup.