Hi Bordi

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"w924... i think you will find i also mentioned that it cant have been that wet for xellent to finish 3rd. his cox plate run was more then evident that he cannot compete with a soft track",

Excellent was never going to win the Cox plate .(in my opinion) .regardless of track condition. I saw that race as a lead up to the Melb Cup., a track better suited with its long straight... Excellent likes to come from well behind, and most people accept that the Cox Plate is a 2040m "sprint" and you have to be real handy at the home turn to have any real chance of winning.

As far as the Melb Cup goes, I think Excellent ran a brilliant race with three shoes on, and a track surface that the trainer felt was unsuitable. I'll let the trainer and the penetrometer be the better judge of that.

Excellent. as a five year old, with all shoes on, and on a firm track , should be very very hard to beat at 3200m.

I also find it amusing that they changed the track rating to "Good' just before the Cup race...what better way to try and save their ass? But when you look through the smoke and mirors you will probably realise that it doesnt exonerate them from all the lead up races, and the horses that were disadvantged by that. I am not talking through my pocket. I won on the day and got the Melb Cup quinella, plus a winner on a Dead track, but that doesn't make it right.

Since when do we start race days deliberately with a Dead track so that it will change to Good over the course of the day? If thats the case then all tracks would be rated as Dead or worse at the start of every race meeting...LOL.

I am pleased that other trainers are not letting this go...even though they will appear to some people as being whingers. This must never be allowed to happen again. and by the way..there is nothing wrong with a good to firm track, as opposed to a dead to good track.....it is regarded by many as the best possible racing surface.

I'll write no more on the subject. Bordi, most people here who are not happy with the track scenario still admire the great mare, and know full well that they may never witness another horse win 3 Melb cups in their lifetime...




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