I know jockeys and trainers go into every race wanting to win it, but if your already guaranteed a start in the BIG ONE why would you want to win this? All you do is get a penalty which will hinder your chances of winning the real cup.

I am the biggest On A Jeune fan there is but i believe todays run will purely be a tune up for the first tuesday in november, and have ruled out any chances of him winning today.

I have had a little EW on Vengo. Thought his last start win over 2300m was effortless and the weight in this race would ensure he is round about come the winning post.

PS. Am i even correct that the winner of this race receives a penalty?

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Kerry O'Reilly.

This horse ran 2nd in the Kelt 3 starts back which IMO is a pretty strong formline for this.Also Pentane won 3 in a row before it's last start failure in an unsuitable race,so I'd forgive it that run.It is drawn out in the carpark but that may see it get out to silly odds.On a Jeune can't be left out either,but as it's already qualified for the MC can't see them worrying wether it wins this just hoping for a good run,a win is a bonus.Think the winner should come from these 3 unless there is a boilover.Going to take a 3x3xfield trifecta withthose and play them in exactas & quins.
Agree with Raw about this race as a pointer for the MC.
IMO the long straight is comparable to the Flemington course,so any horse that can sustain a long finishing run gets it's chance if good enough.

Good luck

I had forgotten about Zazzman,still without Media Puzzle its only produced place getters,i'm more concerned with winners.

Wasnt there a very long break between Media Puzzle and the last winner to go on to the win the Cup?

Needless to say if something runs extremely well i'll consider backing it,ive got nothing against a trainer taking an easy road to the cup.

Geelong Cup

Diamond Jake (8)
Dracs Back (14)
Pentane (6)
Siamun (16)

Roughy - Exalted Time (10)

great tip!! u convinced me to have a couple of bucks e/w on it so im happy with the little pickup. you would have cleaned up with the quinella to. good work mate

Deane Lester gave it a big chance on radio this morning, but apart from him, this thread is about the only place I've seen it mentioned.

Good tipping Dale and Raw Instinct.

The main reason I liked the horse was in it's only run over 2400m it was beaten 1.3 lengths by Xcellent in the NZ Derby I felt that was good enough form for me and breeding wise he should have been able to stay a bit being by Ebony Grovse throw into that Craig Williams riding from a good gate and he was probably exceptional odds.

I wouldn't rule him out as a light weight chance in the Melbourne Cup now not sure what weight he has but that was pretty impressive the way he let down on the bend today.

I dindt go as deep into its form as i would have liked but i liked the fact it was an up and coming horse who to me had been sent to Australia for a reason,i had it as my second tip behind Dracs Back,the only thing i'm upset about is missing out on the quinella,i took the chance and risked Vanquished.

As i did in the Caulfield Cup i spent too much on the quinella and only ended up getting 1st and 3rd,i could have won more had i just bet for the win but considering that with a tiny bit of luck i could have snared a huge divedend i'm happy to have sacrificed some pot.

Mandela won quite easily,i'll watch the video again but for now i'm thinking it and Vanquished are a few steps behind the other Cup contenders.

well done you guys that backed Mandela,hpoe you won a motza!

Did anyone notice the way Dracs Back & On A Jeune were ridden yesterday?

Both these horses are normally backmarkers,yet both were up on the speed .

I'm not suggesting anything untoward as Dracs was perfectly ridden,just wasn't good enough.

On a jeune(IMO)was just going around for a tune up.

Not sure about that Go4it On A jeune was closer than he has been in any reason he has contested I think maybe they were tyring to see if they can get him to settle closer and try and finish over the top of them, If that was the case then it failed either that or they just weren't trying to win.

Either way Mandela only drops to 50kgs in the cup which although a good weight alot of horses will meet him better for that run yesterday still if he got out to around the $50 mark cup day I wouldn't leave him out