Hi All,

Wondering if anyone had any dark horses for the Big Cups?

Caulfield Cup

I still like Vigor for the Caulfield Cup. Got buffeted against the rails early in the race on Saturday, so forgive and it's previous runs this campaign have been outstanding. 51 kilo's looks luxurious.

Speed Gifted was obviously impressive on Saturday, doubt the opposition a bit but hands and heels all the way, you can't do much more.

Roman Emporer could be a smoky. Loved his run in the Derby in the Autumn when he beat Predatory Pricer and he has the GENIUS trainer in B. Cummings. Currently $26 fixed odds.


Melbourne Cup

Efficient was too impressive to ignore on Saturday but I'll wait till the spring pans out a bit for the Cup.


Cox Plate

I like Maldivian and Trusting.

Stayer to follow for the lesser staying races - DANDAAD. Didn't seem to do much in the Autumn in Sydney. Wondering if he's a Melbourne/Spring Horse. Has the Cummings polish and could pick up a listed/Group 3 type event.


Just thought I might incite a little healthy conversation to nut out the winners of the big races this spring.

Have a b-u-diful day.

Two Shoes

A couple I have recently put in my Black Book that are still decent odds for the big one are Capecover and Allez Wonder. Allez Wonder is a chance as long as the tracks stay dead at the worst, and capecover has been hitting the line very hard at it's last couple.

Outside of speed gifted I think those two are pretty good value.

Agree with Maldivian in the Cox Plate, put a double on for the caulfield cup cox Plate for Speed Gifted into Maldivian @ 144-1 and Speed Gifted into So You Think (cox plate) @ 270-1

I like your style Horse Whisperer!

Do you know much about the breeding of Allez Wonder? Do you think it'll stay the cup distance?

I think Capecover might be slightly below the standard required to win the Big ones, but it could run a cheeky place. In saying that, I never disregard the Kiwi's completely, as they seem to know a thing or two about training horses for the good races.

Two Shoes

Two shoes I'm not right into the breeding side of things. She ran 3rd in the vrc oaks though she was beaten 5l, she was coming home hard. The first up run at Flemington really caught my eye this prep so got on for her next start and she won racing on the speed rather than her usuall get back style which obviously wouldnt have been suited at Moonee Valley.

The thing with the Melbourne cup I've found is I've started to look oustide what is regarded as the top horses over the 2000-2400m distances, as the 2nd raters seem to be the ones that pop up and win the race. Viewed is a great example and the year Efficient won it could hardly be regarded as one of the top chances and it's winning price showed. That's why I don't mind Capecover.

Like Viewed and Zipping in CC. Both hit the line hard in their past few races.

Seven-year-old mare Varevees, who ran fourteenth in last year's Melbourne Cup, will be aimed at Australia's richest race once again.



Varevees contested last year's Melbourne Cup under the tutelage of British trainer Richard Gibson, however has since been in the care of in-form Cranbourne-based trainer Mick Kent.

"I'm really pleased with her," Kent told The Virtual Formguide.

"She's now got a lot stronger like those European mares do.

"I think she's got a big motor and I'm hoping that with a season under her belt that she might find her true form," Kent added.

Varevees is likely to resume in the $200,000 Group 2 Stock Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 12 with Kent mindful that the daughter of Irish sire, Kahyasi, must re-qualify for the Melbourne Cup.

"She might have to go through races like the Bart Cummings or Winning Edge to earn a start in the Cup," he said.

The $150,000 Bart Cummings (2500m) will be held at Flemington on October 3 while the $200,000 Group 2 Winning Edge Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield a week later on October 10.

Varevees last win was back in September 2007, when victorious in the Group 3 Gladiateur Stakes (3100m) at Longchamp, France.

Because of that stakes victory, Varevees has passed the balloting conditions of the Melbourne Cup by a month.

I have the same thought on Viewed and Zipping. PP was good as well. Efficient effort was good.

you'd be looking good there....


i backed Harris Tweed (CC) into So You Think at 1500-1 , should have gone speed gifted as well

Horse Whisperer, I'm not sure I agree with 'Viewed is a great example and the year Efficient won it could hardly be regarded as one of the top chances and it's winning price showed' as while they were both seemingly out of form at the time, they definitely had class and both were Derby winners.

While I didn't personally didn't back either of them, I won't dispute that Capecover has an outside chance, so best of luck!!

Regarding Harris Tweed, I haven't seen any of its spring form, how's it travelling Chuck?

So You Think was a great call. Could be anything!

Two Shoes

Twoshoes what I meant was they wernt regarded as up there with the top group one horses leading up to the Cup. Yes they raced in the top group 1 races but they were hardly competitive. Viewed's best win was the group 2 Brisbane Cup and Efficient had won the derby and vase. Neither of the horses had even placed in any group races in the prep leading into their cup win.