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The 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with VRC Derby Day at Flemington this afternoon. Join us through the day for a live blog and race updates of four Group Ones with the 2500m classic at 3.00pm AEDT.
Derby Day is easily the best day’s racing in the southern hemisphere. It is the only all Group-race meeting in Australia each season so the quality is traditionally world class.
From the outset the tension is high. Race two at 12.00pm AEDT is the Lexus (2500m, Group Three, handicap) and sees Melbourne Cup aspirants fight for the final place in Tuesday’s race.
The winner of the Lexus is guaranteed a start in the Cup and key chances Gatewood (the Geelong Cup winner), Excluded, Exceptionally, Tanby and Dare To Dream will back-up in the great handicap if they win today. But only victory will suffice.
The Lexus winner has a strong recent record in the Melbourne Cup. This race has produced the 2000 and 2009 Cup winners – Brew and Shocking – as well as Maluckyday, who split Americain and So You Think in 2010.
The first of four Group Ones is the Coolmore Stud (1.20pm AEDT) for the three-year old sprinters over 1200m. Run down the Flemington straight, the race formerly known as the Ascot Vale has produced future superstars Alinghi (2004) Gold Edition (2006) and Weekend Hussler (2008).
This year’s renewal pits exciting fillies Snitzerland and Nechita against each other. Snitzerland boasts a victory over Cox Plate runner-up All Too Hard at the very start of the spring, while Nechita – who was very impressive in a Tuesday morning Flemington jump-out – boasts elite-level ability.
In the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m, Group One, weight-for-age) Cox Plate champion Ocean Park will be shooting for his fifth Group One victory in as many starts this spring.
I understand, should he be successful, Ocean Park will be the first male Australasian horse to win a quintet of Group Ones in five consecutive starts since Apache Cat did the same in 2008. Incidentally, I bumped into Apache Cat twice last weekend and the strikingly marked ten-year old is doing very well (and loves a pat too).
Ocean Park will face stiff competition in the form of Caulfield Cup second placegetter Alcopop. Alcopop was defeated at the same conditions by Ocean Park less than a month ago but the margin was narrow and the expansive Flemington track could bring about a reverse result.
Melbourne Cup starters Winchester and Zabeelionaire will fine-tuning their 3200m preparations in the Mackinnon, while December Draw will be hoping to regain his best form (that saw him finish third in the Turnbull at this track and distance last month) after he failed to run-out the distance in the Caulfield Cup.
The Mackinnon could be the highlight of the day.
The major drawcard is the VRC Derby (2500m, three-year olds, handicap). The Victoria Derby is the oldest Australian classic horse race and has been won by some of Australia’s best gallopers including Melbourne Cup winners Phar Lap, Hall Mark, Comic Court, Delta and most-recently Efficient in 2006.
This year’s Derby is headlined by the exciting It’s A Dundeel who was defeated for the first time on Cox Plate Day. He didn’t handle the tricky Moonee Valley circuit on that occasion and should appreciate Flemington’s long straight.
It’s A Dundeel is attempting to become the fourth consecutive New Zealander, trained by a New Zealand national, to win the Derby.
If It’s A Dundeel fails to flatter again, the Derby is a wide open affair. Super Cool, who defeated It’s A Dundeel last wekend, was very impressive in victory, while the likes of Hvasstan, Escado, Honorius and Subiaso aren’t without winning chances.
The final Group One of the card is the Myer Classic run over the mile at 3.45pm AEDT for the mares. Three of Australia’s best mares – Black Caviar, Atlantic Jewel and Mosheen – are injured at the moment and that leaves this race wide open.
Streama is, along with More Joyous, the best female in work at the moment, and she can record her third Group One victory in this race. She was impressive when winning the Tristarc on Caulfield Cup Day last time.
Her main dangers include quality miler Secret Admirer and Patinack Farm’s Pear Tart.
The other highlight of Derby Day is the Wakeful Stakes (2000m, Group Two) at 2.00pm for the three-year old fillies. The Oaks winner usually races in the Wakeful and the smart analysts have been suggesting for some time that Zydeco is the girl to beat next Thursday.
But don’t discount Tyanna who gave older horses (including males) a hiding a Bendigo last start. It’s uncommon for a filly to treat stronger thoroughbreds with such contempt, so we can only assume that Tyanna is well above average.
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