We had some great racing on Derby Day – and some great wins for punters, with $6.00 plus favourite Ace High winning the big race.
More 2017 Melbourne Cup
» Race report: Rekindling wins
» Who came last
» Complete finishing order
» Watch video highlights replay
» Re-live the race with our live blog
» Regal Monarch’s horror fall
» Winning trifecta and quinella
» Winning exact and first four
Merchant Navy won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in what was possibly the best ride of 2017 from Mark Zahra, and it was a magnificent finishing burst that Luvaluva over the line in the Wakeful Stakes.
Why do I single out these horses? Because I backed them – proof that miracles can happen. But I didn’t get the quaddie, and that’s where the real money is for a mug.
But Tuesday is the big day, and the main event is the race that stops a nation. I’ve been on Wall of Fire since his impressive Herbert Power second, which was reminiscent of Shocking. My other choice is Red Cardinal because he has won in America. Barrier 24 may be an issue for some riders, but not for Kerrin McEvoy.
As a mug punter I usually spend about $30 on a boxed exacta with up to ten horses and have had successes thanks to the performances of Red Cadeaux, among others, running second at big odds. Usually I’m looking at about 20 per cent, and that usually pays well on the Melbourne Cup.
The Melbourne Cup is not the only race on the program and, like Derby Day, most of the races on the day are – to use that racing expression – time honoured.
So here are my selections for the day, on which I suspect not too many favourites will get up. I have put the current odds next to each runner just so you can be assured these are each-way selections.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Race 1 – 1000 metres
David Hayes said on television yesterday that his horse Qafila ($5.50) was his best for the day. It has run and won, so why argue with that?
Race 2 – 1700 metres
Everybody loves a 1700-metre race for four and five-year-old mares, and I’m no exception. There’s a short-priced favourite in Invicibella, so I will exacta her with my guesses Rock Away ($21) and Linguist ($13).
Race 3 – 1400 metres
I always back Royal Tudor ($21) and think Wayanka ($17) will be more suited to the Melbourne way of going.
Race 4 – 2800 metres
I love this race, with my favourite horse Mujadale having won it and being placed at 100/1. This year I will have a $1 each-way on veteran Crafty Cruiser ($81), but my pick will be Regal Monarch ($3) which has Joao Moreira on board and good strike rate.
Race 5 – 1000 metres
I’m picking Choisborder ($26), which has good form and is the only ride for Brad Rawiller for the day.
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Race 6 – 1400 metres
The short-priced favourite here is Our Crown Witness, and she will probably win. There are 13 horses in this race and I feel the rest should be $13 or over, so I’m on Super Snob ($26).
Race 7 – Melbourne Cup – 3200 metres
Wall of Fire ($11) and Red Cardinal ($15). I back Single Gaze most starts.
Race 8 – 1800 metres
No doubt the hardest race of the day, sometimes the topweight is a class above the rest, but I don’t feel that way about Tally at all. To be honest, I could look at this race once every hour and come up with a different selection. Balf’s Choice ($14) if scratched, Marcus ($14)
Race 9 – 1200 metres
I picked Derryn ($17) for the Group 2 sprint on Derby Day. Since he was scratched for that, I will stick with him. Faatinah ($6) has won over this trip at Flemington in a much better quality race than this.
Race 10 – 1400 metres
I think the plan was for White Moss ($4.60) to win a race during the cup carnival. This is it. I will also back Improvement ($21).
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
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