We saw plenty of horses around the country reach their seasonal peaks on Saturday, but it’s difficult to dispute that The Offer and Our Voodoo Prince were the two breakout stayers over autumn.
The Offer brushed aside all queries about his form on dryer ground when he clinically dispatched a quality field in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m. In doing so, he quickly leapt to the top of Melbourne Cup betting markets.
It’s been a solid season for The Offer, chalking up wins in the Group 3 Manion Cup (2000m) and Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) to go with his Sydney Cup.
The five-year-old gelding by champion stallion Montjeu has virtually assured himself a start in the 2014 Melbourne Cup, which trainer Gai Waterhouse immediately voiced as his next target.
With earnings just shy of $1 million, The Offer has quickly won back his purchase price after Waterhouse’s bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever bought him for 200,000 guineas (AUD$360,000) at the 2012 Tattersalls November Horses In Training sale.
Sydney Cup form has traditionally been a no-go zone when assessing Melbourne Cup runners, but few have triumphed as dominantly as The Offer’s four-length victory.
While all eyes may have been on the four Group 1s at Randwick, many can be excused if they missed the Group 3 Easter Cup at Caulfield. A mediocre field of 15 lined up in the 2000m handicap, won by Our Voodoo Prince.
Although the margin of one length won’t turn many heads based on paper form, it flattered the rest of the field. Ridden cold at the back, Our Voodoo Prince was in all sorts of trouble as the field compacted and two walls of horses confronted the gelding.
But a masterful ride by James Winks saw Our Voodoo Prince make an inside run which was quickly cut out, before switching back to the outside and squeezing through a narrow gap to run on and score by a length.
In fact, the written word does not do that ride justice – it was simply special.
Our Voodoo Prince is now undefeated in his three Australian starts since being purchased by Australian interests and transferred to Chris Waller. Stationed in Waller’s Melbourne base, it should come as no surprise that the Melbourne spring has always been on the gelding’s agenda.
By Kingmambo, the six-year-old is out of Ouija Board who remarkably won eight Group 1s across the UK, the United States and Hong Kong.
As Ouija Board’s first foal, Our Voodoo Prince had seemingly plateaued under Ed Dunlop’s tutelage and was offered for sale and purchased by Waller for 80,000 guineas (AUD$145,000). Like so many of Chris Waller’s imports, the European was quickly turned around in his new environment.
Last month, Coolmore head trainer Aiden O’Brien indirectly gave Our Voodoo Prince a glowing endorsement. The Irishman labeled Our Voodoo Prince’s half-brother Australia as “the best we’ve ever had”, which speaks volumes about the bloodline.
They were strong words coming from the man who trained High Chapparal, St Nicholas Abbey, Dylan Thomas, Galileo, Fame And Glory, So You Think and so many more.
Both The Offer and Our Voodoo Prince share a link through their previous trainers. Aiden O’Brien desperately wants to win a Melbourne Cup having sent so many horses over in the past, while Ed Dunlop’s balding head is very much justified by his two Melbourne Cup second-placings for no wins.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, we only need to wind the clock back to this time last year when another European import seduced us.
Puissance De Lune was all the Melbourne Cup rage 12 months ago before the strangest of preparations by Darren Weir saw him begin his campaign three months before the Cup. [Editor’s note: He’ll be back for another tilt in 2014]
Puissance de Lune ultimately succumbed to fatigue and injury two weeks before the Cup, but Gai Waterhouse is cannier than to fall for that trap.
Sydney’s greatest female trainer knows how to win a Melbourne Cup having just done it with Fiorente, and Our Voodoo Prince may tick all the right staying boxes.
titch
Guest
Alfred you wrote "Sydney Cup form has traditionally been a no-go zone when assessing Melbourne Cup runners" and I don't think The Offer' win changes that. Most are spruiking Irish and English horses for the MC but I'm thinking if a Japanese horse makes it over I'll be backing it.
Jack
Guest
I actually thought this article would include her given the trainer has made it very clear she will be aimed at it. The Offer seems a good horse but I disagree with the writer, that was a woeful field the other day. He will need to go to another level to win the Cup.
Murray in Auckland
Guest
We certainly did but it's neither of the horses you mentioned. Her name is Silent Achiever. She finished off gamely in the QE but the 2000m was just too short for her. With a better ride, she would have been right in the finish of last year's Caulfield Cup and we know she covers the distance no problem now that she's won a BMW. She'll get into the Melbourne Cup with 55kg and be too good for your lot. Lucia Valentina will also be a big chance in both Cups.
Bondy
Guest
Al Denham's a lovely man, straight up, I'll just mention just prior to Jack pulling stumps retiring in his yard at the time all in work he had Might and Power Filante and Shovog, I'm sure of it . I'm to young for Vic Thompson 40 and didn't start punting till I was 20.I backed Royal Descent on the weekend I'm still trying to figure out why, the market was funny, I didn't trust dondeal, Silent Achiever has now been unplaced at all starts at Randwick, lay of the day.
kv joef
Guest
Bondy i think side-burns has been sacked and is suing 'at the races' for unfair dismissal. i'm a fan of ascot too and this year incorporating the champions series and the races Johnny Nevin mentioned above, its going to be great. i don't know how many times JDenham's horses fed me as i was cutting my teeth in this game. used to admire him so much - the way he would dare the bookies to bet against him. stick good horses in wednesday welters with 10st (65kgs) on their back and challenge them to bet against him. and we know who ended up with the cash most of the time. he was held in such high regard by every one in the trade that the year when he finally won his first sydney premiership, after Alan had transferred all his horses to him to make sure he wouldn't fall short of winners. Then Vic Thompson / the Ingham's Crown Lodge (Rosehill people with good memories :)) has a real chance to spoil the party but hardly had a metro runner on the last day of the season but strangely a had a quite few at kembla. Never a shrewder man has walked onto a racecourse than JDenham. Many uninformed punters said he was 'tricky' but his patterns were as plain as the full moon on a clear night. as a punter you had to be willing to wear a loss but you'd get it back pretty quick and usually with interest. Alan Denham has never got the recognition he deserves but he understandably uses Jacks patterns beautifully as well ... with similar results :). if it ain't broken why fix it :). i wonder if you remember No Scolding - what a four-legged ATM he was and i do remember King Ivor well :).
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Yes Kingstand and Australia are exciting prospects. They're both due to meet in the guinneas although Australia's breeding would suggest he'd like further.
Bondy
Guest
Kv Just on the Kingmambo sire line I remember the late J Dehnam " brilliant trainer" he had a Kingmambo colt called King Ivor B York up " Dittman sacked " and favourite for the Carbine Club 1600 mtrs at Flemington he didn't run through the post and possibly didn't place and I'm sure he didn't win at 1600 mtrs "hardly staying", I know that's only one horse but food for thought . I really like the Ascot meet I cant wait, and for that grub John Mc Criricks yellow teeth, Lol.
kv joef
Guest
thx for the heads-up JN. i hadn't really thought about him until a few weeks ago and then promptly forgot about him again until the above post about possible Irish visitors. agree with you about a likely visit ... unlikely :). interesting though with Godolphin because they badly want to win the MC but i think bolger would prefer the U.S. Breeders Turf ... but the MC is a $6m. (GBP3.5m) race and he is such a good fit for it - good cruising speed, top trainer and a tough nugget but like i said, last time i seen him, he was pretty dumb but bolger will sort that out. As mentioned previously, right from the first time i seen him race i could see him at flemington but a U.K. G1 success would see his MC weight/rating ratio adv. disappear. anyway i'll enjoy seeing to what level he measures. thx again JN. i figure you would be getting pretty interested in what is happening in Europe at the moment - Treve back in the Sunday's Prix Ganay and i'm liking this years bunch of 3yr-olds :). Oooops i've gone off-topic.
Strummer Jones
Guest
"Only bookies get rich when people start talking about the Melbourne Cup in April" Correct
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Kv joef, trading leather is still in training this year with Godolphin now a majority share holder. He's entered in a G2 at Newmarket in early May at a mile and a half. I know trainer Jim Bolger is expecting the horse to improve and Godolphin horses generally are better as older horses. I would suspect TL will be targeted at races such as the prince of wales, the eclipse, king George and irish champion. The horse wants firm ground so the Arc might be unlikely. He will have to improve from last year to win open age Group 1's. Maybe the Melbourne cup could be a race for him but only if he fails to win the European middle distance G1's.
kv joef
Guest
Trading Leather won't come here ... wishful thinking on my part ... he's pretty good. Demolished an Irish Derby while his stablemate started fv. in Epsom Derby and failed (Dawn Approach - 2000G). His trainer said he didn't want them to clash - bet he had second thoughts afterwards particularly as his missus owns TL :). as a 3yr-old TL followed the Ir.derby up with a couple of tough runs against some of Europe's best open-aged horses. he looked a Mt. Athos type of animal in the making. TL has a good cruising speed but v.little finishing zip. Although, he is real tough and fights to win so if the race turns into a attrition staying type of finish ... he's a chance to battle hard. Actually i know a 2 mile race that usually turns out like that :), i wonder if Bolger does?. TL was v.immature last prep so if he comes back with some race-brains he will make me a little cash through the UK spring/summer. just need to have a look at him to see if he is there yet :).
Bondy
Guest
Regardless no horse has won the Cup first up so to speak they've gone close but haven't, I still see the Cox Plt, Clf and Geel Cups as the form races they have to have raced here to win it simple, the Saab Qlty winner may run a place too. . One could suggest the Geelong Cup now is the race the race that stops the nation's " punters" and bookies for that matter Winning the Ebor by 5 or Irish St Ledger means s^^^ to me.
kv joef
Guest
you'll have to give us some cryptic clues trevor. no sleepers here :). the only irish horse i'm interested in is trading leather - perfect fit for the MCup. get about 56.5kg but i can't find any news about him other then he is nom'd for the Jockey Club in a couple of weeks and also the Prince of Wales at Ascot. Search the irish media and NUFF'IN ... sorry ... and nothing. it makes me think that he is going alright as the irish have gone 'mum' on him ... unless he is finished and i missed it. JNevin the Legend have you had any mail? i know you aren't fussed about him but i always thought he would reach maturity this year ... and i like a tough, honest horse :).
Trevor Hindmarch
Guest
It's far too early yet. There are two horses in Ireland at present being prepared to come to Melbourne for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups and both would easily beat The Offer and Our Voodoo Prince. If those two horses make it to Melbourne the odds on The Offer and Our Voodoo Prince will diminish dramatically.
kv joef
Guest
Yes alfred, it is funny tipping this far out but a good exercise none-the-less. while Akzar had some blk-type form in Ireland (behind Profound Beauty) so the Easter Cup form isn't rubbish, OVP will still have to qualify on 2 grounds to go to the MCup. while the MCup is a Hcp, the days when a G2/G3 hcp'd horse can win are long gone. You need a WFA G1 quality horse. the trick is to get them into the race with a G3 weight as you are alluding too. For me OVP has ticked nearly every box - he still needs to compete against a higher level of horse (under quality race pressure) but i understand why most say he will stay 3200m. as you and bondy mentioned = his mum was an outstanding champion. still, the Kingmambo sireline worries me a little as OVP is ultimately a Mr.Prospector x Cape Cross cross. also his best in the UK was at 2000m and when tried over longer he just plugged away against some average opposition but did win a 'conditions' hcp over 2400m. you mentioned The Offer and he was certainly impressive in a average G1 race (weights were raised and a mare carrying a 58kg top-weight tells the story) - i mentioned a few weeks ago that i'd seen stablemate Tres Blue BrTrial before his Ryder effort (another run that will keep a quiet weight) but boy does he cover ground - absolute monster stride. he has quality European form. his 2nd behind Lucky Speed in the German Derby was terrific staying effort for a youngster as Lucky Speed is one of Europe's best. Anyway if he gets into the Cup with 53kg (no reason why he shouldn't) and Gai can get the best out of him once the MC weights are out she might be having another alley-oop moment in november.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Don't think the Melbourne Cup will be on his agenda? I think he'll be positioned absolutely perfectly for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups because his rating is quite low so if he gets in, he'll be in towards minimum weight. He has a Victorian rating of 102 after his Easter Cup win and you can generally get in to the MC with 53kg around the 109 mark. I would suspect he'll only need a Group 3 win to find his way into the Melbourne Cup field. It's only April...... haha.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Not going to be easy winning all three but if he just wins the Derby or the St Leger, the 3200m will be no issue for Our Voodoo Prince!
Bondy
Guest
What's concerning for me as a parochial local is I've never gone searching for Kiwi form "form guide" at an Easter carnival and I've been punting for in excess of 20 years ,good luck to them though. I assume they'll be strong for their more traditional tilt in Australia the Queensland carnival.
kv joef
Guest
yes bondy - now matter how you look at it OVP certainly said " look at me, look at me!!! ". Concerning sat's races, just checking the variants now. some of the adjusted times look pretty handy :) for the ground. Suppose that is what happens when you collect the best to race. i keep saying it - and not because of the hype - the quality of the championships has been excellent with all the racing on affected ground. i don't have a complaint about any of it. the thing i enjoyed as much as anything was the re-emergence of the NZ horses (yes i am choking a little writing that) but they made the carnival. it's been a while since they sent a high-class brigade across the ditch but this year has seen some beauties and Puccini didn't even show up and i reckon he might be the best of the youngsters at an intermediate distance . When the the NZ'ers are strong ---- Australasian racing is at its best.
Bondy
Guest
Kv I think last weekends QE11 was run in around 2.03 sec's albeit on fairly softtish ground .