Jameka looked the obvious choice in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday and she certainly lived up to that prediction with an outstanding triumph. She has stamping herself as a serious Melbourne Cup horse.
She was ridden an absolute treat by Nick Hall, who had to waste really hard to get down to the weight, which I’m sure explains why he went off as he did when he knew he had the race won.
She was dominant and there were no excuses from the beaten brigade. I highly doubt anything from this race will turn the tables on her at 3.00pm on the first Tuesday in November.
Scottish was huge in defeat. He was three and four wide early on before McEvoy pressed the button to lead into the strong wind. Every other leader that hasn’t dictated has dropped out, but he stuck on and was so brave. I certainly wouldn’t dismiss him as a Cup horse.
Exospheric is known as quirky and he sure lived up to that. Loomed to get closer to Jameka but he had the head to one side and ducked in – he was all over the shop. There is a Melbourne Cup contender here if Team Freedman can iron out the chinks.
As for the others, I thought Real Love was ridden horribly, Our Ivanhowe is right in the Melbourne Cup mix if rain comes and the Metropolitan form didn’t stand up at all.
I’ll concentrate on the three year old staying events. Most didn’t miss the run of Eleonora last time out at Flemington and she was ridden a treat by Oliver to smash her rivals in the Etheral Stakes (2000m). She proved too good for Tiamo Grace, who was desperately unlucky I thought given she got a fair way back in the run. There is upside with her.
Savvan might have only come off a Kembla win over the cat that is Drachenfels, but she ran well, as did Moqueen. She was vetted arriving on course, so I’m not sure if she was 100 per cent fitness and around Caulfield. I’m keen on her from an Oaks perspective. She’ll love Flemington I suspect.
The Caulfield Classic (2000m) may as well have been the non event classic given the race was gifted to Good Standing on a platter and rightfully he got the job done. Shinn stacked them up in front against the wind and that really helped his cause, as well as the fact that no jockeys wanted to apply pressure.
Rocketeer was very good and almost pulled off a really solid betting move. The trainer did state he wasn’t confident, but the punters were. Derby? Or has he had enough?
I’d be forgiving for a lot of runners who were out the back. I think the one to watch is Kent. Coat wise, he looks to have really good improvement left and I don’t think Caulfield is his track. 2500m at Flemington is going to really suit him I think.
From the first race, don’t sack Sylpheed. I won’t blame Oliver, because he showed initiative, but into the wind and doing all that work made her vulnerable. Given the pattern of the day, her run was huge.
Moose
Guest
Morton's Fork was a moral beaten in the 3yo 1400m, follow him in the Carbine Club on Derby Day.
andrew
Guest
to be followed: actuor, savaan (wakeful - but not oaks, yankee rose is silly overs at present), french emotion (not in myer, but if in 1400m mares race on cup day), tom melbourne, ruitegger, turnitaround.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sure Jameka was impressive, but was her win just a little exaggerated? * The wind down the back straight would have blown the freckles off Denis the Menace and Jameka was able to get a good position with cover. * The slow pace made it impossible to come from behind. * A heap of interference and hard luck stories * From a 2 mile view, her dam Mind Game is by the sprinter General Nedium * Only one other mare has won the Melb Cup with more weight.
Razzar
Guest
Jameka's totally dominant win in the Caufield Cup should set her up for around a 1.5 to 2 kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup. That may ease her in the betting, because the 4/1 on tab Sportsbet is hardly value. So she should ease and become a more realistic price. Going forward to the Derby, it looks a very wide open event. Should get a big field (I hope) with plenty of good runs behind Good Standing's tactical win on Saturday. Kent and Inference are just two ill be keeping a keen eye on going forward. The Myer classic for mares going forward should be a beauty. First Seal looks back with avengence, but with such a slowly run race hard luck stories were there. Shillelaghs's squeeze on fence cost her a chance of winding up,, and Denmagic will be more suited to a big field, & track, that generate a faster tempo.
andrew
Guest
the wind was very strong on sat. i popped over the young members bar in the middle of the course to get my free drink around 12 noon and watched the first race from in there. i reckon i had a good 80ml left in my crown lager and put it on a table to flick theough the race book only for the wind to topple the whole thing over. i managed to rescue the last 30ml or so. thankfully, that was it for me over the. as back when you in front of the main stands you were blocked the wind and it felt really still and warm.