The Geelong Cup is one of the final stops before the Melbourne Cup and one of the last tests for the hopeful contenders to gauge their form and take a big performance into the pointy end of the Spring Carnival. Join The Roar from 4pm (AEDT) for all the live race updates and results.
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Despite being a shortened nine-horse field after the scratchings of Who Shot Thebarman and Arab Dawn, the Cup can still boast a strong field of local and international talent.
Grey Lion and Oceanographer are the two favourites coming into the race but, along with Kinema, will all be making their debuts on Australian soil.
Just in the last 24 hours, Oceanographer has been shortened up by the bookies into equal favouritism alongside Grey Lion. Both horses are now sitting at $3.60 despite the latter holding the market advantage during the build up.
Recovering well from quarantine over in the UK and a long trip down under, Oceanographer is coming into the Cup with some strong form behind him.
The gelding has nabbed three wins from his last six starts on similar distances, and the firmer surface of the Geelong track should suit him underfoot.
Grey Lion isn’t far behind, though.
Despite a poor last start that saw the five-year-old drop-off and finish dead last at the Prix Kergorlay in France, he’s presented well at the practice runs since arriving in Australia and looks to be in strong shape despite the tiring travel schedule.
A pair of last-place finishes in his last three starts shouldn’t take away from the hot streak Grey Lion was on before preparing for the Cup.
The Irish horse ploughed through his European competition this year, taking out four wins and two place finishes from seven starts and rightly comes into the Geelong Cup as the equal favourite.
Kinema and Qewy round out the top four overseas runners in the field.
While Kinema had a rough last start at the Ebor Handicap, struggling to fight through traffic mid-race to finish 11th, Qewy has proven to be one of the best chances to dethrone the two favourites.
With six place finishes in his last eight starts, Qewy has consistency written all over him and has settled into the Australian conditions nearly better than anyone.
Black Tomahawk looks to be the best of the Australian runners, sharing the same consistent form of Qewy, having picked up a place finish (but no wins) in his last seven races on the trot.
Prediction
It’s a tough call in such a short field with so many international runners who have never jumped the barriers on Australian soil.
Grey Lion has been heavily backed in the last few days, but Oceanographer would be my pick from the international contingent.
The track conditions and distance should suit him well and he’s had a very impressive recovery from the trip down under after some strong runs over in Europe earlier in the year.
Watch for Qewy and possibly Black Tomahawk to come through and challenge for the place finishes alongside Grey Lion.
It should be fairly tight on the final stretch with such a strong field of finishers despite only having nine runners.
1. Oceanographer
2. Qewy
3. Grey Lion
4. Black Tomahawk
Connor Bennett
Editor
WELLS came home last
Aimee miller
Guest
Who come last
Connor Bennett
Editor
Disappointing from Oceanographer after dropping right down as the heavy favourite before the race, he was slow out of the gates and got stuck in traffic. He was looking sluggish mid-race and was forced to work hard to get around the outside on the last turn and make a late dash for the finish. While certainly one of the stronger finishers in the field, it was just too little too late.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
What a ride from Kerrin McEvoy!! A dominant run from Qewy to say the least, leading the pack from start to finish and barely putting a foot wrong. He led out early with a good jump from the barriers and just didn't look back. It might have been a bit too much too early on this distance, but McEvoy kept him calm and rode him to near perfection as he held steady up front during the middle of the race, before driving it home with enough left in the attack to hold off Grey Lion at the end.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
2016 GEELONG CUP RESULTS: 1. QEWY 2. Grey Lion 3. Oceanographer 4. Kinema
Connor Bennett
Editor
Grey Lion a little slow coming in as the last horse in the gate. The barriers drop... AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!! It's Qewy who jumps strongly out of the gates with Grey Lion right on his tale. Oceanographer is sluggish at the start but positioning well coming into the first corner. Kinema has shuffled up into third and is pacing well with Lucqes right behind. QEWY IUS FLYING OUT FRONT!! Is it too much too early though? Oceanographer is three lengths back as they head across the back straight. Kinema is closing in on Grey Lion... but they're both catching Qewy. Oceanographer is really struggling back now as they come around the final turn. QEWY AND GREY LION HEAD TO HEAD!! A couple of lengths ahead and breaking away from the field. Oceanographer is coming home strong but it might be too late... QEWY IS NUDGING AHEAD!! Grey Lion is trying to stick with him... BUT QEWY WINS THE GEELONG CUP BY A HEAD!!! Oceanographer left it far too late and finished half a length back from Grey Lion.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Less than two minutes away from the barriers breaking. The field is trotting around the back of the gates and will move into place very soon.
Connor Bennett
Editor
So its's now just an eight-horse field for the 2016 Geelong Cup.
Connor Bennett
Editor
A favourite earlier in the week, Grey Lion has dipped in the bookies market closer to race time but is still very much a strong contender to take out the Cup today.
Connor Bennett
Editor
A fresh 16 degrees out at Geelong at the moment with some clouds hanging about, but nothing to be concerned about for horse or trainer. The jump is around 8 minutes away from now.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
LATE SCRATCHING The favourite among the Aussie runners, BLACK TOMAHAWK, has been scratched late and won't run the Cup. Oceanographer has moved into an outright favourite position at $3.20, while Grey Lion has sensationally been pushed back out to $5, behind Qewy is sticking at $4.80
Connor Bennett
Editor
Hello racing fans and half drunk punters, and welcome to this afternoon's Geelong Cup!! It's an international invasion of the field today with plenty of European runners gunning for the Cup in what will be a debut outing for many of the horses.