kv joef – thanks for reading and terribly sorry for your loss.

A bipolar nature, that’s a great way of putting it. So true.

You make some really interesting comments and well done for including the links.

Luke – thank you for taking the time to read.

You’re bang on with your comments.

Yes, hopefully by people speaking out the industry will not only react but become more proactive about this issue.

I plan to follow up with the ATA.

Thanks Justin.

I think a month off would be a great start. But, with the importance of the gambling dollar I can’t see it happening.

horselover – Thanks for reading. You make some excellent points. Racing can be a very emotional game and perhaps we should all step back and think before act at times. Easier said than done, I know.

The courage and strength shown by Tommy, Glyn, Chad and Whitney at the weekend was unbelievable. Still don’t know how they were able to do that.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and for the feedback. Really very interesting comments and pleasing that it’s sparked some discussion.

*tasty!

Conor – The 3YO’s certainly look to have a chance, although even despite Shamus Award’s good form, he is still a maiden and that worries me. Good on the owners and Danny O’Brien for having a throw at the stumps, though.

I interviewed Peter Snowden last week (piece is up on The Roar) and he was bullish about Long John’s chances…and that was before Atlantic Jewel came out.

Good luck with your tatsy multi-bets!

Brent – do you think PDL is top class? Still have my doubts he’s absolute elite. Prefer him in the Cup to the Coxy, though.

Long John is a seriously talented horse and a winner (5 of 7). Barrier might hurt his chances a bit but definitely in the mix.

Certainly not a classic Cox Plate but it is intriguing.

Interesting to note that the favourite won the race every year between 1986 – 1990. Since then, however, the favourite has saluted just five times.

That doesn’t bode well for It’s A Dundeel, but I reckon he’s the best horse in the race and assuming he’s over his setback, will get the chocolates.

I’m classing Puissance De Lune as a very good Group 2 horse until he proves otherwise and while I have a huge opinion of Fiorente, I’ll wait until he gets to Flemington over 2 miles. His winning strike rate (3/14) is also a slight concern.

We’ve been blessed with some grandstand finishes in modern times: Octagonal v Mahongany in ’95, Saintly, Filante, All Our Mob the year after and Northerly, Sunline, Viscount in ’01.

Then there’s been the champions that have won as they liked. Might And Power in ’98 and Sunline ’01, the two obvious ones that spring to mind.

Finally, the Memsie Stakes has been the best path to Cox Plate glory in recent years with seven Cox Plate winners since 2000 having contested that race. This year we have six Cox Plate runners who contested the Memsie: Super Cool (3rd), It’s A Dundeel (4th), Green Moon (5th), Fiorente (6th), Happy Trails (7th) and Seville (13th).

That’s a concern for me too. Not sure if he’ll be as effective at the Valley as opposed to the big track at Flemington. He’s had one go at MV was comprehensively beaten by Super Cool (in the Vase this day last year).
Perhaps he’s not as good the Melbourne way of going either but I still think he’s the best horse in the race and as I said, if he’s over his injury worries, reckon he wins.
Who do you fancy?

Snowden: “She’s as good as we can get her. We’re just going to ask one more from her.”
Do we take that as this is her grand final and she’ll be tipped out after the race and no chance for Cox Plate?

Wow! She looks fantastic. Couldn’t look any fitter…tight as a drum. That image would help settle the nerves if you’ve taken the shorts.

Track seems to be playing OK and despite warm weather and wind, it isn’t a road. No excuses.
At $1.40 she’s the shortest priced Thousand Guineas favourite all-time (according to Bruce Clark) – Alinghi $1.70, Miss Finland $1.90, Atlantic Jewel $1.70.
Go you good thing!

Nice piece Alfred and congratulations David. That’s what racing is all about and the reason we love the industry. Your wife is very lucky for you to have bought a horse for her and I’m delighted for you that you’ve got a good one. Best of luck with her.

Sea Moon is a serious racehorse and definitely a major Melbourne Cup player.

His European form, prior to joining Lloyd Williams and heading Down Under, is superb. He raced against some of the top stayers, including a 2&1/4L fifth to 2011 Arc winner Dandream, as well as 2&1/4L second to St Nicholas Abbey, winner of this year’s Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night. He also boasts wins over the highly rated pair Dandino and Al Kazeem.

He was, however, beaten by stablemate Masked Marvel over 3000m at Doncaster in September of 2011. And while that is over two years ago now, if you like Sea Moon, you probably have to give Masked Marvel a chance too. Like Saturday’s Herbert Power winner, he’s getting better with each run and should relish the two miles on the big track at Flemington.

Back to Sea Moon.

Check out his win at Royal Ascot last year in the Hardwicke Stakes over 2400m.

The way he quickened and put them away was very impressive and the depth of the race was pretty strong. Granted Red Cadeaux are Dunaden are probably not as effective as they were 12-24 months ago, however, he thrashed Jakkalberry (fifth) and Forente (sixth) and they were third and second respectively behind Green Moon in last year’s Cup. And let’s not forget Fiorente is the current $6 Cup favourite.

I like the fact they’ve decided to skip the Caulfield Cup. I know Paris Lane and Mummify won the race at their third start on the bounce but I reckon a bit of a freshen up at Macedon Lodge will do him the world of good.

Finally, Williams knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup – he’s won it four times. And despite having more money than all of us combined, he did fork out a truckload of cash (apparently $3M) for the son of Beat Hollow.

With Sea Moon currently showing at $21 at Sportsbet, I reckon you could do worse than have a few coins each way on him.

*I love the WAR FRONT progeny!

It was a great meeting Mark. Loved the win of War Command. He’s a quality colt and the War Front progeny continue to impress.
We’ve really been spoilt by so much great racing in Europe of late – still amazed by Treve’s Arc win. Not to mention the Aussie action and America.
On to Champions Day next week!

Pallasator is one giant gelding!
The race was the hardest to pick I think I’ve ever seen and the rough result was no surprise.
Glad War Command won again…he’s a quality colt and I love the War Command progeny.
Not sure if you do Twitter but if so, perhaps you can follow me (tmase04) and we can arrange to chat further?
Our show (Horse Talk) is live every Friday on Dubai Eye 103.8 from 10am-12pm local time (7am-10am UK). You can listen in via the TuneIn radio app.

Looks like you were right James! Glad I decided the weight would be too much of a burden for Shamal Wind and stayed away.
Sin Bin for good!

Nice preview Yvonne.
What an incredibly tough race. I, along with my colleagues had a good look at it on our racing show (Horse Talk) earlier today in Dubai. That said, I still have little clue as to I think will win.
However, like you, I do enjoy a challenge and I’ll have a throw at the stumps for fun.
My 1,2,3,4 are Tiger Cliff, Pallasator, Water Clock and Eagle Rock.
Terrific meeting isn’t it?
Good luck!

Cam – Love your confidence re Savvy Nature but can’t agree!

There’s some decent three-year-old staying types in the Spring Champion and probably not a lot between them.

I was on Savvy Nature in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle so he has been good to me. But Complacent is gets better each time he steps out and his pedigree suggests he’ll lap up the 2000m…and beyond.

The Guineas is near on impossible in my opinion. I’ve changed my mind three times already and will probably do so again before the race.

Concerned Eclair Big Bang and El Roca had a gutbuster in the Prelude.

Long John could be anything and might just blow them away but I’ll risk him from the inside gate. And I’m sure he’ll probably make me look foolish!

Has Prince Harada been up too long? Hasn’t had much of a break since debut in May and it is his first prep. Very talented animal, though, and reckon if they ride him cold from a wide gate, and if they go hard enough up front, he can figure in the finish if not over the top.

I’ve settled on Dissident…for now. If Zoustar was in the race he’d be even money and this bloke’s run in the Golden Rose, where he finished second to him, was full of merit. And even his sixth in the George Main last time out against older horses was OK. Think All Too Hard ran fourth in same race last year before his Guineas success. Again, barrier a slight concern.

As for the Caulfield Stakes, definite watch race. Hoping the brilliant mare runs a strong 2000m and blows them away. Shapes as an intriguing race where tactics will have a huge say in proceedings. A shame Green Moon is out but still going to be a cracker.

Away from the features, keen to see if Shamal Wind is an A-grader or just a very good horse. She was dominant last time but she should have been with just 52kg on her back. Not sure she carries weight and with 58kg Saturday, we might just find out. I’ll back her in to win. She should be beating this lot.

It’s a weak renewal of the Schillaci. Usually a very good race with some gun sprinters – Black Caviar (2), Miss Andretti, and Gold Edition, all won the race in the past decade. Kuroshio probably wins (massive weight advantage) but might be silly odds.

The Blue Sapphire is one of the best races on the card for mine. You could mount an argument for the top seven. I’m with Safeguard. Hasn’t done much wrong and will be better around a bend. I do have a massive opinion of Diamond Oasis.

Finally, Linton will do me in the Toorak. Great 1600m form and goes well second up.

Good luck to all having a punt and enjoy what is sure to be another brilliant day’s racing.

Agree with your comments Justin and should’ve made that comment re RVL in my piece. Oliver did the wrong as was handed his punishment, which in my opinion wasn’t severe enough. But of course he’s not going to suggest that to RVL. He took his medicine and is back riding in great fashion. He is the best jockey I’ve ever seen on our shores but the fact he was able to ride during last year’s carnival and come back just in time for this year’s racing showpiece, after committing a serious offence, is far too convenient.
I’m not sure an unknown jockey from the bush, someone without a profile, would’ve been so lucky.

Like your thinking Scuba. Dissident’s form is very good.. He was excellent in the Golden Rose and even his sixth last time in the George Main, against older horses (the race was won by Streama with Royal Descent second), is another hot form race. All Too Hard ran fourth in the same race last year before his Guineas triumph. Just hope the barrier (13) doesn’t beat him on Saturday.

It’s very disappointing that Zoustar won’t be facing the starter in the 1600m feature on Saturday.
The classy colt is clearly the best of his age group and I reckon he’d be even money, perhaps odds on, and donkey lick this lot who are a good and very even bunch of three-year-olds.
Zoustar’s Golden Rose win over 1400m, where he produced a barnstorming sprint from the rear of the field, suggests to me that he would get a mile on his ear. He’s by a sprinter (Northern Meteor) but out of a Redoute’s Choice mare (Zouzou).
The Caulfield Guineas is a $1M race, while the Coolmore Stud Stakes is worth $500,000. So, Zoustar will be racing for half the purse, against arguably tougher opposition, and down the straight for the first time. It makes no sense to me.
Chris Waller is a genius and rarely gets it wrong, however, on this occasion, I think he’s pulled the wrong rein.

Will, you’re spot on. Super Cool’s run was brilliant. He looked the size of a house in the yard and his coat still hasn’t come through. He was wide the entire trip and got to the line well (his time of 11.69 over the final 200m was the fastest of any runner). Thought his run was enormous and he’ll improve out of sight. Massive chance in the Caulfield Cup. The only other three-year-olds to win the Australian Cup in the past 30 years are Dulcify (1980) and Saintly (1996) – they were pretty handy gallopers!