Fiumicino proved once again to be one of the best mud runners around taking out the $2.5M 2009 BMW over 2400m at Rose Hill 4th April 2009.   Fiumicino also won the 2007 AJC Derby under a heavy track.  Hindsight is such a sweet, yet, annoying thing, when you think about it, the track was a Heavy 9 and Fiumicino was well overs at $30 and a proven runner in the heavy going.  Given that however I guess we can all be excused as this was his first win since the AJC in 2007.

Theseo and Viewed filled the minor placings.  Under anything other then heavy, Theseo would have been hard to stop, had the run of the race out in front just the conditions against him, Viewed pulled up sore at the end of the race.  Outside of these two I think Master O’Reilly coming home for forth was a great run, sat well off the pace for the most part and was one of a few taking ground hitting the line.  Otherwise, it was just good to see Newport NOT throw the jockey off.

Here we go! We are not only 4 weeks away to the Melboure Cup for 2008 and there is a massive days racing ahead of us tomorrow (or today as this is a late post) for the 4th October 2008.

The Turnbull Stakes at Flemington has an opportunity to over-shadow the main even in Sydney from a Melbourne Cup perspecitive, with last years Melbourne Cup winner Efficient taking on other Melbounre Cup hopefuls including, Zipping, Pompeii Ruller, Weekend Hussler (if we all at the same time wish it as a Christmas present), Master O’Rielly, Maldivian, Tuesday Joy and Zaritia. Weekend Hussler by far the favouriate here in this race, but pfft, for the Melbourne Cup who cares really, he won’t win or race.

Just as a note last years winner of the Turnbull was Devil Moon, who went on to claim 5th in the Cox Plate. In the Turnbull last year I am sure that you will note that it beat Melbourne Cup runners, Douro Valley, Zipping, Bluetigeroo, Efficient (who finished 11th! Last out of the Melb Cup runners in the Turnbull, sorry still so bitter) So…what does this mean for the Melbourne Cup? Nothing really, over the last 5 years I have not even used it as a guage for the Cup, so I guess just enjoy the race, but note that a lot of Cup runners are paticipating and one may just catch our eye. And ok, so the last horse to win the Turnbull and Melbourne Cup double was not that long ago in Makybe Diva…but before that you need to go back to 1991 with Let’s Elope. Doriemus was close but won the Melbourne Cup in 1995 and the Turnbull in the following year 1996. So not a lot of joy for Turnbull to Melbourne Cup winners. But if something is a superstar, lets say Tuesday Joy, the ride Beadman is coming back for, trounces Weekend Hussler, I’d be taking note!

Otherwise the main race to be watching is the Metropolitian in Sydney now not a lot to really report here, it was not run last year to the obvious EI reasons and the year before a horse called *cough* Tawqeet was the winner and we all know how his campaigned finished that year. Never-the-less, it will be interesting to see how Fiumicino goes, he has been performing well and getting a lot of miles in th legs for the Cup.

For myself however the horse to watch at the moment will br race #4 Number #1 Ice Chariot, the 2006 QLD Derby winner who I think is flying uner the radar this year and will surprise a lot of people come 4th November….

Otherwise tomorrow, there is a little horse called Samantha Miss running in the Flight Stakes…goes ok…

Check back here tomorrow for race replay’s I will be on it ASAP tomorrow…

Cheers
www.themelbournecupguide.com

What an awesome display Weekend Hussler put on in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on the weekend.  Maldivian did everything he could to stop the rampant Huss jumping two lengths clear with 400 odd metres left, but faded for 4th beinhd Weekend Hussler, an impressive Pompeii Ruler and Littorio who was also powering home and the only horse to really be taking ground off 1st and 2nd.

I wonder how Colin Tidy’s Sportsbet are feeling now after taking on Weekend Hussler and losing to the tune of $650K with a punter having $1M on The Australian Horse of The Year.  For the record I was on Maldvian at $9, offered value with Weekend Hussler unproven over the distance, but lesson learnt!  I won’t be taking him on again unless he runs in the Caulfield Cup.  Otherwise not much in this race for us Melbourne Cup watches with Viewed probably the best late coming through the middle.

Underwood Stakes Video

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The Rosebud RSL Handicap over 1519m was run 23rd August 2008 at Moonee Valley and unlike the McEwen provided insight into the early form of a few possible Melbourne Cup chances

Second up and 2007 Geelong Cup winner Mandela ($71 Melbourne Cup odds) who likes to get forward early battle on for 2nd three lengths away from an all way win for Conquering ($5.20).  The one that really caught the eye flying home for 3rd was Lords Ransom ($21 Melbourne Cup odds), sat back just off the pace during the race and really did come come very qucily.  Lords Ransom does like it longer so this first up run looks impressive for the 5 year old and should be one for us to keep a close eye on as we move closer to 4th November for the Melbourne Cup.

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