Bart Cummings has begun his quest for a 13th Melbourne Cup confirming last years winner Viewed and AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor in Sydney undertaking light trackwork after the post Autumn carnival spells. The last AJC Derby winner to kick on and win the Melbourne Cup as a four year old was Phar Lap in 1930.

In other Melbourne Cup news, it appears that the fall-out of EI from 2007 will continue to keep Japanses horses away from the Melbourne Cup, which for the locals is probably a good thing with the way Deltra Blues and Pop Rock put everyone to the sword in 2006. At least the likes of Viewed, Efficient and Tuesday Joy will be able to continue their punishment of those from the UK, one way to ensure the Cup stays down-under.

And finally for those in New Zealand, it looks like Cambridge is looking to set itself as New Zealand’s offical Melbourne Cup region with plans to host NZ’s large, most public Melbourne Cup celebration this year. Why Cambridge you ask? Well, it has been the home of 14 Melbourne Cup winners, with eight having an association with Cambridge Stud. So if you are in NZ and want to embrace the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November then Cambridge is your place, almost as good as being there. For more information visit, The First Tuesday Trust.

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.

Tuesday Joy took out the $300,000 G1 Chipping Norton Stakes 1600m 7th March 2009, Tuesday Joy was a firm favouriate for the race and was ridden well by Brown just off the pace in 3-4th possie before coming out on the straight to win.  I think Corey even rated it having said of his ride “I gave her the peach”

Tuesday Joy won in front of Vision & Power and then Gallant Tess for 3rd.  Of note was the late run of the 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed for 4th, was coming on strong.  Given Tuesday Joy set to head to Dubai, Viewed looks like a good horse to follow for the BMW.

Melbourne Cup 2008 race replay. I am not sure how many readers are going to watch this given the upset result and I am sure that the folks on Bauer don’t really want to re-live the horror over and over again. I however will keep watching it again and again just to see Septimus fall flat on it’s face.

Enjoy