Sportsbet in the Northern Territory have taken on their biggest client with the customer placing a $1 million wager on Weekend Hussler to win today’s Underwood Stakes as being reported in today’s SMH.
It would appear as though punters are backing Weekend Hussler only and leaving a lot of the others alone, so expect to see some great odds about for Maldivian, Pompeii Ruler and Light Fantastic. The main question however has to be the 1800m and can Weekend Hussler dominate like he has up to 1600. Weekend Hussler is only proven up to 1600m, mind you his biggest win so far this preparation by 2.5 lengths was his last start over 1600 in the Maykbe Diva Stakes. Light Fantastic seemed to be off his race that day and Maldivian was not there. I think this will be a bigger test, not just for the 1800 but a tougher group across the board to try and beat home.
From our Melbourne Cup perspective, while a lot of the action will take place at the pointy end of the field. We need to be keeping an eye our for the following runners looking to continue their Melbourne Cup preparations: Douro Valley, The Fuzz, Viewed, Zarita and Riva San. None of these runners really have a chance today, altough I would not be surprised if Zarita popped up for a place, but key an eye out for these horses hitting the line.
Also, race 9 at Caulfield has a few Melbourne Cup potential runners in, Dolphin Jo, Zavite and Leica Falcon, come back for posts 
September 20th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Pace is everything in racing, if they run todays Underwood as they did the Makybe Diva, then its almost impossible to see him being beat, he ran home his last 600 that day in a tick over 33 so if he gets the same sort of run, and from barrier 3, looks like he shall, then I dont think there is any dangers, certainly nothing that finished behind him that day will beat him home, they only possiblities comeout of the Fehaan, Maldivian, Pompie ruler. For the record, Maldivain will be carrying mine, which is odd because Ive never really consider him to be a genuine group horse, but I did like his last run, the way I see the race being run, I think he may be some chance of causing and upset.
From a Caulfield Cup view, Riva San is well worth keeping an eye, and Zagreb for November, and Fuimicino in Sydney today, very poor field, and if he is to continue on to Melbourne, he would just about have to win today, if he doesnt perform then would have to cross him of the list..
Good Luck and happy punting.