Horse racing suggestions: Melbourne Cup 2019 preview

It is billed because the ‘race that stops the nation’ and Australia’s Melbourne Cup is among the world’s must-see racing events. Of course, in these components it isn’t fairly nation-stopping however somewhat more a case of alarm clock-setting.

They are due off at 4am on Tuesday morning at Flemington racecourse and we have a preview with accompanying ideas for the 2019 Melbourne Cup.European horses have gained the final three renewals of this 2m handicap and the problem is healthy once more.

Prince may still be king

As anyone that followed the story of Red Cadeaux (three-time runner-up) can vouch for, earlier type in the Melbourne Cup is always worth ranking highly. On that basis, another huge run from final yr’s third Prince Of Arran is forecast for trainer Charlie Fellowes.

Prince Of Arran would seem to like the solar on his back, together with his type in Australia routinely a lot better than he reveals in Britain. He has but to finish out of the money in 5 runs Down Under, all of which have are available Group race company.

He warmed up for his Flemington return (already a course winner) by triumphing at the Geelong Cup final outing. That bodes nicely, with Media Puzzle winning the Melbourne Cup in 2002 having come by way of that very same preparation.

Prince Of Arran is simply 2lb larger than last 12 months and is now a six-year-old, guaranteeing he fits nicely into the bracket for a repeat try at Melbourne Cup glory on the big-race trends.

O’Brien re-writing history books

Joseph O’Brien did what his illustrious father has, so far, discovered inconceivable when he despatched out Rekindling to win this race two years in the past. A Derby-winning champion jockey in his personal right, he was however a rookie coach at that stage having given up using after dropping the battle to weight and height.

Aidan O’Brien has re-written many of the historical past books with this coaching feats in a exceptional profession and, aged 26, his son is following alongside the identical lines. Iridessa gave him a primary sampling of success on the Breeders’ Cup in California over the weekend and he’s received former  Irish Derby winner Latrobe in the mix for Flemington glory.

This will be Latrobe’s second run in Australia. In final year’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (1m2f) at Flemington he completed second to Trap For Fools, overwhelmed by only a head on the line. He has kept some excellent firm in Europe this season and will deal with the forecast given underfoot.

If there’s a drawback, it is that Latrobe has yet to win past 1m6f. This might be his first strive at the journey and, with his coach adept at landing massive prizes, he’s a player to continue the European success within the Melbourne Cup.

Appleby’s winner not Counted out

British and Irish trainers had been starved of Melbourne Cup success ever since Dermot Weld sent Media Puzzle to attain in 2002 however that has modified now after wins for Joseph O’Brien and Charlie Appleby’s Cross Counter in the previous two renewals.

Rekindling edged out Johannes Vermeer to win in 2017, with O’Brien getting a well-known one-up on his father, Aidan, in that end result. The likes of Ed Dunlop and Willie Mullins have also come perilously close to landing Australian racing’s most wanted prize.

Last time around it was Appleby that gave Godolphin another landmark success, the first for Sheikh Mohamed’s operation within the Melbourne Cup. Cross Counter is back for extra here, bidding to turn out to be only the fifth back-to-back winner of the race.

On the strength of his kind since, he’s got to have truthful claims despite the additional weight he will carry.

He was a winner at Meydan in March on his 2019 reappearance earlier than operating fantastic races in defeat behind the awesome stayer Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Ascot (2m4f) and the Goodwood Cup (2m). In his most up-to-date start he was a crushed favorite in the Irish St Leger in September, although the drop back to 1m6f – as well as racing keenly within the early stages – might have contributed there.

This race could have been in the again of Appleby’s thoughts for a while. The two-miles around Flemington with conditions (forecast soft) set to be favourable ought to see William Buick’s mount going properly again.

Verdict: Last yr’s placed horse Prince Of Arran can be within the mix once more whereas defending champion Cross Counter has honest claims of a second win. Joseph O’Brien’s globetrotting success-rate may additionally enhance by way of Latrobe as he goes for a second Melbourne Cup success.

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