Melbourne Cup

You are correct Sabre, it was beaten by the superstar Makybe Diva, its on the forum, I remember having a few bets.

South African trainer Herman Brown is growing increasingly confident about the chances of Mourilyan in next Tuesday's Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Suitably inspired by a profitable spell in England under the tutelage of Gary Moore, the Aga Khan-bred six-year-old is reported in top trim for the Flemington feature.

Brown said: "He is really well, he looks well and he is ready to go.

"I just wish the race was today because it's now just a waiting game until Tuesday."

Mourilyan, who is owned by Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, has won five races from 18 starts, including the Listed March Stakes at Goodwood on his most recent outing.

Brown is based near Durban, but is perhaps best known for his training exploits in Dubai, having won the prestigious Group One Dubai Duty Free with Jay Peg in 2008.

Thoroughly enjoying his first Melbourne Cup experience, the handler is convinced the former John Oxx inmate will see out the gruelling two-mile trip.

"Obviously it's a tough race, but he is in the race with a chance," Brown said.

"He is not a no-hoper but he is going in with the race with a definite chance.

"I think it is an open race - there are probably six or eight horses you can make a case for in the race and he is in that group.

"He has got a very good turn of foot and he comes off the pace.

"Our worry is making sure he gets a run up the straight, but everyone is thinking along those lines.

"When the other horses start struggling he will be travelling and he will be on the bridle."

Mourilyan will be ridden by the South African-born Glyn Schofield, who is now based in Sydney.

Brown concluded: "This horse has to be left alone. The more you leave him alone - and the more you are prepared to wait on him - the faster he finishes. We have to take that risk, that gamble.

"We've got to see how the race pans out and ride him confidently."

Concerns over leg injury for Cup hope Efficient


Australia: Melbourne Cup joint favourite Efficient will be the subject of intense scrutiny over the next couple of days with concerns over a recurring leg injury.

Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) veterinarians visited owner Lloyd Williams' Macedon property on Thursday to inspect Efficient and stablemates C'est La Guerre and Zipping who are also scheduled to run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Zipping and C'est La Guerre passed the inspection while Efficient will be examined again before acceptances aretaken on Saturday.

RVL said trainer John Sadler's stable had been managing an old injury which had been present for the past 12 to 18 months.

The stable reassured stewards it would not accept with Efficient for theMelbourne Cup if veterinary advice indicated it was not in the best interests of the horse to compete.

Efficient was scratched from the Melbourne Cup on race eve in 2006, two days after he had won the Victoria Derby.

He came back to win the Melbourne Cup the following year and was the early favourite in 2008 before the injury forced his withdrawal.

Meanwhile, David Hayes told stewards his imported Cup contender Changingoftheguard had not missed any work since his hoof problem 10 days ago and, in his opinion, had done more work than any other horse based at the Sandown quarantine station.

Hayes vigorously defended Changingoftheguard after he failed to catch fellow Melbourne Cup prospect Mourilyan when the Herman Brown-trained international joined him during a vital fast workout at Sandown on Thursday.


The Hayes-trained import, ridden by Glen Boss, had worked over a longer journey and was supposed to catch Mourilyan who worked off from the 800m with his Cup rider Glyn Schofield in the saddle.

However, Changingoftheguard wasn't able to get closer than two or three lengths in the run to the winning post.

"Glen said he got there and when he got there he started to stargaze and I think he'd just had enough," Hayes said.

"They were going out to achieve two different things. If a horse is working 400 metres, it's not relevant to working a mile-and-a-half (2400m).

"But having said that Mourilyan looked great doing it, but he should have. The other horse hadn't done anything and he kicked hard and he kept going."

South African trainer Brown was more than happy with Mourilyan's sharp workout.

"I believe that the racing here is run differently to the racing in Europe where it is more of a grind, an endurance test, whereas here you've got to have dash, so I want to have him a little bit fresh," Brown said.

"He has a good turn of foot. He's keen, enthusiastic and he's moving really well.

"We're happy with the horse. I wish the race was run tomorrow (Friday)."

Schofield was also enthusiastic about the speed the entire showed in the workout.

"It'll be nice to have over the last furlong (200m)," he said.

"He's looking great and he's feeling great. He's a genuine two-mile (3200m) horse, has a bit of speed and a lot going for him.

"The most important thing is that it all arrives on Tuesday. I couldn't be much happier with him and Herman is happy and he knows the horse better than me."

Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton has been enlisted to ride another international, Munsef, in the Melbourne Cup after Eddie Ahern informed trainer Ian Williams he would be unable to make the 53 kilograms the horse will carry.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is expected in Melbourne by Friday morning to oversee the final lead-up work of Kirklees and Crime Scene.

Plus betting out locally, so we have Summer Cup, Breeders Cup and Melbourne Cup, but would appear not many punters taking the early prices?

Kirklees a shock absentee from Melbourne Cup

Australia: Frankie Dettori's intended mount Kirklees will miss Tuesday's Melbourne Cup at Flemington avter being ruled out by Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor on Saturday.

The 2007 winner Efficient will also miss the Emirates-sponsored showpiece.

Bin Suroor revealed the shock decision to withdraw Kirklees just hours after arriving in Melbourne when he had his first look at the five-year-old since he left Britain.

Kirklees finished seventh behind last year's Melbourne Cup winner Viewed in the Caulfield Cup onOctober 17.

"I'm not happy with how he is," said Bin Suroor, speaking to Melbourne's Herald Sun.

"He's not the same horse he was in England and we don't want to take a risk with him. We will take himback to Dubai."

News of Kirklees' defection comes just a couple of days after reports of a pleasing racecourse gallop at Sandown in Melbourne.

Dettori, in amazing form for Godolphin over the last two days in Britain, is now expected to stay at home before flying straight to Los Angeles for next weekend's Breeders' Cup next weekend.

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Crime Scene, Godolphin's other Melbourne Cup entry.
Efficient, who was vying for Melbourne Cup favouritism after winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at the start of October, has been ruled out after failing to respond to treatment for a recurrent leg injury.

Multi-millionaire owner Lloyd Williams said: "This horse has been good to me - he's won a (Victoria) Derby and a Melbourne Cup - and I wasn't prepared to roll the dice."

Speaking in the Courier Mail, he added: "I would dearly love to win the Melbourne Cup but it is more important looking after the horse."

News of the absentees means that Geelong Cup winner Leica Ding is guaranteed a run.

>>Victoria Derby favourite Shamoline Warrior was scratched on the morning of the race by trainer Mark Kavanagh with a high temperature.

best prices

alcopop 9/2
viewed 5/1
and my selection Roman Emperor has shortened from 16/1 to 8/1
the forum must be popular

lol

Alcopop
4/1

Viewed
5/1

Roman Emperor
6/1

Shocking
10/1

Daffodil
12/1

Master Oreilly
14/1

Mourilyan
14/1

Changingoftheguard
16/1

Leica Ding
16/1

Cest La Guerre
20/1

Allez Wonder
25/1

Basaltico
25/1

Warringah
25/1

Crime Scene
33/1

Munsef
33/1

Newport
33/1

Fiumicino
50/1

Kibbutz
50/1

Zavite
50/1

Capecover
100/1

Gallions Reach
100/1

Harris Tweed
100/1

Ista Kareem
100/1

Spin Around
100/1

Gary Moore says his biggest concern for Melbourne Cup contender Mourilyan is the ground at Flemington.

Mourilyan's latest stop in his globe-trotting campaign will be Down Under for the 'race that stops a nation' on Tuesday.

West Sussex trainer Moore had the five-year-old entire in his care until about six weeks ago when the horse was shipped over to Australia.

Mourilyan, now looked after by Herman Brown, produced some good performances in this country during the summer, and he now takes up an even bigger challenge.

He was beaten a length by Schiaparelli in the Goodwood Cup before going on to land the March Stakes.
Travel

"He left me about six weeks ago. They tell me he's in good form with himself and working very well," said Moore.

"My biggest concern would be the ground out there. On his run behind Schiaparelli, who nearly beat Ask the other day, you've got to think he's got a serious chance.

"That was probably the first time he had his ground that day. They will go fast because the ground's fast.

"I'd hate for him to get injured out there. There's not many horses come back from there. The only one that's come back for me was Dermot Weld's (Vintage crop).

"I don't know what's happened to Purple Moon (runner-up in 2008) this year. I'd be pretty nervous about it. He's a lovely horse."

What the Melbourne Cup trainers say


Bart Cummings, trainer of Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder

"He is ready for the two miles on Tuesday - to run third in a weight-for-age race at a mile and quarter is very pleasing.I thought it was quite a good run, and he'll benefit from that run.

"I'm very happy with Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder,"Cummings added. "They worked together on Saturday morning over a mile and a quarter and both came through really well."

Brad Rawiller, rider of Viewed

"From that gate (nine) we might be able to make a position midfield like last year. I think he's the strongest two-miler in the race and from the half-mile when it gets serious he'll be able to make it his own. I'm very confident - It's a kilo more than he had in the Caulfield Cup, but I think he'll be stronger again at the two mile and he's a strong boy. I'm not going to go out there riding him worrying about the weight."

Herman Brown, trainer of Mourilyan

"Some people who know the Cup well have had some encouraging things to say about his chances. I'm really happy with him, he's trained up well and I just can't wait for the day to come. I'm sure he's going to perform well. The distance is no problem - he has got natural stamina - and the biggest obstacle may be getting a run. He comes from behind, so luck could play a big part."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Crime Scene

He has a chance. He came here fit from England, so would not have improved for the Geelong Cup, but he came out of that race sound. He is working well, I'm really happy with him and good ground would be all right for him. It will be his first time at two miles, but I think it will suit him and Kerrin McEvoy knows him very well. I'd like to see him ridden close up, say fifth or sixth. The blinkers should help him a lot.

Ian Williams, trainer of Munsef

"I think the Cumani team and Dermot Weld have proven you can have a realistic crack at the Melbourne Cup. He's tough, durable and should be suited to this race. The big thing for him is the weight - he's not ahuge, big-weight carrying horse, but has been obliged to carry big weights in England - 53kg is a huge bonus and he will feel like he's got a light weight. He's got a great barrier draw in five. I wouldn't swap him for anything in the race."

Anthony Cummings, trainer of Zavite

"I'm happy with him and happy with barrier three - that gives us options. But if I wasn't training my horse then Viewed would be the one I'd want to be on."

John Kelton, part-owner of the Jake Stephens-trained Alcopop

"With gate 12 it gives him every opportunity to settle the horse in a good spot with cover. We're very confident we've got the horse in perfect order. We expect him to be peaking on the day and on his form line in the Herbert Power if he goes just as good as he did that day I think it's just about good enough to win the race.

Chris Waller, trainer of Warringah

"I thought he'd be a suitable horse for the autumn in Sydney, and he's the best English horse we've bought over to Australia - we have been going to England for the last three years, looking to buy, and we upped the budget for him. He's big and strong with a great attitude, and has settled in very well. It's 100 per cent gone according to plan. I've made regular phone calls to Sir Michael Stoute - he's a legend, like Bart Cummings - and his advice helps a younger trainer like me."

Sara Cumani, wife of Luca Cumani, trainer of Basaltico

"He was further back than intended in the Geelong Cup, but finished well," said the trainer's wife Sara. "He is an easy horse to ride, has a good draw (ten) - whereas a few decent horses are drawn high - and a good temperament."

Danny Nikolic, riderof Basaltico

"He's a good pick-up ride for me, and I thought he should have won the Geelong Cup. The last few years that race has been a good guide to the Melbourne Cup. The two miles will be a nice trip for him, he'll handle the track, and barrier ten is a nice draw. The team are very happy with him, he looks terrific, in his eye and coat."

Kevin Gray, trainer of Daffodil

"Chris [jockeyMunce] said she was racing like a dour stayer and when I asked him about her getting the two miles of the Melbourne Cup he said `no problem whatsoever'. We have trained her to run the two miles and hope she will get it."

Mark Kavanagh, trainer of Shocking

"It was a dominant win (in the Lexus) and he's right where I want him. I'm happy with the look of him going into Tuesday - he's been set for the Cup all along. But it will have to be a good ride from Corey [Brown] from there. [drawn 22 of 24]."

David Hayes, trainer of Changingoftheguard

"He's in perfect condition and strode out well this [Sunday] morning, but the most important thing was that he ate his feed last night, as he'd been off it a couple of days ago. We wanted to be drawn 'in', so we could switch him off, and barrier one is a very important draw. I'm confident he'll run very well and I hope for a top-five finish. He did have a foot abscess, but since it's burst we've had no problems. He was bought with the 2010 Cup in mind, but settled in so well, and I had hunger pains!"

N1,are tellytrack showing the race?

Yes

Alarm clocks all set?