GALLOPERS NEWS

6.10.11 Overseas Raiders Starting To Learn A Lesson
 

Americain Winning the 2010 Melbourne Cup

..... Plenty have tried, only a rare few have conquered. Each and every first Tuesday in November there is up to 10 overseas raiders attempting to take our Cup away from where it belongs. However only a few have actually victory in Australia's most famous race. Vintage Crop was the first European victor, a victory which stunned many parochial Australians who thought an overseas win bordered on treason. Nevertheless, raiders came & went year after year & it was not until Media Puzzle in the memorable 2002 edition that the second European actually won on the First Tuesday in November. The Japanese were the next to salute with Delta Blues in 2006 & finally last year we saw Americain victorious in the Melbourne Cup.

So what is the key? Which ones can win & why? Well, if we leave out Vintage Crop, all of the other three had a run here in Australia prior to running in the Cup. That is the key. Not only does it assist fitness wise, it also assist in the horse acclimatising to Australia & its race tracks.

Now on Saturday punters see an early influx of overseas horses attempting to emulate Americain & Media Puzzles major feats. Punters be warned, first up runs in Australia re usually below par & the horses will definitely improve on the run. Nonetheless the European trainers are starting to learn that to be successful on the first Tuesday in November, it appears most important their charges have a warm up run prior to the big one.

On Saturday at Caulfield we see Bauer (runner up in the 2009 Cup), Moyenne Corniche & Saptapadi all running in the Herbert Power Handicap. We also see the Hong Kong trained Mighty High & the Luca Comani trained Sahara Sun running in the Cauflield Stakes. At least punters will now be able to have a very close look at the horses on Saturday & accurately assess their chances in the Melbourne Cup, remembering of course all will derive plenty of benefit from the run.

Gallopers 5.10.11