CAULFIELD CUP
What's this all about, then?
The Caulfield Cup has often been a popular lead-up option for horses looking to be nice and perfect on Melbourne Cup day. But let's not under-rate the Caulfield Cup itself. It's worth $A2.5 million ($NZ2.8 million), after all, so it's not to be sneezed at. Since its inception in 1879, 11 gallopers have completed the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, the last being New Zealand's own Ethereal, back in 2001.
Have any New Zealand-trained horses won it?
The last line of the previous sentence gives it away, but the answer is yes - although the pickings have been slim over the years. Ethereal - trained by Sheila Laxon - was the last Kiwi-trained winner, and you have to go back to the Takanini galloper Lord Reims in 1987 and the Noel Eales-prepared 1986 winner Mr Lomondy (by White Robe Lodge-based sire Noble Bijou) to find the previous Kiwi-prepared Caulfield Cup victors.
Can a Kiwi horse win this year?
Sure. Silent Achiever was fifth-favourite earlier this week and loves the 2400m, as proven in her 2012 New Zealand Derby win. Our only other Kiwi-trained hope of making the field was Quintessential, but she failed to impress in track work on Tuesday and has been retired.
Who will win?
Hawkspur is the fixed-odds favourite, even after drawing barrier 16 yesterday morning. But the trend of European stayers starting fresh-up in the big staying handicaps continues. Dandino looks to be a big threat, after strong lead-up form in the United Kingdom and the United States. He delighted his new jockey, Craig Williams, in a track gallop on Saturday. And Williams knows how to win a Caulfield Cup - he is aiming for three wins in a row after guiding Southern Speed home in 2011 and Dunaden in 2012. When: Saturday, October 19, 7.45pm (race 10)
COX PLATE
What's this all about, then?
The Cox Plate (or W.S. Cox Plate, to give the prestigious race its official title) is widely touted as the southern hemisphere's weight-for-age championship - and for good reason. Some truly brilliant horses have won the Cox Plate over the years, including three-time winner Kingston Town, New Zealand-bred So You Think, Sunline, Northerly, Dulcify, Tulloch, Rising Fast and Phar Lap, to name just a few.
Have any New Zealand-trained horses won it?
Kiwi-trained gallopers have enjoyed plenty of success in this 2040m feature, including Ocean Park's win in last year's edition. The aforementioned Sunline won twice, while the Southland-bred The Phantom Chance, Bonecrusher and Surfers Paradise all feature on the honour roll for the past 30 years.
Can a Kiwi horse win this year?
A hoof abscess may have put It's A Dundeel's campaign back slightly, but he is still a super chance to win the Cox Plate. He is the only horse to have lowered the colours of Atlantic Jewel in the star mare's career to date. One minor concern is the tight-turning nature of the Moonee Valley track, which tends to suit on-pace runners. Depending on the draw, jockey James McDonald may have to repeat the tactics that bore fruit in the Underwood Stakes and sit up outside Atlantic Jewel.
Who will win?
Atlantic Jewel cruised to a win in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday, which, at 2000m, is just 40m short of the distance she'll tackle on October 26. She is the deserved favourite, but don't be surprised to see It's A Dundeel giving her no respite for most of the race. When: Saturday, October 26 (7.40pm NZ time)
MELBOURNE CUP
What's this all about, then?
Come on, you must have heard of the Melbourne Cup - the race that stops two nations, remember? ''The Cup'', as it is fairly abbreviated to, has provided Kiwis with plenty of great moments over the years, and everyone's got a story about the time they ALMOST won the trifecta in the Melbourne Cup.
Have any New Zealand-trained horses won it?
Who can forget Snow Lupton on those old TAB ads mumbling ''they said you couldn't train a racehorse on a farm - well, that's not right''? Snow dumbfounded the critics when he produced the aptly named Kiwi to win in 1983 in what commentator Bill Collins described as ''a phenomenal performance'' as he picked his way through the field.
Ethereal, previously mentioned in the Caulfield Cup section, went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year, while Jezabeel provided one half of a Kiwi quinella in 1998 when she downed Champagne (the horse, not the sparkling wine - that would definitely not be allowed). Going further back, the giant mare Empire Rose won in 1988, Van Der Hum ploughed through the wet in 1976, and we can't forget Baghdad Note's win in 1970 for Wingatui trainer Bob Heasley and jockey Midge Didham. Plenty more before that, too.
Can a Kiwi horse win this year?
There's a likely runner's chance in the form of Silent Achiever, but the Melbourne Cup has become the domain of the European-bred thoroughbred in recent years. Silent Achiever was at $41 earlier this week, while It's A Dundeel is still in the market but would be a surprise starter, especially if he's successful in the Cox Plate.
Who will win?
Allow me to borrow my local pub's dartboard. My record in the Melbourne Cup is not what you'd call spectacular, although I backed Americain in 2010 and tipped out the Japanese quinella of Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006 to Oamaru readers. On the flipside, I told all and sundry that Shocking was the only horse that could NOT win the 2009 Melbourne Cup. He proceeded to sit three-wide throughout and win, thus making a fool out of me.
The talk horse this spring has been Puissance De Lune, who has been pretty good in his four runs this time in, but some British tongues are wagging for Seminon. Mount Athos was the run of the race last year, making ground to finish fifth, and his trainer, Luca Cumani, is desperate to win the Melbourne Cup after second placings with Purple Moon in 2007 and, in a heart-breaking photo finish, with Bauer in 2008. When: Tuesday, November 5 (5pm NZ time)
Melbourne Group 1 races
October 19: $A2.5 million Caulfield Cup (Caulfield)
October 25: $A1 million Manikato Stakes (Moonee Valley)
October 26: $A3 million Cox Plate (Moonee Valley)
November 2: $A500,000 Myer Classic (Flemington)
November 2: $A1 million Mackinnon Stakes (Flemington)
November 2: $A500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (Flemington)
November 2: $A1.5 million Victoria Derby (Flemington)
November 5: $A6 million Melbourne Cup (Flemington)
November 7: $A1 million Victoria Oaks (Flemington)
November 9: $A1 million Patinack Farm Classic (Flemington)
November 9: $A1 million Emirates Stakes (Flemington)
