Cup day: sunshine, roses and Dandino
Flemington will be bathed in sunshine for the running of the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
The weather is fine and track a comfortable “Dead 4”, promising comfortable conditions for the 24 runners in today’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorente is still the punter’s favourite on the SA TAB at $7.50, followed by Dandino ($11.10) and Sea Moon ($12.80).
Local punters had bet more than $2 million on the TAB by 7am.
The race is run at 2.30pm SA time.
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Most racing journalists have declared the 2013 race as the “most open” and “best field” in the race’s recent history.
The race has a couple of previous winners looking to repeat their past glories.
The 2011 winner Dunaden is top weight for the 2013 edition and trainer Mikel Delzangles said the weight might make the difference.
“I think he’s in very good form, the same as he was two years ago, but I think he is even stronger,” Delzangles said. “The thing is he has four kilogram more, so he needs to be.”
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Green Moon, last year’s winner, is another to carry more weight and part-owner Nick Williams knows it.
“He’s obviously got to improve, he’s got a bit more weight this year but it would be a great story if he could go back-to-back,” Williams said. “It would be something very special to us.”
Favourite Fiorente will be ridden by Damien Oliver, whose effort to win on Media Puzzle in 2002 was the inspiration for Aussie feature film The Cup.
Oliver’s recently returned from a 10-month suspension for betting misdemeanours and hopes Fiorente can deliver some good news.
“He’s had a great preparation and is ready to go,” Oliver said. “It’s a great opportunity, hopefully I can make the most of it.”
InDaily selection Dandino comes off a slashing run for second in the Caulfield Cup, the best of the lead-up runs.
Trainer Marco Bottie trained last year’s runner-up Jakalberry and can go one better this year with the well-travelled Dandino.
“We can’t have the horse any better,” Bottie said. “We’ve got a good gate. A good rider. It’s the hardest Melbourne Cup field, probably the most even. There’s 13 Group One winners. We’re not a Group One winner yet, but let’s hope we are after Tuesday.”
Other chances well backed in recent days include Mount Athos, an unlucky fifth last year; the Middle East Godolphin stable’s Royal Empire; Irish St Leger winner and now Australian-trained Voleuse De Coers; Jim Cassidy’s mount Hawkspur; Caulfied Cup placegetter Dear Demi (whose fast-finishing second in Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes caught the eye; and the lightly-weighted Tres Blue.
