Melbourne Cup - the road to glory starts soon

08 August 2014 11:16 AM

Ah, it's the start of August and the first Group race enters the Sydney race program this Saturday with the running of the Missile Stakes at Randwick. A symbolic nudge to every punter in Australia that Spring is just around the corner. Looking down the field contesting the 1200 metre race there's Boban. Not starting favourite tomorrow but who could forget his heroics over the Spring of 2013, a reminder of the amazing run of racing ahead of us as we begin to farewell the winter class races.

Very soon the road towards the biggest race on the Australian racing calendar, and arguably across the globe, the Melbourne Cup will commence. Although some might argue that the road has already begun with the Sydney Cup and The BMW and overseas races like the Irish St. Leger and the Prix Kergorlay, there is no doubt that the main road to Cup glory starts in October and ends on the first Tuesday in November. History has shown that each of these lead up races provides important information about the form of the horses contesting the Cup and the results from these races create the most significant guide for punters when they make their decision for betting in the Cup.

It's starts at Caulfield

The first real contest to judge the stayers of Spring is the Herbert Power Stakes (previously know as the Winning Edge Stakes) at Caulfield racecourse. A 2,400 metre race, which only six horses throughout history have won and then gone on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year. Last years third placed Simenon was the best performer in the Cup three weeks later when it ran just outside a place, fourth just 2.5 lengths behind the impressive Fiorente.

It's Caulfield's turn again the following week with the Caulfield Cup run over 2,400 metres. Throughout the history of the race there have been 11 horses that have won the race and the Melbourne Cup in the same year. Only one race in the lead-up to the Cup has bettered that record. Last years place getters Dandino and Fawkner finished fifth and sixth respectively in the Melbourne Cup in 2013. The last horse to do the Caulfield - Melbourne Cup double was Ethereal back in 2001.

 

Geelong Cup midweek

Thirteen days before the Melbourne Cup it's Geelong's turn with the running of the Geelong Cup. In recent times the race had two consecutive years where the winner had two things in common: the horses were French and they won the Melbourne Cup a few weeks later. It started with Americain in 2010 and was repeated when Dunaden won in 2011. Interestingly the only other horse to have grabbed the Cup double was another European horse, Media Puzzle back in 2002.

 

Memorable Moonee Valley

There are two races held at Moonee Valley racecourse on the same race card that are significant for form leading up to the Cup - the Moonee Valley Cup and the Cox Plate. The Moonee Valley Cup, run over 2,500 metres, has one of the least impressive records for form leading into the Cup. The last horse to win it and the Cup in the same year was Kingston Rule back in 1990 and more recently Brew was runner-up in the race in 2000 and went on to win the Cup in the same year. The Cox Plate, run over 2,000 metres has a string of runners who have either won or placed in the race and went on to do the same in the Cup in the same year. The last horse to get the Cup double was Makybe Diva in 2005 before which five other horses achieved the same feat.

 

Finally at Flemington

The final week before the Cup belongs to Flemington which hosts two key lead-up races to the Cup, the Mackinnon Stakes and the Lexus Stakes on Victoria Derby Day, the Saturday before the Cup. The Mackinnon Stakes is a Group One, weight-for-age race run over 2,000 metres. It has the best record for it's winners going on to win the Cup with 15 horses over it's history achieving the Cup double. The last to do so was Rogan Josh back in 1999.

The Group Three Lexus Stakes is run over 2,500 metres with the winner gaining an exemption from any ballots into the Melbourne Cup. The last horse to win the race and go on to win the Cup three days later was Shocking back in 2009.

The great road to glory is only nine weeks away tomorrow with a lot of great racing between this Saturday's Missile Stakes and when it starts in October. Time to grab the form guide punters and get ready for another ripper Spring of racing.