Jim Cassidy was revered as a master in the saddle, a champion jockey who won 103 Group 1s including two Melbourne Cups – on the barnstorming Kiwi in 1983 and the great front-running Might And Power in 1997.
Foxsports.com.au is thrilled to bring you this runner-by-runner Melbourne Cup guide from the legendary jockey they call the Pumper.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
Flemington, Tuesday, November 3
Race 7, 3.00pm
1. SONS AND LOVERS (Starting barrier 3)
Approx odds: $21 / $6
T: Joseph O’Brien; J: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Here’s our topweight and he’s a stayer from the gun stable of Joseph O’Brien. Even if you haven’t seen their overseas form up close, you know if trainers like this bring them – and he’s got five in this race – then they’re probably a very good horse. O’Brien has won the Cup twice before, so he clearly knows the right type of horse to bring. The jockey is one of the better regarded riders in Ireland and Britain. Two things stand out: barrier three and his handicap of 57.5kg. From that gate, you can just jump out, find a spot, and put your horse to sleep. It’s crucial. None of this looking around under pressure, manoeuvring around to try to get in. When a jockey’s helping their horse stay the two miles, that’s a huge advantage. I know from experience, since I had gate three when I won my first Cup on Kiwi. Plus, the weights this year are pretty compressed. There’s only 4.5 kilos from No.1 to No.21. It’s just the way it’s worked out, with the handicaps everyone’s earned. In some years that spread could have been anything up to eight or nine kilos. So although this bloke is topweight, some ordinary horses are being asked to carry pretty close to his weight, which puts him at an advantage. And he’s got topweight for a reason – he’s obviously a good horse. He brings some strong form from top staying races in Europe and Saudi Arabia. He’s got form form back home on good and soft going, where their soft is like our heavy, which could come into play since there’s some rain forecast. You’ve always got to trust that these visitors have settled in well. Four of O’Brien’s five haven’t had an Australian lead-up run. That’s the way he likes it, and his previous two Cup winners didn’t either. I prefer to see the raiders have a start in Australian conditions first, but still I wouldn’t talk anyone out of backing this bloke.
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2. TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (18)
$7 / $2.50
T: Joseph O’Brien; J: James McDonald
The same applies with this gelding – he’s got the O’Brien touch. He won the Curragh Cup over 2816m in Ireland in July, then ran fourth in the Irish St Leger over the same trip. That’s one of the top staying races in Europe, and although both races had small fields, you can guarantee the quality would have been good. Things operate a bit differently there to here. Mind you, I’d still have liked him to have some form in big fields, but again, if O’Brien’s brought him here, he’s the right type for this race. But the big plus for this horse is his rider – the legendary J Mac. What a gun. What more can you say about him, except I’m proud that he’s a Kiwi like myself. He’s probably the best jockey in the world, and he’s on the crest of a wave at the moment – riding some great horses, and winning plenty of big races, such as two of the three Group 1s at Flemington on Saturday. That confidence flows from your heart and mind into your hands and into your horse. Mind you, this horse is going to need all of J Mac’s polish from his wide gate, but he so rarely rides a bad race that you’d back him to find a position. He’s so calm and composed – and smart. Of all of O’Brien’s five runners, this bloke is the shortest in the market by some way. Trust your instincts? Trust the bookies to know what they’re talking about. It’s a tricky gate but again, you couldn’t rule him out. Plus he handles wet or dry.
3. KNIGHT’S CHOICE (2)
$34 / $9.25
T: John Symonds & Shiela Laxon; J: Robbie Dolan
A few things stick out about this gelding. The first is that he’s won this race before, in 2024. He was a bolter then at $91 odds, but he’s proven he can get the trip, which is a big head start. As I’ve said, riding in the Cup is all about getting your horse to settle into a rhythm and travel smoothly. If you’re fighting it to settle down the whole way, the horse is losing energy. And that’s what Robbie Dolan did with this horse in 2024. There were a lot of doubts about him staying the two miles, but Robbie just put them him to sleep near the back, and then he was ready with his finishing sprint when it was needed. Barrier two is an obvious plus for that aim. I had it when I won on Might And Power. He was different in that we led all the way – winning a Melbourne Cup that way shows what a great horse he was – but the point is I could just flop out and get my spot from barrier two, and so can Robbie. The horse is in good hands with John Symonds and my fellow Kiwi Shiela Laxon, who’s won the race twice now after also training Ethereal to win in 2001. His Caulfield Cup run wasn’t good, but he was a good third in the Herbert Power over 2400m before that. So while his form is patchy, he’s still showing there’s something there despite being seven years old. Also his best form is on dry tracks, though he has won on soft. You can’t rule them out if they’ve won a Melbourne Cup, and I’m definitely not putting a line through this one.
4. MIDDLE EARTH (1)
$12 / $4.20
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Mark Zahra
How good is Ciaron Maher going? He’s just about the biggest and best trainer in Australia, and he’s got seven horses in this race. SEVEN! That’s a record for a trainer. And as a jockey, I’d say a big pointer to what he thinks of this horse is that he’s put Mark Zahra on him. Mark is such a great rider, and he’s riding every bit as well as any jockey at the carnival – even as good as J Mac. Mark’s also strong, confident, smart and deliberate, which are great attributes for a rider. And when you’ve got Mark Zahra from barrier one, that sounds like a golden recipe. This horse turned in a great run in coming third in the Cup last year. So he’s got that big tick of knowing he can get the trip. Mark will need to have his wits about him to watch out for tiring horses falling back on him and getting in his way, but the way Melbourne Cups work should help him: tiring horses can tend to roll away from the rail as they get the staggers, so Mark might get a saloon passage up the inside, and might not have to go around a horse, unlike last year when he came wide after drawing gate 13. He should also be able to possy up in the first third of the field, so shouldn’t encounter too much traffic. This horse turned in a nice Melbourne Cup trial in the Caulfield Cup. He ran ninth but he was just plugging away quietly like he wanted the extra 800m. Forget his run in the Cox Plate after that, which Maher will have used to top up his fitness. Handles soft and good going. Big chance.
Melb Cup Jockey won’t ride till race day | 00:59
5. VAUBAN (22)
$41 / $12
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott; J: Jordan Childs
This bloke is in the hands of a great trainer in Gai Waterhouse, who I had a lot of success with, and her co-trainer Adrian Bott. It’s his fourth go in the Cup, and while he didn’t show much in his first two, he ran much better last year when he was sixth. You know he can get the trip, because apart from that he won up to 3319m in England before he moved here. But he’s a nine-year-old now, and they don’t win the Cup. Plus he’s not travelling well, if you look at his run in the Geelong Cup last start, when he ran ninth. Too many nines! He’s got a good rider, but he’s drawn badly in 22. Rain would help his chances, but he’s not one of mine.
6. ENFJAAR (8)
$21 / $6
T: Roger Varian; J: Ray Dawson
Another raider from the British Isles and he’s got decent form. I liked his third in the Caulfield Cup, even though he was suited by how the race was run. There was no pace on and he was travelling in the first few, so he had plenty in the tank in the home straight to make it hard for those behind to catch up to him, but still he hit the line well. He’s got some good form from Britain, including a win in a 2414m Group 3 race at the big Goodwood carnival at his last start before Caulfield. A Group 3 staying race there is good form for a Group 1 staying race here. He’s with a top trainer in Roger Varian, and I hear good things about his jockey, who rode him well enough in the Caulfield Cup, and he’s got a good gate to find a handy spot. What I like about this horse as opposed to some other foreign raiders is that he’s at least had a run here. I prefer that to these other Europeans who come here and go straight into a Melbourne Cup, which is a big ask. He’s also performed on good and soft going back home. He hasn’t won past 2414m, so there’s always that doubt he’ll get 3200m, but his trainer obviously thinks he will. So I wouldn’t talk anyone out of backing this one either.
7. ROYAL SUPREMACY (21)
$41 / $12
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Ben Allen
Here’s another one of Ciaron Maher’s but he’s probably not in his best few chances – or his best six. His run in the Caulfield Cup was poor, when he set the pace, and it wasn’t strong, but he still didn’t fire a shot in the home straight and ran 15th. Ciaron’s a great trainer, but he’s not a magician. This horse would have to improve dramatically to trouble the scorers. What’s worse is he has gate 21. However, he is unbeaten from two starts on heavy going, if it hoses down, and has fair form on the soft.
8. WINE DARK SEA (23)
$41 / $12
T: Harry Charlton; J: Damian Lane
Another English raider who has had that important warm up run in the Caulfield Cup, and brings good form after winning the Freer Stakes at Newbury in England, a 2671m race which is often used as a lead-up to a Melbourne Cup trip. He’s got Damian Lane aboard, who’s not only a great rider but a great big race rider. Some jockeys are just so reliable when it matters most, and Damo’s one of those. They think clearly and calmly, and don’t let the occasion get to them. So that’s a big plus. One major minus though is that he’s got gate 23, so that’ll set Damian a big task. It’s not impossible, but the key is that you’ve got to be positive from the start; you can’t um and ah. Get away from the gates positively, then – it might be after 20 metres or 100 metres – size up if you need to go forward to get in, hopefully one off the rail, or go back. It’s usually preferable to go back and save petrol, because you’re gonna need it at the end. But at the back, you know there’ll be a lot of good chances ahead of you. I came from the back to win on Kiwi, but he was a great stayer and thankfully the runs opened up. The other worry with this horse is his Caulfield Cup run wasn’t great, fading out to finish 11th, even though he had to work hard. So that doesn’t scream at you that gate 23 isn’t a big handicap. He’s also unproven in the wet. I’m looking elsewhere.
Geelong Cup winner set for Melbourne Cup | 00:26
9. ASTERIX (6)
$71 / $19
T: Chris Waller; J: Jye McNeil
One of two runners in the race for my great fellow Kiwi Chris Waller. He’s a master trainer who can do anything, but I’d say that this year he doesn’t have his best chance of winning it. The horse just ran 12th in the Caulfield Cup, and while some went worse, it wasn’t a great trial for this. Still, there are always horses who come into the Melbourne Cup at big odds because of their lead up form, and then on the day something clicks, the race pans out magically for them, and they can run top six or even top three. There’s usually a bolter in the trifecta, and you wouldn’t put anything past Waller. And Jye McNeil’s a very good rider who’s won this race before, in 2020 aboard Twilight Payment, riding a well judged race to lead all the way, like Might And Power did for me. And he’s got gate six so that helps. Has heavy track form but not much on soft. I’ll be looking elsewhere.
10. GOODIE TWO SHOES (19)
$26 / $8
T: Joseph O’Brien; J: Wayne Lordan
Another raider from the O’Brien camp. This 8yo mare ran a fantastic race to come second last year, at $41. She’s been there and done that, so you know she’ll handle the trip and the occasion. You don’t see many mares come out from Europe for the Cup. It’s a bit harder to switch hemisphere with mares than geldings or stallions, because the change of season messes with their hormones. So O’Brien obviously knows she’s the right type. And the fact she’s got that score on the board is a huge plus. And she even had barrier 20 last year, so while she’s got 19 this time, it’s still better than she had then! Wayne Lordan, who’s a good jockey, decided to go forward last year, and he’ll probably do the same again. The big difference is she’s got to carry more weight this time than last year, with 55kg compared to just 51.5kg last year. But she’s used to carrying much bigger back home, like the 61kg she had when she won at Goodwood over 2818m two starts back. No, she hasn’t had an Australian lead-up run, but last year she ran great despite also not having one. Goes on soft or good going. So I give her a roughie’s chance again at big odds.
11. JUJA KIBO (14)
$11 / $3.90
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Sam Clipperton
Another from Ciaron Maher’s big battalion and one of his better chances. He’s in hot form, winning his past two races, and there’s nothing like coming into a Cup in hot form. I really liked his run when he swooped from the back to win the Moonee Valley Cup over 2500m last start. The start before was excellent too, when he won The Metropolitan over 2400m at Randwick. This horse was bred in Ireland but he’s been here for a couple of years now to settle in, and he’s really hit his straps this campaign. You can sometimes see that with European imports. Some go well straight away; others take more time to settle in and acclimatise. It can also take time for their trainers to work them out. Ciaron’s obviously got his bloke humming! He’s also got a decent middle gate, and a very competent and composed rider in Sammy Clipperton. He gets a big chance here to have his life changed by becoming a Melbourne Cup winning jockey. Good luck to him, and I think this horse is among the chances, especially since he’s proven on all sorts of going.
12. HOPEWELL ROCK (15)
$11 / $3.90
T: George Boughey; J: Zac Lloyd
I’m hearing big things about this stayer. He ran second in the Ebor Handicap over 2786m in England before coming here. That’s one of their most important staying races, and he was only beaten by a nostril on the line. And that came after his jockey dropped the whip inside the last 200 metres. It’s a horrible thing to happen for a rider, and yes, in a tight finish like that, it’s usually the difference between winning and losing. And the start before that this horse won a handicap at Goodwood over 2816m, so he’s racing well. His trainer has one of the best up and coming stables in England, and he’s made a shrewd move by engaging one of the best young jockeys in Australia in Zac Lloyd. Zac’s a natural – confident, sharp, and horses travel for him. He knows how to get the best out of them, which is a huge attribute for any rider. He’s got a wide-ish gate to negotiate, but it’s not too bad. Again, I’d have liked to have seen this horse have an Australian start before the Cup, but there’s been a stack of money for him, he’s in the right age group as a British 5yo, he’s proven on all types of going, and he’s obviously highly regarded. Each-way.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 27: Hopewell Rock is seen during a trackwork session at Flemington Racecourse on October 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
13. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (13)
$81 / $22
T: Tim Fitzsimmons; J: Declan Bates
This bloke looked hot when he came out for the Cup two years ago, when he won the Geelong Cup on the way through. Then last year he won the Moonee Valley Cup going into the Melbourne Cup. But he disappointed on the big day both times – running 12th in 2024 and 16th last year. And his form this time isn’t hot at all. He ran ninth of 13 in the Herbert Power, then 11th of 13 in the Geelong Cup. Declan Bates is a great little rider and he’s drawn an OK gate, but I’d prefer others.
14. SOUL OF SPAIN (5)
$34 / $10
T: Chris Waller; J: Tommy Berry
Chris Waller’s other runner and probably the better of his two chances. It’s a bit hard to take much from his Caulfield Cup run. His jockey got sick of the slow pace and took him on a long run from the back to the front mid-race. It’s good to see jockeys thinking, but that’s a hard thing to pull off in a Caulfield Cup. He weakened out to finish eighth. That wasn’t horrible, considering he was a $61 chance, but it’s a bit hard to use as a pointer for this race. Still, Waller will have him trained to the minute to give him his best chance, Tommy Berry’s a good jockey, and he’s drawn well. The best thing about this horse was his second in the Sydney Cup over this 3200m trip back in April. So he’ll get the trip, and that’s a big box ticked whereas a lot of others are unknown quantities at the distance. Handles wet or dry, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run a place or top six at big odds.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 27: Jye McNeil riding Soul of Spain during a trackwork session at Flemington Racecourse on October 27, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
15. ZAHRANN (11)
$26 / $8
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Ben Melham
Another of Ciaron Maher’s British imports and he’s racing fairly well overall. Looked very impressive in winning a Group 3 handicap over 2000m at Caulfield three runs back. Then he ran poorly when 11th in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington, but you can probably forgive that run because of the heavy track and the set weights conditions in a high quality field. Back to a handicap, under just 53kg, he ran very well in the Caulfield Cup, making ground from the back to finish sixth. He’s got a little more this time in 54.5kg, which puts him pretty close to some big chances on the weight scale, but he gets points just for being from the Maher stable. Good big race jockey in Ben Melham, and he’s drawn well. Just going on his Caulfield Cup run, I’d give this bloke an each-way chance at decent odds. Doesn’t have much wet track form, however.
16. SO YOU ARE (7)
$17 / $5
T: Bjorn Baker; J: Rachel King
There’s a lot to like about this 5yo gelding – one of the four Aussie-bred hopes in the race who brings superb form into this, having won his past four starts. He’s bred and owned by a master of breeding in Stuey Ramsey, a bushie who’s a great bloke and one of the great characters of the Australian turf. I had a lot of success with Stuey, so I’ll be cheering for his boy here. And he’s got his regular rider Rachel King in the saddle. I love her. She’s going great, and I reckon she’s the most improved rider in the country over the past five years or so, becoming a very reliable big race jockey. She’s ridden this horse in four of his past five runs, so she knows him well and obviously has a good bond with him, which is a huge thing. She’s also got a great barrier to jump from, where she should be able to take up a good spot. This horse is also from the great stable of my fellow Kiwi Bjorn Baker, who’s been on fire lately. You love to follow a stable in form, because it shows everything there is working well. The horse won the Bendigo Cup over 2400m last week to seal his place in this race, after winning the St Leger over 2600m at Randwick. He hasn’t been beyond that distance, but you know he’s just an out-and-out stayer who’ll keep going all day. Handles all going, and he’ll be in this race for a long way.
17. FUTURE HISTORY (12)
$51 / $13.50
T: Greg Hickman; J: Jamie Melham
This gelding has a wonderful rider aboard in Jamie Melham, who won the Cup last year. So that’s a big plus. And he’s with a good trainer in Sydney’s Greg Hickman. But those things are about the only thing going for him. Ran OK when fourth in the Herbert Power two runs ago over 2400m, but then ran ninth in the Moonee Valley Cup at $26. Plus he’s nine years old. Handles wet and dry, but I’ll be looking elsewhere.
18. JAMES J BRADDOCK (24)
$14 / $6
T: Joseph O’Brien; J: Craig Williams
Another from the O’Brien camp and he brings some interesting form from England. He ran third in the highly prestigious English Derby three runs ago, which was huge after he apparently lost the plot before the race. He then flopped in the Irish Derby, so they took the decision to geld him, the old “ultimate gear change”, that can stop them mucking up or thinking about fillies, and can often make a racehorse out of them. He didn’t show much benefit at his next and latest start, when sixth in a good staying race in Ireland, but it was his first run for three months and O’Brien will have used it to fitten him up for the trip to Melbourne. The whispers from back home meant this horse was an $11 chance on Saturday morning, but he eased out after the barrier draw: 24 of 24; it doesn’t get tougher than that. Thankfully, he has the wonderful Craig Williams aboard, one of the best riders in the country, still at the age of 49. He will have his work cut out from that gate though, but he did win the Cup from barrier 21 on Vow And Declare in 2019. He only carried 52kg. This bloke has a touch more with 53.5kg, again putting him up near the class horses who’ve earned slightly bigger weights, but it’s still not much. Aside from the gate, this horse hasn’t had an Australian lead-up, and while he’s a gelding now, the fact he lost the plot before the English Derby worries me considering the huge occasion of a Melbourne Cup has upset plenty of Europeans before, who’ve seen nothing like it back home. They might take him out onto the track early to avoid the worst of it. I’d say top six is the best way to go with this guy. Handles wet or dry.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 16: The Joseph O’Brien trained James J Braddock is seen during a trackwork session at Werribee Racecourse on October 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
19. KIZLYAR (20)
53.5kg (20)
$34 / $10
5yo gelding
11: 3-2-2
Good: 4:2-1-0 Soft: 6:1-1-2 Heavy: 1:0-0-0
$202,850
T: Joseph O’Brien; J: Beau Mertens
Another one for O’Brien who can stay all day, having won over 4013m in a handicap at the Royal Ascot carnival this year. Also won over 2816m in Ireland at the start before that. Has a good lightweight Australian jockey in Beau Mertens. A couple of things worry me though. The horse wasn’t originally in O’Brien’s top five: he only got into the field on Saturday when another O’Brien runner, Defiantly, was ruled out by the vets. So he might be short of top class, as shown by the fact he hasn’t been running in Group races back home. Has had one Australian lead-up run but it wasn’t great, with a fading 11th in the Moonee Valley Cup. Worst of all is he’s drawn gate 20. Proven on soft (our heavy) and good going, but you’d have to take him on trust.
20. POINT OF LAW (9)
$6.50 / $2.70
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Ethan Brown
Here’s the Cup favourite, and of course he does have a lot going for him. Ciaron Maher sourced him from England after he raced at Royal Ascot this year – with a good fourth in a 2846m Group 2 – before winning a G3 over 2615m at Newmarket. That’s great form, and you can bet Maher had to go pretty hard to buy him. But best of all about this horse – he debuted in Australia with a brilliant win in the Geelong Cup, over 2400m. That’s always a key lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup. It’s an ideal time before it, at a day less than two weeks, and plenty of horses have run well in the Geelong Cup before also doing well in the big one. And the style of his Geelong win was hugely impressive, crossing from the widest gate of 13 to race on the pace, and then keeping on going in the straight like he’d like it longer still. To do that at your first Australian run, three months after your last start, is huge. He’s got Ethan Brown on again, who’s a terrific young rider, and gate nine is beautiful. A couple of question marks though. He’s got 53kg, which is only 3.5 less than his stablemate Middle Earth, and is pretty close to some other, more proven, horses. So he’s going to have to be a good horse to win, and it would be a phenomenal training performance from Maher if he does, second-up in the Cup. But don’t doubt Maher. He might quinella the race, or even get the trifecta. Or even the first four! If I had the choice still, I’d want to ride Middle Earth or Point Of Law. Considering the weights, I’d lean towards Middle Earth. That import is proven in this race, and is a seasoned seven-year-old (six-and-a-half biologically), whereas this bloke is four (three-and-a-half biologically). But Point Of Law is clearly a very good horse, and you’ve gotta say he’s a big chance. He is untried in the wet, however.
Point of Law during spring Carnival trackwork at Werribee Racecourse on October 29, 2026 in Werribee, Australia. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
21. STRICTLY BUSINESS (4)
$81 / $21
T: Thomas Carberry; J: Dean Yendall
This mare showed her staying powers by winning the VRC Oaks over 2500m at Flemington last spring. But she might have lost interest this spring. Mares can go on you like that: one minute they’re all racehorse, the next they’re ready to become a mum. Proven in soft and food, but she’s in poor form and I can’t give her a hope.
22. MR MONACO (16)
$23 / $7
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Jabez Johnstone
Another British import for Ciaron Maher and he’s got fair form. Won the Bart Cummings over 2520m two runs back, which is a good lead-up to this. Followed up with a good third in the Moonee Valley Cup. Gets in with a light weight and has young rising star Jabez Johnstone on board – who’s trying to become the first apprentice to win the Cup since another great young rider – J Cassidy in 1983! Jabez will have his work cut out for him from barrier 16, but at least the horse has a light weight of 52.5kg which helps with that. The horse handles wet and dry conditions, and while he might not shape as one of Maher’s best, you doubt Maher at your peril. So I’d give him a place chance.
23. ZAKOUMA (10)
$31 / $9
T: Grahame Begg; J: William Pike
This horse has a great trainer in Grahame Begg, and a wonderful rider in Willie Pike, the “Wizard of the West”. Pike is a gifted jockey, riding hundreds of winners in Perth and flying over to win some big races in the east, like the Cox Plate the other day on Cosmic Crusader, where he showed his guile by sitting back and having the last shot at the leaders. So you like backing a jockey in form. The horse has also shown some recent form. He won the 2800m Andrew Ramsden in May to earn his ticket into this race. Had a good fifth in the Herbert Power over 2400m two runs back. Ran ordinary at his last start but that was only over 1600m to top up his fitness. Performs in wet or dry, and has a lightweight roughie’s hope of sneaking a place or top six.
24. SHOCKLETZ (17)
$11 / $3.50
T: Ciaron Maher; J: Harry Coffey
Maher’s seventh runner (by field order) but by no means his worst. Won the 2500m Archer Stakes three starts back. That’s been her longest distance so far, but obviously Maher thinks she’ll get this trip. Has a good jockey aboard in Harry Coffey, but he has a tricky gate to negotiate in 17. The horse is a Kiwi like myself, and they know how to breed a stayer there, and her dad Shocking won the Cup in 2009, so that’s a good hint that she should hopefully get the journey. Handles soft and good going, and the huge plus is that she’s got a tiny weight, of 51kg. She had 58kg at her last run, when she flew home over 2040m at Flemington last Saturday week to run second, so she’ll love the 7kg drop in weight.
TIPS: 1. MIDDLE EARTH, 2. Point Of Law, 3. So You Are, 4. Zahrann.
Best roughie: Goodie Two Shoes.