SATURDAY’S fabulous renewal of the $1.5 million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) has a unique Melbourne Cup ‘feel’ about it.
The two horses at the top of the weights – ALMANDIN and REKINDLED – are both previous Melbourne Cup winners for leviathan owner Lloyd Williams.
ALMANDIN won back in 2016 and REKINDLED in 2017. In fact, Rekindled hasn’t started in a race since he won that famous Cup.
While it would be a mini-surprise if either horse won this Australian Cup, they add quality and intrigue to a race that has slipped in class a little over the past 10 years.
Not so this year!
Godolphin’s impressive import – AVILIUS – is clearly the horse to beat on his Australian form having won six of his eight starts here.
His only defeats in this country was when fourth to mighty mare Winx in last year’s Cox Plate, and in Melbourne Cup when badly checked in the early stages, thus he’s rated a hot favourite to win this Australian Cup at $1.95.
His arrogant win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield last time appears, on paper, to be the perfect form-line for this race.
His demolition of quality gallopers TRAP FOR FOOLS and ACE HIGH, two of his rivals in the Australian Cup, suggests there’s a lot more in the tank.
Champion rider Hugh Bowman will do the steering and just to help his cause barrier one is another plus for the five-year-old.
What this Australian Cup has, however, that a few in recent years have lacked, is real depth.
Of the 15 runners perhaps only the German import, SOUND, is the only one considered not to have a winning chance, thus he’s marked $81.
Not so most of the others, including a horse like YOGI, marked $31 and yet he’s been impressive winning his past two starts.
They were in the Sandown Cup last November, before resuming and coming from last to win an Open Handicap at Caulfield two weeks ago.
While AVILIUS looks the winner for mine, trying to label a stand-out second selection is not so easy given the depth in this race.
Up and coming gallopers like NIGHT’S WATCH ($11) and last-start impressive Caulfield winner SIKANDARABAD ($19) appeal as genuine chances.
So too does likely leader TRAP FOR FOOL ($21), quality mare SHILLELAGH ($21) and the enigmatic but ultra-talented SO SI BON ($31).
Then there is the defending champ HARLEM, a shock winner of the race when $61 last year and Sandown Classic winner THE TAJ MAHAL ($19).
THE TAJ MAHAL is another of Lloyd Williams’ super-powerful staying team, and along with the two ‘Cup’ winners, has to be respected.
For mine AVILIUS stands-out although the price is not terribly appealing.
Good luck with whatever you back!
