NEALE DONNELLEY previews the Schweppes Crystal Mile and Moonee Valley Gold Cup from Cox Plate Day:
Group 2 $200,000 SCHWEPPES CRYSTAL MILE. (1600m):
SATURDAY’S traditional Group 2 Crystal Mile may have just 10 runners but the obvious Sydney versus Melbourne theme has added some real intrigue.
Under weight-for-age conditions, the Group 2 Crystal Mile has been part of Cox Plate Day for many years, and this year it looks like a fabulous renewal.
It’s as if race organisers set-out to provide punters with an evenly matched Melbourne team to tackle a similarly equipped Sydney team.
In the Sydney corner we have James Cummings’ Godolphin runners, IT’S SOMEWHAT ($7.00) and DUCA VALENTINOIS ($13), Kris Lees’ PRIZED ICON ($11), and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s SIEGE OF QUEBEC ($3.40 fav).
The other six runners are all locals from power stables.
TABCORP, not surprisingly, has installed SIEGE OF QUEBEC the $3.40 favourite off the back of his last start third behind Land Of Plenty in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
He came from near last turning that day and his previous form in Sydney included an impressive win over the talented Pierata in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m).
His last start there before coming to Melbourne was a close 2.6-length seventh behind Hartnell in the Group 1 $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m).
Given the four-year-old son of super-sire Fastnet Rock has raced just 12 times for four wins, his place at the top of the market seems well deserved.
Darren Weir’s CLIFF’S EDGE ($4.00) is another apparently very well placed here.
The mile is ideal, he has strong form at this track and his brave on-speed fifth to Land Of Plenty in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, after coming from a wide gate, was fabulous.
The interesting runner of this race is the import SIR JOHN LAVERY, a member of the all-powerful Lloyd Williams-owned team at Macedon, under Liam Howley’s banner.
A magnificently bred son of Galileo, SIR JOHN LAVERY has very serious form in hot races in the UK before coming to Australia.
His only run here was an eye-catching on-pace sixth to Eckstein in the Listed Headquarters at Flemington two weeks ago.
It is well-worth nothing SIR JOHN LAVERY has won two races in the UK and both have been at this distance, and he’s a winner second-up.
Godolphin’s IT’S SOMEWHAT ($7.00) is always dangerous in races like this and given his record he’s well-placed at the weights at WFA against these horses.
The other ‘dangerous’ runner could be PRIZED ICON, a Victoria Derby winner two seasons ago who has struggled for winning form recently.
He started a short-priced favourite last time in weaker grade but had a horror run from a wide gate and tomorrow he’s drawn to get the run of the race for Damien Oliver.
Tricky and interesting race, but for mine I’ll be having something each-way on PRIZED ICON on or close to the $11.
Group 2 $500,000 MOONEE VALLEY GOLD CUP. (2600m).
AUSTRALIA’S major staying races have for years now been filled with imports, and this year’s $500,000 Moonee Valley Gold Cup fits that formula.
Twelve of the confirmed 15 starters were bred outside Australia, with six coming from Great Britain or Ireland, four from New Zealand, and one from both Germany and Japan.
This import trend has been a juggernaut in recent years and while it may have shut-out the locally bred stayers, it has definitely increased the quality of stayers in Australia.
Globally it is given Australia breeds the best speed horses, and conversely Europe breeds and produces the best middle and long distance gallopers.
This renewal of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup has fabulous depth because of the many imports from many different places, but it has also given punters a serious challenge.
Apart from dealing with a guaranteed full field of 15, punters have to assess varying form-lines from all over the place.
TABCORP has installed Lloyd Williams’ THE TAJ MAHAL as the $5.50 favourite on the back-up from an eye-catching fifth to Best Solution in last week’s Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
THE TAJ MAHAL is also proven at the track having led throughout to win the Group 3 JRA Cup over 2040-metres at his previous start.
Barrier 17 is clearly an issue for THE TAJ MAHAL and Ben Melham, although he is usually a go-forward horse, which gives him a chance to offset the gate.
Many have already labelled this race a Waller versus Weir contest, with the two champion trainers from Sydney and Melbourne both preparing four runners.
Waller has amazing veteran WHO SHOT THEBARMAN ($18), last start Group 1 The Metropolitan winner PATRICK ERIN ($13), quality mare EGG TART ($13) and the ever-reliable veteran LIBRAN ($9.50).
On the other hand, Weir will put the saddle on BIG DUKE ($17), RED CARDINAL ($10), MEGABLAST ($23) and former Japanese star TOSEN BASIL ($8.00).
Both men have an incredibly strong hand with multiple winning chances in both camps.
Others with a chance at good odds include LORD FANDANGO ($21), who was closing late when fifth behind the impressive Yucatan in the Group 2 Herbert Power last time, and definitely VENTURA STORM ($11) for Team Hayes.
This looks a really good, strong and even contest and I’ll be having something on LIBRAN and VENTURA STORM.
