The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off tomorrow and I’ve got four to follow across two states.
We’ve had a bit of luck in recent weeks with the blackbook runners and I’m confident we can get a return again this week.
We’ll kick off in Melbourne where it’s Derby Day and I’ve two that I’m keen to follow –
There was a lot to like about the last start run of LIVE ($7 at time of publish) and she looks to have plenty of upside.
Slow away from the inside draw in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes, she settled a clear last and came the widest upon turning into the home straight.
Despite copping a heavy bump on the point of the turn, she let down strongly to claim second.
A daughter of Zoustar, the filly was just having her second race start after scoring a determined win over the 1147m at Geelong.
The way she found the line suggests the rise to 1400m will suit and I think she’ll relish getting onto a bigger track.
Jamie Melham partnered her on debut, and she jumps back aboard for The Vanity.
I could be way off here, and the price suggests that I am, but I think COEUR VOLANTE ($61 at time of publish) can make her presence felt as she steps out in in The Damien Oliver.
Her run was better than it appeared when she resumed in the Northwood Plume Stakes and she will have taken plenty of improvement from it.
Settling midfield, she was shuffled right back and ended up at the tail as they turned into the straight.
She was then held up and didn’t have a lot of room to move and wasn’t knocked about over the final part.
The Proisir mare has saluted at three of her four second up appearances and the rise to 1400m will certainly suit.
Her form tapered off last campaign, but she did have a stable change midway through her prep and given time to settle in with the Lindsay Park team, I think we’ll see her return to her best.
A three-time stakes winner, she’s not short of class and the inside draw will see her afforded a cosy run in transit under Jamie Melham.
Royal Randwick plays host to Golden Eagle Day and I also have two that I’m keen on there –
ROTAGILLA ($4.20 at time of publish) comes off a very encouraging first up run over 1400m at Warwick Farm, and he will have taken improvement from the outing.
After settling at the rear of the field, the Chris Waller trained son of All Too Hard encountered plenty of traffic in the straight but charged through late to finish fourth, beaten less than a length.
An improving type, the four-year-old produced some strong performances last campaign and I think he’ll continue to rise through the grades.
The slight step up to 1500m on the big track looks ideal and he’ll love getting back onto a soft surface.
POLYGLOT ($3.90 at time of publish) is racing well, having filled the placings in all four runs this campaign, but luck certainly hasn’t been on his side.
At his first two starts back, Godolphin’s son of Lonhro was held up at vital stages in the early part of the straight yet still found the line strongly to claim second on each occasion.
At his third run back, he settled back at the tail off a wide gate and worked home through the pack into third.
He was always wide and exposed last time but stuck on gamely to claim yet another placing.
All of those runs have been at 1100m and the way he’s been finding the line suggests the rise to 1300m will suit.
He finally lands a soft draw and with even luck, I think he’ll be winning.