5/11/2002 edition

How Does Your Cup Horse Rate?

Helene Vitality

No5
54.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 17
Jockey - G Mosse
Trainer - David Hayes
27 starts, 3-8-2
Last five starts - s8040
Prizemoney $2,964,958
Average Prizemoney $109,813
Handles Good to Slow tracks. Best on firm tracks.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 st. 0-0-0

He won the New Zealand Derby in 1999 under the name of Hades.

This classy galloper ran a big fourth to Northerly in the Turnbull Stakes. He has also finished second in two Group 1 races over 2400 metres this year. His second to Nayef in the $3,936,000 Dubai Classic was impressive. The Arc winner, Marienbard finished behind him.

In the Caulfield Cup Helene Vitality was checked and later tightened for room. Helene Vitality has now had five runs here and is at peak fitness for the Cup.

Hath Anna

No6
54kg.
B h 6 yrs
Barrier 22
Jockey - R Hills
Trainer - Saeed Bin Suroor
12 starts, 3-2-0
Last five starts - 1s455
Prizemoney $270,367
Average Prizemoney $22,530
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

This is Hath Anna's second visit. Last year he won the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington, run over 2500 metres, on the last day of the Carnival.

Hath Anna has only raced three times since, the best run being beaten by 3.8 lengths when finishing fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup in June this year. The race was run over 4023 metres. In that race Hath Anna carried one more kilo than Vinnie Roe, who finished second, 3.7 lengths in front of him.

In the Melbourne Cup Hath Anna meets Vinnie Roe six kilos better at the weights. If weights mean anything, if Vinnie Roe is a winning chance in the Cup, then Hath Anna must be as well.

Freemason

No7
53.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 11
Jockey - Darren Gauci
Trainer - John Hawkes
53 starts, 6-6-6
Last five starts - 06650
Prizemoney $1,999,930
Average Prizemoney $37,734
Handles all track conditions, but is better with some sting out.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 0-0-0

This dour stayer ran a huge race in the Caulfield Cup. Carrying 53.5kg. he was specked from $51.00 to $41.00 and finished fifth, beaten only 1.6 lengths by Northerly.

On Saturday back to Weight for Age conditions he carried 58kg. and never got into the race at Flemington. Best to ignore.

However he has failed at his two attempts over 3200 metres which is a worry. In last year's Cup, after racing on the speed on a Dead track he weakened and finished more than 23 lengths behind Ethereal.

Maguire

No8
53.5kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 8
Jockey - Danny Nikolic
Trainer - Jon Collins
33 starts, 8-2-2
Last five starts - 64906
Prizemoney $385,747
Average Prizemoney $11,689
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-0-0

He goes into this race with a big plus. He is proven at the distance, having won the Group 1 Auckland Cup on New Year's Day this year. He is clearly stronger than when he finished fourteenth in the 2000 Melbourne Cup, nearly 15 lengths behind the winner, Brew.

Maguire's six runs from a spell have all been with one target in mind - the Melbourne Cup. His run in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on October 26 has primed him up nicely. He was forced to work after being caught wide early, and battled on well for sixth, beaten less than four lengths by the very smart Thong Classic. Maguire carries 3.5kg. less in the Cup.

It's rumoured that connections are quietly confident, expecting a very big run.

Could be one for value.

This edition of Punt to Win:
Melbourne Cup facts and figures
How does your Melbourne Cup horse rate?
Vinnie Roe, Jardines Lookout, Daliapour, Sandmason
Helene Vitality, Hatha Anna, Freemason, Maguire
Pugin, Rain Gauge, Beekeeper, County Tyrone
Hail, Media Puzzle, Mr. Prudent, Pentastic
Prized Gem, Victory Smile, Cyclades, Distinctly Secret
Grey Song, Thong Classic, Miss Meliss, Requiem
Punt to Win 1/11/2002
Punt to Win index

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