5/11/2002 edition

How Does Your Cup Horse Rate?

Prized Gem

No17
52kg.
B m 5 yrs
Barrier 24
Jockey - Michael Rodd
Trainer - Murray Baker
23 starts, 9-3-4
Last five starts - s6150
Prizemoney $852,750
Average Prizemoney $37,076
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-0-0

Prized Gem will have no problems with the distance. The mare won the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm in June this year over 3200 metres with a storming finish after being checked in the straight. Michael Rodd, who has the Cup ride, rode her that day.

Her last two starts this campaign, in the Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Stakes have been disappointing, but the start befoer that she won in Group 1 Weight for Age company in New Zealand.

As a backmarker the Cup barrier should not be a major concern. If you like Prized Gem back her. If she puts her best hoof forward she could run a massive race at big odds.

Victory Smile

No18
52kg.
B g 6 yrs
Barrier 2
Jockey - Danny Beasley
Trainer - Donna Logan
38 starts, 8-9-3
Last five starts - 1xs710
Prizemoney $615,422
Average Prizemoney $16,195
Best on tracks no worse than Dead.
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-0-0

Victory Smile was beaten by over five lengths at her only try over 3200 metres in the Auckland Cup held on 1 January this year.

Her well beaten last of 15 in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 26 is not a good recommendation for this race. It will require a major form reversal if Victory Smile figures in the finish. However, she does drop 5kg. in weight for the Cup from that race.

Cyclades

No19
51.5kg.
B g 7 yrs
Barrier 5
Jockey - Scott Seamer
Trainer - Cydne Evans
27 starts, 8-2-1
Last five starts - 75587
Prizemoney $277,240
Average Prizemoney $10,268
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 2 sts. 1-1-0

This New Zealand stayer has a huge plus. He is proven at the distance. He was beaten a short neck by Maguire in the Group 1 Auckland Cup on January 1 this year and won the Group 1 Wellington Cup on January 26 this year.

Cyclades is very fit as he has had six runs in from a spell. His run in the Geelong Cup, dashingly won by Media Puzzle, should be ignored as he struck major interference. His run on Saturday in the 2500 metres Hotham Handicap was a beauty -he was last of the 18 runners on the home turn and made up plenty of ground to finish seventh, beatn less than four lengths.

(If you're wondering where we got the name Hotham Handicap from, for the third race at Flemington last Saturday, we are using the official registered name for the race, not the unregistered name that was used promoting a car.)

Distinctly Secret

No20
51.5kg.
Br g 4 yrs
Barrier 4
Jockey - Steven King
Trainer - Mark Walker
19 starts, 6-4-1
Last five starts - 72643
Prizemoney $546,238
Average Prizemoney $28,749
Handles all track conditions.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

If Distinctly Secret handles the distance, then at the weights he has to be one of the best chances in the race.

In June this year he was an unlucky fourth in the Queensland Derby, run over 2400 metres. His other try over 2400 metres was his fourth in the Caulfield Cup, beaten only 1.1 lengths by Northerly. Again, Disticnctly Secret was unlucky, being badly held up for a run.

The Caulfield Cup run was followed by a slashing third in Saturday's Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. He made up good ground in the straight, going down by a neck and a nose to Lonhro and Royal Code.

Distinctly Secret drops in weight by a massive 6kg. for the Cup.

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

Betting packages

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