4/11/2003 edition

Melbourne Cup Tips

How does your Cup horse rate?

Bold Bard

No21
49kg.
B g 7 yrs
Barrier 6
Jockey - Reece Wheeler
Trainer - Bryce Stanaway
60 starts, 8-5-9
Last five starts - 69900
Prizemoney $266,600
Average Prizemoney $4,443
Handles all track conditions
Melbourne Cup distance - 1 st. 0-1-0

In March this year Bold Bard ran second in the $151,00 Listed Duke Of Norfolk Stakes at Flemington, run over 3200 metres. In recent times that race has very much become a glorified plodders' handicap.

The current form of this gelding is very ordinary. At his last start he finished thirtheenth of 17 runners, beaten over eight lengths in the Geelong Cup. His starting price was $31.00. He is entitled to be at much longer odds in the Melbourne Cup.

Debben

No22
49kg.
Br m 4 yrs
Barrier 5
Jockey - Clare Lindop
Trainer - Leon Macdonald
18 starts, 3-4-0
Last five starts - 40760
Prizemoney $108,700
Average Prizemoney $6,038
She has won on Good to Slow rated tracks. At her one race on a Heavy rated track two starts ago she started as $5.50 equal favourite and was beaten by nearly 10 lengths.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

The distance and class are big queries for this mare. Though she did surprise with a close seventh, only beaten 1.6 lengths, in the Group 2 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 4. She started that race at the odds of $101.00.

If Debben is able to stay the distance and repeats that run she could be in the finish at bolter's odds.

Fawaz

No23
49kg.
Ch g 4 yrs
Barrier 3
Jockey - Stephen Baster
Trainer - Graeme Rogerson
18 starts, 3-4-3
Last five starts - 41242
Prizemoney $194,580
Average Prizemoney $10,810
Handles all track conditions to Slow. Has never raced on a Heavy rated track.
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

This 4YO gelding's lead up form cannot be faulted. He ran an impressive fourth, only 1.3 lengths from the winner, Bedouin, in the Group 1 The Metropolitan at Randwick on October 6 after not having much luck in running.

Lightly raced and with a featherweight, Fawaz would not surprise to be thereabouts at the finish.

Yakama

No24
49kg.
B m 6 yrs
Barrier 2
Jockey - Michael Rodd
Trainer - Bevan Laming
26 starts, 7-0-4
Last five starts - 0S6811
Prizemoney $230,400
Average Prizemoney $8,861
Handles all track conditions
Melbourne Cup distance - 0 sts. 0-0-0

The mare has done everything right this time in. She impressively won her last start, a Group 2 at Caulfield over 2400 metres, on October 11, with a fast finishing burst.

She doesn't really look up to the class of this race and the distance is a big query, but with only 49kg. and a leading jockey she could put in a strong run.

This edition of Punt to Win:
Melbourne Cup facts and figures
How does your Melbourne Cup horse rate?
Jardine's Lookout, Mamool, Mummify, Millstreet
Pentastic, County Tyrone, Holy Orders, Mr.Prudent
Distinctly Secret, Hugs Dancer, Grey Song, Makybe Diva
Piachay, Tumeric, Frightening, Schumpeter
She's Archie, Zagalia, Ain't Seen Nothin', Big Pat
Bold Bard, Debben, Fawaz, Yakama
Punt to Win 31/10/2003
Punt to Win index

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