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Melbourne Cup

charlie

Fat Jockey Patron (est. March 2021)
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Most of us are smashing Vauban left, right and centre ( Lobos leading the charge) so thought it made sense to create a thread for the race to discuss here, especially with the weights out shortly.
 
Anyone opposing Vauban is not welcome on the forum*, so I might just close the thread now charlie :devilish::highly_amused:

*views are my own, before anyone gets pi**y about it!
 
Bloody hate the flat. Not sure what made me even place a bet on Vauban in the first place. Think someone on here mentioned him as a roll up for Cheltenham and I thought why not? It's somehow become a bit of an obsession now using my son's epic boost with his Hills account every time. He hates horse racing but you can't use the boost on anything else so he's kindly let me have it so I thought why not? Bit of fun and not going too mad and I've not a clue about any of the other runners but Willie seems ultra confident and saving him for 3 months must mean he thinks he has a very serious chance.

Come on the Vauby!!!!!!
 
Bloody hate the flat. Not sure what made me even place a bet on Vauban in the first place. Think someone on here mentioned him as a roll up for Cheltenham and I thought why not? It's somehow become a bit of an obsession now using my son's epic boost with his Hills account every time. He hates horse racing but you can't use the boost on anything else so he's kindly let me have it so I thought why not? Bit of fun and not going too mad and I've not a clue about any of the other runners but Willie seems ultra confident and saving him for 3 months must mean he thinks he has a very serious chance.

Come on the Vauby!!!!!!

I dislike the flat in general but there are races I like.

Ive watched the last 10 or so Melbourne Cups back and it does tend to turn into a cavalry charge turning in.

We need a lot to go right. A good draw will help, but ultimately, I want to see Ryan ride the way Twilight Payment was ridden in 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fBe8I-FCOM

The jockey rode a peach. Clearly wanted to front run, stretched out the field and as they turned in 500m from home he kicked 3 lengths clear.

Vauban absolutely has the ability to do this and some, so I think Ryan has to try and do the above if he can. the miserable little bastard
 
We know he stays very well so I agree he needs to find a good position early and kick on. He has the class and the ability.
 
A few that caught my eye

Soulcombe, absolutely bolted in at york in the melrose

Then moved to Australia and has won a group 3 and finished 2nd in a listed race

strong travelling hold up horse from memory who should absolutely love a big field strong pace but will need luck in running

white marlin

Former Joseph obrein inmate, very lightly raced but unbeaten in 5 starts (if the racing post has all his runs)

Never gone further than 1m4f and looks an unlikely stayer on breeding, but I didn't think very ellegant had any hope of staying and she won

silver sonic

The Japanese win everything these days and this lad has won a group 2 over 2m2f over there

Finished 3rd last time in a group 1 finishing just behind deep bond who has European form having won the prix foy arc trial before getting lost in the mud in the last 2 arcs, 2 runs that can be ignored as japanese horses generally hate very soft ground

A fascinating runner if turning up but not many bookies have him priced up so probably not running

Tower of london

Running in the leger this weekend

Brother to the winner of the best leger ever Capri

Strong traveller, will love the strong pace to aim at

Very interesting if running as would likely get the services of Ryan Moore unless rich ricci has bought the coolmore lot a very nice bottle of wine

Il be having an each way bet or two on the day, backing something as short as Vauban in a race like this where if one thing goes wrong (from travelling badly, to a bad draw, to a bad break, to trouble in running) you are cooked
 
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I'd feel very, very confident that Vauban would have the measure of Soulcomb (nothing more than a decent handicapper over here) and Tower of London (can't see him travelling). The rest you mention I have no idea. In a race of this nature you do need a lot of luck in running but Charlie has contacted Willie and passed on his riding instructions so that Vauban will meet as little trouble as possible.
 
Willie on....

Vauban (2023 MC winner).....

“I think Vauban is the best opportunity I’ve had to win the Melbourne Cup since Max Dynamite,” he says. “He could be better than Max – I think he’s still improving. We think he’s got a big enough engine to be a big player.”

Absurde (2024 MC winner).....


“I will enter him for Melbourne this year to get his name on the sheet, though he’s more a Melbourne horse for next year. He could be a very good novice hurdler, good enough to go to Cheltenham. You only get one opportunity at that.”
 
I'd feel very, very confident that Vauban would have the measure of Soulcomb (nothing more than a decent handicapper over here) and Tower of London (can't see him travelling). The rest you mention I have no idea. In a race of this nature you do need a lot of luck in running but Charlie has contacted Willie and passed on his riding instructions so that Vauban will meet as little trouble as possible.

Depends on the weights

If it was off levels soulcombe would of course have no chance but he will be getting plenty of it

aidan said the race was the plan for tower of london a couple of weeks ago so will just have to see
 
Depends on the weights

If it was off levels soulcombe would of course have no chance but he will be getting plenty of it

aidan said the race was the plan for tower of london a couple of weeks ago so will just have to see

Soulcombe is miles behind Vauban on ratings. He'd need a swing of 2 stone+ to get anywhere near him and that's not going to happen. Very surprised he's second fav. If he really is second best then it'll be a walkover!
 
Soulcombe is miles behind Vauban on ratings. He'd need a swing of 2 stone+ to get anywhere near him and that's not going to happen. Very surprised he's second fav. If he really is second best then it'll be a walkover!

Well it is a handicap so he will be getting precisely the difference between their ratings
 
Well it is a handicap so he will be getting precisely the difference between their ratings

Not sure it works that way in the MC according to others ?? Clearly they want the best horses in the race so loads of descretion given.

Min weight Saulcombe can carry is 50kg so he and plenty of others are likely to be out of the Hcp maybe??
 
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Frankie all the way !!
 
Just one more reason to wait for the weights.
 
Just one more reason to wait for the weights.

No need Archie. There's only going to be one winner whatever they throw at him. He'll be 5/2 fav after the weights come out.
 
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The same chap who Tweeted this has said he expects Tower Of London to have a too low a racing weight for Ryan to ride him so Ryan will still ride Vauban.

Sounds about right as most will surely be running off the minimum weight but out of the handicap.