'A Big Run Is Anticipated' - Melbourne Cup Tips There’s no bigger race in Australia than the Melbourne Cup and it takes place at Flemington on Tuesday. The home team has come out on top in each of the last four years and it’ll be interesting to see if any international raiders can spoil the party this time around. The race is run over two miles and is open to horses aged three and upwards. Only two three-year-olds have won it in the last decade however, which suggests the older horses have a significant advantage. A massive field of 24 runners has been declared for the main event and it looks set to be a very competitive event. Melbourne Cup Tips NAP: Al Riffa Next Best: Royal Supremacy A fully international affair Trainers from seven different countries have sent runners to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup and that bodes well, despite the fact that Australia have had a bit of a stranglehold on the race in recent years. This year’s favourite, Al Riffa, represents Ireland and there’s lots to like about his chances. Australia won’t go down without a fight though and they have several lively candidates, such as Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours and the horse who finished third behind him that day, Valiant King. Chris Waller’s Buckaroo and River Of Stars shouldn’t be easily dismissed either. Britain is set to have three representatives and perhaps the most interesting of them is three-year-old Furthur. The age trend is against him, so perhaps the seven-year-old Onesmoothoperator can go close, having won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time. US trainer Bill Mott sends over Parchment Party, although the four-year-old is up against it according to the market. France-based trainer Alessandro Botti runs the well fancied Prestige Nocturne, whilst we also have some German representation in the shape of Flatten The Curve. Japan won the Breeders’ Cup Classic last weekend and it would be huge for Japanese racing if 50/1 shot Chevalier Rose manages to come out on top. Al Riffa has it all Joseph O’Brien has already won the Melbourne Cup twice, despite the fact that his father Aidan is yet to add it to his CV. Clearly the younger O’Brien knows what it takes to win this race and the stage looks set for a huge run from AL RIFFA. Out of the late super sire Wootton Bassett, he has thrived since going up to 1m6f in his last couple of starts. The four-time Group 1 winner was far too good for them in the Curragh Cup on his penultimate start and he breezed clear to score by five lengths. He was equally as impressive when returning to Group 1 company in the Irish St. Leger next time and the five-year-old asserted his dominance once again. O’Brien’s horse showed no signs of stopping over 1m6f so the two-mile trip is unlikely to be a problem and that makes him the one to beat. Don’t rule out Supremacy ROYAL SUPREMACY was a fair Group performer for Andrew Balding in Britain last year and finished third behind Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He made a winning start to life in Australia when coming out on top at Wyong in August. Another victory came two starts later in the Metropolitan at Randwick last month and he had the likes of Vauban, Arapaho, More Felons and Athabascan in behind him that day. Ciaron Maher’s four-year-old lacked the pace to provide a serious challenge in the Caulfield Cup last time out, but did all his best work late on and may well be suited by the two-mile trip with that in mind. A big run is anticipated and he’s more than capable of making the frame at a big price of 25-1.
