This Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes offers a ballot exemption for the 2024 Melbourne Cup.
Having looked at some Cup contenders recently, we now preview the Andrew Ramsden with a view to how it can affect the Melbourne Cup betting going forward.
Why the Andrew Ramsden is So Important
Although the Andrew Ramsden Stakes is a Listed race, it has a major impact up at Group 1 level.
Some top horses are aimed at this event, mostly due to the ballot exemption offered. Any winner of the Andrew Ramsden is guaranteed a place in the Melbourne Cup field in November.
The 2800-metre affair is run at Flemington this Saturday. The venue of course offers runners a good sighter of the Melbourne Cup track. The total prize fund is $500,000 and that’s a fair attraction for connections too.
Those aged three and over can enter. Past winners include double-scorers Pantani and Unchain My Heart, while more recently star gallopers Realm Of Flowers, Point Nepean and Lunar Flare have all won the event.
While only the winner on Saturday gets a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup, all the placed horses should be watched. Those running well here are bound to be sent on a hard course to the big one on November 5.
2024 Andrew Ramsden Preview
15 of them are due to line up on Saturday. The Map, a mare we’ve covered extensively, leads the market at around $3.00. In behind are Mostly Cloudy ($7.00) and Lionel ($7.50).
Strawberry Rock ($9.00), Excelleration ($10.00) and Let’sbefrankbaby ($10.00) are also well fancied.
There seems to be plenty of confidence behind Excelleration at a nice price. Richard Cully’s gelding beat The Map last time in the Adelaide Cup. There is a bit of a weight turnaround now and The Map is pretty exciting, but the difference in their prices is stark.
Former English galloper Lionel is a very interesting type. Once with top-class team the Gosdens in Newmarket, he is now handled by Ciaron Maher.
The lovely chestnut gelding wasn’t seen between 2022 at Ascot in England and March 2023 when he made his Aussie debut. After some open trials last year, he began 2024 with a third in a handicap at Mornington and he should be spot-on now.
Improving quickly in England, he reached a level as a three-year-old that showed him to be Group class. Now that he’s properly fit, this race is well within his grasp and he could be the value call.
It would be no surprise to see The Map run well once again. Since her narrow reverse behind Excelleration, she has won impressively. She scored by nearly four lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and is a worthy favourite.
Look out for the ante-post Melbourne Cup odds after this result, as it may have a major impact on that market.
