Yet more advance clues could be afforded us this weekend.
While White Marlin is now on the Cup trail, the Group 1 Sydney Cup gives us even better clues at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon. It’s a stellar card, also featuring the Australian Oaks, the Queen of the Turf and that mouth-watering clash between Dubai Honour and Anamoe in the Queen Elizabeth.
Cleveland, King Frankel and Gold Trip Clash
With one major firm, the top three in the Sydney Cup are priced at $4, $5.50 and $8.
They are Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O’Brien’s Cleveland, a $26 for the Melbourne Cup, King Frankel for Mark Newham who is a $51 for the big one, and last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip for Maher & Eustace. He is currently priced at around $21 for a repeat win.
The big three aren’t alone of course. Joseph O’Brien’s second-string Baron Semedi is fourth in the market. Arapaho (Bjorn Baker), High Emocean (Maher/Eustace) and Surefire (Chris Waller) are all fancied.
Last year’s winner Knights Order will surely go well, while Nerve Not Verve is also a contender.
Is Cleveland the Real Deal?
Cleveland has been given the 17 barrier, but he has been strongly supported this week.
Last May, when with Joseph’s father Aidan O’Brien, Cleveland was a revelation. He scored in the 2¼-mile Chester Cup and had some good stayers in behind. He went close at Royal Ascot too when dropped in trip.
After moving to Joseph O’Brien’s yard, the son of Camelot continued to improve.
He ran second in a Group 3 last August and, if there are no scanning or vet problems posed by VRC, it seems he is on course to go for the Melbourne Cup.
After arriving for his Sydney campaign, he ran in the Tancred last month over an inadequate trip. Fifth that day, just 2½ lengths behind Arapaho, he showed up well. This 3200-metre distance is much more to his liking.
For now, the Sydney Cup is his main target so we can expect him to have been prepped to peak. If he wins this however, his odds will contract markedly for the Melbourne Cup in November.
Anamoe v Dubai Honour the Main Feature
With the Melbourne Cup in mind, we’re looking at the Sydney Cup to give us clues. The main event comes a little later however when champion Anamoe clashes with English raider and impressive Ranvet scorer Dubai Honour.
Both horses could clash again at Royal Ascot, while one or both could make the Spring Carnival too.
Godolphin’s Anamoe (James Cummings) has been the model of consistency at the top level. Dubai Honour was outstanding last time, and now opinions are mixed as to who will come out on top.
One thing’s for sure; it’ll be some race if they are both at their best on Saturday.
Read more news about the Melbourne Cup.
