8 TOP TIPS FOR THE CUP CARNIVAL + SAT BONUS TIPS
November 3rd 2023
We like to call it “Christmas For Adults” but it’s commonly known as the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and it’s exactly that – one fun-filled event that has to be experienced to be believed.
After all, it is the race that stops a nation.
What a great breed we are when it’s tools down at work, (that’s if you even make it in the first place) and we stop, glued to 24 elite equine athletes from all over the world battling for supremacy over a gruelling 3200m.
We don’t do it without a thirst, on Melbourne Cup Day Australians drink the equivalent of 25 million swimming pools of alcohol.
On track, there’s over 100,000 bottles of champagne, 400,000 bottles of beer and 38,000 litres of tap beer consumed to wash down the tonnes of lamb, poultry and pies devoured.
#1 – VAUBAN – THE BEST CREDENTIALLED EUROPEAN
It’s always hard to quantify, and we hear it every year, that this particular European is “the best-credentialled stayer to ever contest Cup”.
Well, that’s what the experts are saying, and the bookmakers agree. A horse called Vauban is the Melbourne Cup favourite at $3.50 (which seems extremely slim odds to us) but is a Royal Ascot winner and will stay all day.
Vauban is trained by Willie Mullins who rates him a much better horse than Max Dynamite who Mullins trained to run second in the Cup behind Prince of Penzance.
If you want to back Vauban, wait till closer to the start time of the Cup where he’s sure to be better odds.
#2 – OWN A RUNNER ON CUP DAY
You can actually own a runner on Cup Day at Flemington for just $27.50 per month.
Team Captain will contest the Macca’s Run (Race 2) and you can still own your share of him by simply going to TRL.net and purchasing in the Vic Husslers Team.
Team Captain won the race in 2021 and is looking to regain the trophy. Own him now and you’ll get the inside mail on the day, race tips, your share of the prize money won, the chance to win $10,000 every month, and you will always be able to boast “I owned a runner on Cup day”.
If you join the VIC Husslers today, The Racing League will pay the normal $260 fee which secures your ownership unit, there are limited units available, simply enter ‘WIN’ in the promotional code box at the checkout.
#3 – EUROPEANS TO DOMINATE
It was a trickle that started the flood when Vintage Crop travelled from Ireland for trainer Dermott Weld and took out the 1993 Melbourne Cup. Since then they have arrived by plane loads and the European stayers have dominated the race.
5 of the last 6 Cups have been won by European breed stayers.
#4 – CATCH THE TRAIN AND DON’T MISS THE LAST TRAIN AT 8.59 pm
Honestly, it’s the only sure bet of the entire carnival and particularly Cup day with a crowd of over 100,000 expected given the fine weather.
Remarkably the “rattler” from Flinders Street takes you directly inside the Flemington Racecourse within 30 minutes. It’s better than being stuck in a limo for 2 hours.
Don’t miss the last train from Flemington back to town. If you do it’s nearly impossible to get out of the track.
The last train is at 8.59pm. It’s crowded and you’ll see some sights but don’t miss it.
#5 – FUTURE HISTORY – THE BEST ROUGHIE
The all-powerful training duo of Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace won the Melbourne Cup last year with Gold Trip, and he lines up again as a second favourite at $5 behind Vauban.
The duo also train Future History who is currently $26 and the best roughie in the race.
He won the Bart Cummings with 54 kgs at Flemington and now drops to 50 kgs for the Melbourne Cup.
We concede he will need to find a new career best, but he’s in form and has a weight that gives him a red hot chance.
Almandin won the Bart Cummings in 2016 and went on to win the Cup that year.
Don’t leave Future History out.
#6 – SURE BET FOR VRC OAKS
Win the Wakefield Stakes on Saturday at Flemington and you are most likely to win the VRC Oaks, the feature race five days later on Thursday.
38 Winners of the VRC Oaks, 2,500m on Thursday at Flemington won the Wakeful Stakes 2,000m on the previous Saturday – an extraordinary strike rate.
Zardozi and Amazonian Lass are the two to watch in the Wakeful.
#7 – MAKE USE OF THE CLOAKROOM – IT’S FREE
Not many things are free on a racetrack, the cloakroom is Flemington’s best kept secret. Melbourne is famous for 4 Seasons in one day and another sure bet is to take a jacket, a cheap umbrella and use the Cloak Room.
Last year, Flemington was freezing in the morning, raining by Race 2, sun shining by mid afternoon and hailing when trying to exit the course after the last.
#8 – GO FROM SPECTATOR TO OWNER & WIN $10,000 CASH EVERY MONTH
There’s no other thrill like cheering home a winner you actually own, and now you can do that with The Racing League and win over $250,000 in cash.
When you join a team in The Racing League, you actually own a share of all the horses in that team.
Every time one of your horses runs and earns prize money, your team earns the equivalent amount of prize money in points on the TRL ladder, it’s that simple.
WIN $10,000 EVERY MONTH
If your team tops the table for the month, you’re in with a shot of winning $10,000, finish 2nd and it’s $5,000, and 3rd $2,500, every single month!
WIN $50,000
And if your team is crowned season premiers one owner in your team will win $50,000!!
Not only this but you also get your pro-rata share of prizemoney won by your horses on the track. You’ll also get regular updates on each of your horses directly from your trainers and the inside mail from industry experts each week.
When one of your horses race, you’ll be eligible for owner’s privileges and exclusive access to the mounting yard and if it wins, the winner’s bar.
For just $27.50 per month, you get to own a stable of racehorses and win up to $10,000 every month!
If you want to go from spectator to owner, have a tonne of fun and the chance to win big, click the link below.
BONUS SATURDAY RACING TIPS
It’s easily one of the great days on the racing calendar, Victoria Derby day at fabulous Flemington. While at Rosehill Gardens, there’s $10 million up for grabs in the Golden Eagle, which is just staggering and the Everest winner Think About It is a hot favourite in the Gigi Kick.
Let’s have a look at the major chances from Trainers across The Racing League.
HAYES BOYS REMAIN ON FIRE
It’s hats off to the Hayes boys.
With a much smaller team they are just 5 winners behind the Maher/Eustace stable and actually have a better strike-rate.
We reckon they can add to their tally by winning the Victoria Derby with Apulia, who’s a $4 chance and is coming off a really good win at the Valley.
Keep an eye on Ersa (Race 1) a nice 3yo filly who’s been well supported.
BET: Ersa – Flemington Race 1 – E/W
BET: Apulia – Flemington Race 7 – E/W
SLIM PICKINGS FOR MAHER
We can’t believe this but I can only find one winner for the Ciaron Maher stable across the three states.
United Nations (Race 2) at Flemington has been well supported from $8 into $6 and will be ridden by Jamie Spencer after being outclassed in the Caulfield Cup.
BET: United Nations – Flemington Race 2 E/W
MOODY TO STRIKE LIGHTNING
Look, we know Pete Moody doesn’t currently train for the Vic Husslers, but he did, and Chain Of Lightning is a pretty smart horse who can win Race 3 at Flemington.
It was a good first-up behind Asfoora last start and has won 2 of 3 races second-up.
BET: Chain of Lightning – Flemington Race 4 E/W
GAI TO WIN THE WAKEFUL AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE
Counting on a bit of the famous Waterhouse ‘bone and muscle’ to come to the fore with Amazonian Lass $12 in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington.
The $12 looks attractive, she’ll lead and be tough to run down with Tim Clark aboard.
While in the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens, we are happy to be on Hawaii Five Oh with Singo and the crew.
It maps to get a great run from barrier 4 and was pretty good in the Everest.
BET: Amazonian Lass – Flemington Race 5 E/W
BET: Hawaii Five-Oh – Rosehill Race 8 E/W
FREEDMANS COULD LAND A LONG PRICED DOUBLE
The Freedman stable did the right thing by us last Saturday with Eye Pea Oh getting us off to a flyer.
At Rosehill, Richard and Will have two good chances.
Cholante (Race 4) is a talented 4yo mare, who does plenty wrong and has enormous ability and Tyler Schiller in the saddle.
Toronomica (Race 6) is at big odds $12 and that’s largely because of barrier 22. It was a good 4th first-up and has a good second-up record.
BET: Cholante – Rosehill Race 4 E/W
BET: Toronomica – Rosehill Race 6 E/W
PRIDE TO THINK ABOUT IT
Joe Pride has described NSW Tycoons’ Cool Jakey as a “very promising horse” and he’ll have a couple of barrier trials this month. Keep in mind he’s already a winner of 2 from 4 races.
But on Saturday, Joe will be concentrating on the Everest winner Think About It (Race 7) in the Giga Kick stakes.
He’s $1.80 favourite and is looking to make it 11 wins from 12 starts – remarkable.
BET: Think About It – Rosehill Race 7 – Win
ANDERSON TO GET US OFF TO A FLYER AT EAGLE FARM
Chris Anderson reports Larrikin Rogue has done well this week since an eye-catching return at Doomben.
At Eagle Farm this Saturday, I’m willing to be with Chris and Nord Lyon in Race 1, who’s already been smashed in early markets after a soft barrier trial.
BET: Nord Lyon – Race 1 Eagle Farm E/W
CHRIS MUNCE TO CONTINUE ROLL
Chris Munce has a knack with 2-year-olds and he can win again with Devine Force, who has the perfect record and there is no reason he won’t be better for the experience.
In Race 7, Finsceal has been well supported from $12 into $7.50 already and will need a good steer from Robbie Dolan but is capable of winning this.
BET: Devine Force – Eagle Farm Race 2 WIN
BET: Finsceal – Eagle Farm Race 7 – E/W
TONY GOLLAN QUIET BY HIS STANDARDS
We only like the one from the all-powerful Gollan stable at Eagle Farm.
Fifth Position looks really well placed in Race 3 and at $4.40 should be able to turn a stack of placings into a win.
BET: Fifth Position Eagle Farm Race 3
O’DEA OUR NEW FAVOURITE
Steve O’Dea thrilled the big group of Qld Rogues owners last Saturday, when producing Helluva Barty to a fantastic first-up win and we trust that much more to come.
On Saturday, you’ll have to be patient, but Nashira (Race 9) has won for us before and can win again with the early shoppers knocking off the double-digit odds now to $6.50.
BET: Nashira Eagle Farm Race 9 – E/W
ROB AND EKATERINA
Ekaterina looked great winning last start and yes it was a good result for followers of this column and Rob Heathcote.
She’s short in the market for Race 8, but should only get better stepping up to 1400m.
BET: Ekaterina – Eagle Farm Race 8
Remember, always gamble responsibly and remember. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?