The Melbourne Cup 2022, It’s one of the greatest races on the planet, but betting on the Melbourne Cup could not be any easier thanks to our easy-to-navigate guide ahead of the Flemington jamboree.
Punters keen to have a dabble in the Melbourne Cup betting markets can often tie themselves in knots, but we’ve cut through the noise to provide the ultimate preview ahead of the self-styled ‘race that stops a nation’.
Here, our team of horse racing experts take a deep dive into the principle runners and riders before the gates rip open for the Melbourne Cup:
*Odds credit to VBET
Deauville Legend
Trainer: James Ferguson
Owner: KK Ho
Melbourne Cup Odds: 9/2
Has been a model of consistency this season, having not finished outside the first two in six starts. Not yet proven over this trip but everything about his recent success at York suggests he will get two miles doing proverbial handstands. Fairly weighted and hails from a top, progressive team. Huge chance.
Loft
Trainer: Marcel Weiss
Owner: Aziz Kheir U Man Bun Lee
Odds: 5/1
Excelled in his homeland with a string of top performances in big staying Pattern races. One of the least-exposed horses in the line-up and guaranteed to go the distance – even if the ground is riding fast. Sensibly handicapped and clearly one for the shortlist.
Without A Fight
Trainer: Ed & Simon Crisford
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Odds: 12/1
Has long looked tailor-made for the robust demands at Flemington and fairly dazzled at York when he absolutely hosed up in the Silver Cup. Not fully wound up at Newmarket last time, but showed plenty of late dash to suggest he will bring his A-Game to the table Down Under. Fascinating contender.
Camorra
Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
Owner: Sean Jones/David Spratt/Mrs Lynne Lyons
Odds: 14/1
Smashing form in Ireland, not least when winning the Group 2 Curragh Cup, before being purchased by Team Hayes for a specific dart at the Melbourne Cup. Disappointing in the Irish St Leger last time, though, and might not be too happy with his lot if the ground is fast. Still hard to rule out with any degree of confidence.
Duais
Trainer: Edward Cummings
Owner: Harris Family Racing & M R A Irwin
Odds: 14/1
Has largely struggled this year, but she’s a three-time Group 1 winner flew home late on in the Caulfield Cup on his last start. That should set her up a treat for this assignment, while Hugh Bowman’s appointment is a shrewd piece of business. A serious player if he gets the trip.
Durston
Trainer: Chris Waller
Owner: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
Odds: 16/1
Brilliant in the Caulfield Cup and gets in here off a reasonable weight, having since been reassessed by the handicapper. Plenty of stamina on both sides of the family, while he also has a touch of class to serve it up to the big guns. Three-times Melbourne Cup winner Damien Oliver is also an eyecatching jockey booking.
Hoo Ya Mal
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Owner: Go Bloodstock & Partners
Odds: 16/1
Stunning runner-up in the Derby at Epsom, when trained by Andrew Balding, and showed he has the appetite for longer distances with a taking success in the March Stakes at Goodwood in August. Now trained by Cup queen Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Solid claims if Waterhouse can work her magic with him.
Montefilia
Trainer: David Payne
Owner: Ms C L Vincen & Ms K Docherty
Odds: 25/1
Claimed the significant scalp of Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Ranvent Stakes at Rosehill in June and was a huge eyecatching in the Caulfield Cup last time, when a fast-finishing third. No easy task off a big weight, but a lively outsider if his stamina does not give way.
Emissary
Trainer: Michael Moroney
Owner: Ballymore Stables
Odds: 25/1
Sneaks in at the foot of the weights, but no back-number judged by his outstanding success in the Geelong Cup, when he looked every inch an out-an-out stayer. This is far tougher, though, and he might lack the acceleration to go toe to toe with the protagonists.
Gold Trip
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Owner: Australian Bloodstock
Odds: 33/1
Lightly-raced five-year-old but not short of quality, having danced every dance in top company this autumn. That is reflected in the fact he must shoulder top weight, but he is a strong, big horse that is capable of shouldering 57.5kg. Hard to see him winning but might sneak into the places on a going day.
Vow And Declare
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Owner: :G & Mrs S M Corrigan, P J Lanskey
Odds: 33/1
The 2019 Melbourne Cup hero has struggled since the defining moment of his career, but he is now weighted accordingly to go much better than in this race two years ago. That said, he now looks pretty exposed and will need to pull something dramatic out of the bag here to trouble the judge.
Young Werther
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Owner: D T O’Brien, Mrs J O’Brien
Odds: 33/1
Highly tried this autumn and not beaten too far in the Cox Plate, when sent off at huge odds. Must require a career-best to get involved, especially if those exertions at Moonee Valley have left a mark, but not far off top class on his best form and is sensibly handicapped.
The Verdict:
Long-term ante-post favourite Deauville Legend spearheads a strong European contingent, but this season’s renewal of the 2002 Melbourne Cup is expected to stay on home shores.
Step forward DUAIS, who has all the attributes needed to win the big Flemington feature. A three-time Group 1 scorer, she obviously has a touch of class, while there is a distinct possibility she will easily get the Melbourne Cup distance of two miles.
The manner in which the five-year-old finished off her race in the Caulfield Cup did not go unnoticed and should ideally set her up for this. Hugh Bowman’s appointment is also a clear statement of intent.
German raider LOFT can chase her home, while MONTEFILIA and YOUNG WERTHER look overpriced and offer eyecatching each-way value.
*Odds subject to change and were correct at time of publication
(28.10.2022)
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