Geelong Cup Day

Spring time is the most exciting time of the year for punters and all those interested in horse racing. Yesterday we saw the running of the Geelong Cup which in some years has provided a good guide to a race held on the first Tuesday in November. There were many Melbourne Cup hopefuls attempting to win at Geelong to gain entry into the big one, however David Hayes and Craig Williams again proved they were too strong when The Fuzz won narrowly but convincingly in the 2400m event. The Anthony Cummings trained Zavite fought strongly in the straight, however found the winner a little too good in the final 100m. Both horses deserve a chance to line up in the Melbourne Cup, however Zavite will have to win the Hotham Handicap to ensure hinself a start.

Whilst on the Melbourne Cup, it never ceases to amaze me how arrogant some of the overseas trainers are regarding their charges who are imported for the Cup. Some only enter quarantine for the minimum amount of time required (2 weeks) with the horses arriving a fortnight prior to the running of the Cup. Do these trainers honestly belive their horses will acclimatise in two weeks? Do they honestly believe their horses will regain the weight lost on the flight to Australia in two weeks? And do they honestly believe they can recover their horses fitness to win a 3200m race in only two weeks? This is why most overseas horses fail miserably in the Melbourne Cup, beacuse they are not given enough time to get used to their new surrounding and recover sufficiently from the ordeal of the flight to Australia. All horses lose weight and condition on a long areoplane flight, and take anywhere up to a month to recover fully, depending on their fitness and resiliance.

The overseas horses who have succeeded in Australia are those given plenty of time to settle down, with most having had a run here before the big one. Both the Japanese horses who quinellad the Cup last year ran in the Caulfield Cup first. Media Puzzle who won the Cup in 2002 won the Geelong Cup prior to running on the first Tuesday in November. The only horses who won the Cup and did not run beforehand was Vintage Crop, however he was brought to Australia by Dermot Weld a month before race day and was given plenty of time to acclimatise.

So, when looking for an overseas horse for 2007 Melbourne Cup, look for one who has been prepared on Australian soil for the longest possible time, not one who arrogantly flew in on Tuesday barely two weeks before the big one.

PASS members have been treated to two specials already this week, both saluting the judge first. North Alert won easily at Mt Isa on Tuesday while Sound Journey won comfortable at Geelong yesterday filling our members pockets with plenty of cash. Sound Journey will win a nice 3yo race over the Flemington carnival, possibly the Carbine Club on Derby Day or even the Sandown Guineas. Another nice winner for PASS members yesterday was Moreton Bay, who will make a Cups horse this time next year.

PASS members have been told of a good thing at Mackay this afternoon. If you would like to become a member please contact us here at profselections@austarnet.com.au

Good luck and profitable punting to all.