Focusing on the Cup Carnival

Media Release - Thursday October 28

Did you know that 60 Melbourne Cup winners have backed up the following year for another tilt, with only five successful? Did you know that Incentivise will become the 12th Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup winner if he lands the big one on Tuesday, but the first since Rising Fast in 1954 (59.5kgs) to carry 57kgs or greater? And did you know that Damien Oliver is just four short of 700 rides for the Melbourne Cup carnival?

Click to visit the website.

Well, that’s a big NO to each of the three for moi, but fortunately Form Focus has the answer to those and all the questions you were afraid to ask.

Established in 1997, the primary vision of Form Focus was to research and compile concise historical data and information on all Group 1 races conducted in Australia (from inception). Expanding on that vision, Form Focus broadened its coverage to include all Group 2 races, plus other selected major races on the Australian racing calendar.

Advertisement

Underpinning it all was a drive to provide the industry with a historical snapshot of prestige races, comprising a list of recent winners combined with a range of associated statistics, facts and commentary.

And while there is a wide range of sources for recent and current data – the Breednet website of course being the premium go-to – there is a serious void when it comes to tracking information in an industry that dates back over 170 years.

Form Focus is doing its best to fill that void.

Let’s face it, there’s a very good reason that four cobbers made squillions for coming up with Trivial Pursuit, particularly given our obsession with everything from the arcane to the important.

Now, knowing that Damien Oliver is just one Group 1 victory away from equalling Bobby Lewis’ record of 24 Group 1 Melbourne Cup carnival winners will probably only make your richer in spirit rather than the pocket, but we all know that history can have a tendency to repeat.

For instance, five winners of the Caulfield Classic have gone on to capture the Victoria Derby, while five Moonee Valley Vase winners have enjoyed Derby success … yet Vase winners (Forgot You in ’21) have the edge – 15 to 9 – over Caulfield Classic winners (Gunstock in ’21). Forgot You and Gunstock face off on Saturday.

Keep an eye out too next Thursday for the VRC Oaks and note how many in the field are backing up from Saturday’s Wakeful. Turns out that since the Wakeful was first run in 1932, 64 of the Oaks winners had used the Wakeful as a launching pad, while 84 of the Wakeful winners have started in the Oaks for 37 victories.

It all makes for interesting reading/research. And again, no-one is guaranteeing that Form Focus will find you that elusive winner, but you’ll at least have fun while you’re trying.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.