Racenet's editorial team has scoured the nominations and provided you with their futures tip for the Group I Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next month.
STEPHEN BRASSEL
MELBOURNE CUP – ADMIRE DEUS ($13 William Hill): The records say he's a seven-year-old but in reality he's only six, having been foaled in June 2011 so don't be swayed by any age factor, he's still on the up this bloke and is set to give Darren Weir a second Melbourne Cup. Has only raced 22 times for five wins and seven placings and his last start fourth in the 3200m Tenno Sho in Japan earlier in the year was a perfect lead-up for our big one. The Tenno Sho is as tough a test of stamina as you'll get and Admire Deus raced on the pace throughout fighting on courageously for fourth, less than two lengths off superstar Kitasan Black with the distance covered in a sizzling 3.12.5. That time shattered the previous world record for 3200m by nearly a second and to put the time into context, it was a tick over eight-seconds faster than Almandin ran to win last year's Melbourne Cup and that equates to 48-lengths! The Melbourne Cup record is 3.16.3 set by Kingston Rule in 1990 and that's around 24 lengths slower than Kitasan Black ran in the Tenno Sho. Times on two different tracks in different countries can mean nothing but what the performance of Admire Deus in this year's Tenno Sho does mean is the horse can stay, and he can stay at a very fast tempo.
CLINTON PAYNE
ADMIRE DEUS – ($13 William Hill): Don’t know that I want to be betting before the day but this Japanese stayer is the horse I want to be on in the Cup right now. The Japanese stayers are the best in the world and the boys from Australian Bloodstock have a real knack of finding the right horses for our races. Based on the fact that they parted with, what I’d guess was plenty – this is the right horse. All the reports coming out of Werribee are positive too.
PAUL JOICE
AUVRAY ($251 Sportsbet): Having a small speck at massive odds. This far out I want to be on a fit horse that's in career best form and he fits the bill. Looked unlucky at Randwick on Saturday in the St Leger and it's a shame he didn't win and move up the order of entry. Even though he was beaten his price was slashed from $1001 into $251. There are others in the market significantly shorter than him and I'm not sure they should be. Let's just hope he can get into the race!
TOM WALTER
BONNEVAL ($17 Sportsbet): Despite her defeat in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday Bonneval remains a $17 chance. She's probably the best New Zealand mare we've seen in Australia since Ethereal and I have little doubts about her ability at 3200m. Still hasn't peaked this preparation and half the game of winning the Melbourne Cup is timing. Any rain, and we're overdue for some, would also be a positive for her.
BRAD WATERS
RED CARDINAL ($21 Ladbrokes): The lightly-raced stayer was once a part of the Aidan O'Brien stable but has done well since his transfer to the Andreas Wohler camp, winning in Germany and the US before a fair effort when getting too far back in a steadily-run Prix Kergorlay at Deauville. That race didn't quite suit him but a properly-run Melbourne Cup could be a lot better for him. I saw him work very nicely at Werribee last week and he has settled in well since arriving in Melbourne. Ryan Moore will be aboard Red Cardinal and he knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup after getting the job done on Protectionist. Happy to back him each-way on the first Tuesday in November.
DARRYL SHERER
INFERENCE ($41 Ladbrokes): Although the race is only four weeks away the picture still unclear with none of the internationals to have run yet. Happy to go for Inference at odds. He is shaping as a genuine stayer now he's a year older and his lead up runs have been good with each one hinting at something better next time. Should have probably won the Victoria Derby last year, the unlikely event of a soft track will not be a problem and he's the right price as his effort in the Caulfield Stakes behind Gailo Chop was solid enough.
BEN DORRIES
AMELIE'S STAR ($15 Luxbet): During the Brisbane winter carnival, I heard whispers from the Darren Weir camp this mare would be a serious Melbourne Cup contender - and so it will prove. Has had a lovely preparation and just keeps getting better as the distances get longer. Good run in the Naturalism when a bad barrier cruelled her chances and then impossible not to love how she blew them away in The Bart Cummings (a field which included last year's Melbourne Cup winner Almandin).
TOM BADDOCK
BONNEVAL ($17 Sportsbet): This star New Zealand mare was outstanding in her first two starts this preparation before failing in the Caulfield Stakes but there were genuine excuses. She beat them easily when underdone in the Group II Feehan Stakes and then was far too good second-up in the Group I Underwood Stakes. Her form is pretty much faultless, winning her six straight, including three Group Is before last Saturday and the scary thing for her rivals is she looks like she is only going to get better when up in trip.
