The Melbourne Cup is on The Map for Andrew Ramsden Stakes Winner

Mark Smith - Saturday May 18

A fortnight after her near four-length romp in the Group III Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2500m) at Morphettville, The Map reserved a spot in the 2024 Melbourne Cup with another strong staying performance in Saturday's Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington.

The Map finishes best in a thriller (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Damian Lane for  Oopy MacGillivray and Dan Clarken, the 6-year-old daughter of Alpine Eagle came with a well-timed run to defeat Mostly Cloudy (IRE) (Harzand) by a half-length with The Map's Adelaide Cup conqueror Excelleration (Excelebration) back in third.

With her third stakes win of 2024, The Map advances her record to nine wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $845,215.

Advertisement

"It's been a phenomenal couple of weeks in my life, it's just awesome," Oopy MacGillivray told Racing.com.

"I’m not sure if I’m overexcited or overwhelmed; she’s just a ripping horse. She’s a beautiful horse.

 

“We’ve kept working her; we didn’t change a thing, she kept eating. She just gets more and more self-assured every time she comes out she does it a bit easier.

“That was a superb ride. He sat in there amongst all those horses; he never got anxious and let her do her thing.

A day to remember for Oopy MacGillivray (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“I said to him, ‘if she’s doing her thing, she’ll be happy, and when you get out, she’ll go.' He had to sort of push out, but once she was out, there was no stopping her.

“We’ll go to the paddock now, she can have three or four weeks off and we’ll just let her chill.

“We’re in the Melbourne Cup, let’s get her there fit, probably with no weight penalty, so that’s the first plan.”

Armidale Stud consigned The Map to the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where Oopy MacGillivray had the final say at $35,000.

The daughter of Alpine Eagle is the best of three winners from four to race for the 9-time winning Savoire Vivre (GB) mare This Moment.

We're going to the Melbourne Cup (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

A sister to triple stakes-winner Iggimacool, This Moment had a sister to The Map in the Armidale Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. She was a $50,000 purchase for Angus River Contractors. Named On The Map, she joined her sister in the Clarken/MacGillivray stable.

After foaling another Alpine Eagle filly last spring, This Moment was covered by So You Think’s ATC Australian Derby winner, Quick Thinker.

Advertisment

Race Result - Lexus Andrew Ramsden LR 2800m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:59.37
1
The Map
- 5m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x This Moment (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: Damian Lane 56.5
2
0.5
Mostly Cloudy
- 5g Harzand (IRE) x Clarinda (FR) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: L Currie 58.5
3
0.6
Excelleration
- 7g Excelebration (IRE) x Rare Subject (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Richard Cully Rdr: H Coffey 58.5
4
0.6
Let'sbefrankbaby
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Baby Pink (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: D Yendall 56
5
3.1
Captain Envious
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x My Central (ITY) (Central Park (IRE))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 58.5
6
5.1
Samuel Langhorne
- 4g Shocking (AUS) x Nosecondprize (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: M J Dee 58
7
6.1
Dashing Duchess
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Charlotte Russe (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
8
6.3
Strawberry Rock
- 7g Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x Strawberry Vodka (GB) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 58.5
9
7.1
Port Guillaume
- 7g Le Havre (IRE) x Keira (FR) (Turtle Bowl (IRE))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Ms L J Meech 58.5
10
7.3
Ferago
- 7g Fiorente (IRE) x Vodissa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P F Ryan Rdr: Jarrod Fry 58.5
11
7.7
Esti Feny
- 9g Pigeon Catcher (IRE) x Ejtihaad (IRE) (Nayef (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58.5
12
10.2
Verifier
- 4g Tivaci (AUS) x Checkout (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: Declan Bates 58
13
11.2
Little Mix
- 5m Mahisara (AUS) x Girls Aloud (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J Mott 56.5
14
11.5
Garachico
- 5g Ribchester (IRE) x Frine (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Dominic Sutton Rdr: R Mc Leod 58.5
15
18.5
Lionel
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Gretchen (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ethan Brown 58.5
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for The Map Following Romp in Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Following seconds in the Group III Lord Reims Stakes and Group II Adelaide Cup, the glorious 5-year-old Alpine Eagle mare The Map rose to new heights in Saturday’s Group III Sportsbet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2500m) at Morphettville.
Alpine Eagle Mare The Map Dominant in JRA Plate
Fresh off an 11-week break, the 5-year-old Alpine Eagle mare, The Map, put in a career-best performance in Saturday’s Listed JRA Plate (2006m) at Morphettville.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!