A crucial final lead-up to the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ takes place at Ladbrokes Geelong on Wednesday with the latest running of the time-honoured Group 3 $500,000 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m).
The latest horses – all internationals – to complete the Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double are Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010), and Dunaden (2011).
Last year’s Geelong Cup runner-up Ashrun meanwhile finished a credible fourth in the Melbourne Cup results behind Without A Fight proving the event really can be the ‘Gateway to Glory’.
This year the favourite in Geelong Cup betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au is the Chris Waller-trained Birdman at $4.20 and firming with the lightly raced import drawn a treat in gate four for Beau Mertens.
The Free Eagle four-year-old debuts down under at his fifth career start looking to emulate some of the great raiders before him in saluting fresh in the Geelong Cup.
Birdman is currently 36th on the latest order of entry for the iconic Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) run at Flemington on Tuesday November 5 and he pays $34 in all-in Melbourne Cup markets.
Waller saddles-up five in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup field chasing his first win in the event with Birdman joined in the starting line-up by stablemates El Bodegon ($51), Manzoice ($17), Francesco Guardi ($9.50) drawn barrier 15 for two-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Mark Zahra, and his other best fancied runner Unusual Legacy ($5.50) to be ridden by the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.
Unusual Legacy brings in a strong form line having run third at Randwick last time out behind another gun Waller stayer, Land Legend, in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m).
Land Legend franked that form last Saturday when third in the Caulfield Cup trifecta for the stable.
Another runner at a current quote of $5.50 is the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Muramasa who was scratched from the Caulfield Cup field due to the rain-affected track.
Jockey Daniel Moor continues associations on the Deep Impact gelding third-up on Wednesday with the horse carrying 56.5kg from gate eight.
Danny O’Brien‘s 2019 Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare, still racing at nine, has his 48th start carrying the 58kg topweight in this year’s Geelong Cup.
Caulfield Cup winning horseman Ciaron Maher meanwhile has two runners with his last start Group 2 Herbert Power winner Herman Hesse ($16) chasing a hat-trick and outside hope Interpretation ($31).
The Phillip Stokes-trained Amade is third-up defending his Geelong Cup title looking to be the first dual champion since Roseview (1912 & 1914) and history’s first on back-to-back years.
He comes off a narrow third under a half-length beaten by Just Fine in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) and could prove the value runner on Wednesday at $13 with Daniel Stackhouse riding.
There will also be plenty of eyes on The Map with the already-qualified Melbourne Cup contender having her final lead-up before the big one next month.
Jamie Kah comes off the South Australian in the Melbourne Cup in favour of a ride on Point King but will be aboard on Wednesday with the six-year-old mare looking to improve on her Herbert Power sixth.
The 2024 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup is set to run as Geelong Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEDT).
Geelong Cup 2024 Odds
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Vow And Declare (5)
J: Billy Egan 58kg
T: Danny O'Brien |
||
| Most recently second last of 8 at Caulfield in the G1 Caulfield Stks on October 12 over 2000m, 19 len behind Deny Knowledge carrying 59kg at $21. The race before that 7th of 12 at Caulfield in the G1 Underwood on September 21 over 1800m, 6 len behind Buckaroo carrying 59kg at $26. Rise in trip will suit but hard to see him winning this. | ||
|
2. Francesco Guardi (14)
J: Mark Zahra 57.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Last start 7th of 16 at Flemington in the G1 Turnbull on October 5 over 2000m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Via Sistina with 55kg at $61. Before that eased back early on 9th of 15 at Caulfield in the G3 Naturalism on September 21 over 2000m, 3.5 len behind Positivity with 58kg at $21. Nice run in top company last time, will be hard to hold out here. | ||
|
3. Muramasa (8)
J: Daniel Moor 56.5kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming ran on from midfield; 2nd of 10 at Moonee Valley So You Think on September 7 over 1500m, 2.5 len behind Pericles with 58.5kg at $26. Last start sat on the pace when 3rd of 12 at Sandown-Hillside Hcp on September 28 over 1800m, long-neck behind Berkeley Square with 60kg at $6.50. Set to peak here and will take beating. | ||
|
4. Amade (11)
J: Daniel Stackhouse 56kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 13th of 15 at Caulfield in the G3 Naturalism on September 21 over 2000m, 9 len behind Positivity carrying 57kg at $61. Second run from a spell 3rd of 13 at Flemington in the G3 Bart Cummings on October 5 over 2520m, slow going neck behind Just Fine carrying 55.5kg at $41. Ran well last time, must be respected. | ||
|
5. Herman Hesse (1)
J: Declan Bates 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Most recently tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.3 len at Caulfield G2 Herbert Power October 12 over 2400m defeating Okita Soushi with 53.5kg at $16. The race before that came from midfield and won by 1.0 len at Mornington LR H White September 29 over 2400m defeating Hit The Road Jack carrying 54kg at $9.50. Going well and has claims. | ||
|
6. The Map (2)
J: Jamie Kah 54kg
T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray |
||
| Useful type. Last start 5th of 15 at Caulfield in the G2 Herbert Power on October 12 over 2400m, 4 len behind Herman Hesse with 54.5kg at $12. The run before that eased back early on 11th of 15 at Caulfield in the G3 Naturalism on September 21 over 2000m, 4.5 len behind Positivity with 54.5kg at $26. Definite winning chance. Was okay last time but not sure she's up to these. | ||
|
7. El Bodegon (3)
J: Fred W Kersley 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Most recently 11th of 13 at Flemington in the G3 Bart Cummings on October 5 over 2520m, slow going 5 len behind Just Fine carrying 54.5kg at $19. Before that 14th of 16 at Randwick in the G3 King Town on September 21 over 2000m, 11 len behind Eliyass carrying 55kg at $201. Not going well enough. | ||
|
8. Interpretation (7)
J: Teodore Nugent 54kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Useful type. At the latest run 6th of 13 at Flemington in the G3 Bart Cummings on October 5 over 2520m, on a slow track; 2.25 len behind Just Fine with 54kg at $61. Before that second last of 9 at Flemington in the G3 Archer Stks on September 14 over 2500m, on a wet track; 8 len behind Point King with 55kg at $21. Ran on well last time in a return to form, don't underestimate. | ||
|
9. Unusual Legacy (10)
J: Joao Moreira 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run 3rd of 17 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 5 over 2400m, 3.5 len behind Land Legend carrying 50.5kg at $4.50. The run before that 2nd of 13 at Rosehill Bm88 on September 28 over 1900m, on a slow track; head behind Firestorm carrying 58kg at $3. Well placed. Brings the class form into this, go close. | ||
| Manzoice | ||
|
11. Onesmoothoperator (9)
J: Craig Williams 54kg
T: Brian Ellison |
||
| Comes off a 46 day let-up. Most recently 4th of 7 at Kempton Park All Weather in the G3 September Stks on September 7 over 2414m, 7 len behind Kalpana with 60.5kg at $34. Before that 7th of 20 at York Ebor Handicap on August 24 over 2816m, 5 len behind Magical Zoe carrying 59.5kg at $34. Happy to watch here. | ||
|
12. Hit The Road Jack (6)
J: Jye McNeil 54kg
T: Symon Wilde |
||
| Recent form sound. Most recently 2nd of 7 at Mornington in the LR H White on September 29 over 2400m, 1.0 len behind Herman Hesse with 56kg at $3.80. Before that came from midfield; 2nd of 9 at Flemington in the G3 Archer Stks on September 14 over 2500m, on heavy track; long-neck behind Point King with 54kg at $19. Racing well and has claims. | ||
|
13. Mission Of Love (12)
J: Linda Meech 54kg
T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
||
| Useful mare. At the latest run 5th of 13 at Flemington in the G3 Bart Cummings on October 5 over 2520m, slow going 2.25 len behind Just Fine with 54kg at $26. The run before that 4th of 7 at Benalla Blla Cup on September 27 over 2100m, 3.5 len behind Suizuro carrying 56kg at $4.50. Wouldn't shock. | ||
|
14. Birdman (4)
J: Beau Mertens 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Second-up. Comes off a 62-day let-up. First-up after two months 6th of 8 at Leopardstown in the LR Vinnie Row on August 22 over 2816m, 11 len behind Chemistry carrying 60.5kg at $3. Previously second-up favourite; won by 1.3 len at Navan LR Yeats Stks May 18 over 2615m defeating Bellezza with 59.5kg at $3.30. Lightly raced import, the run two back would go close in this. | ||
|
15. Mister Wolfgang (13)
J: Michael Dee 54kg
T: Peter & Shaun McKay |
||
| At the latest run 6th of 15 at Caulfield in the G2 Herbert Power on October 12 over 2400m, 4.5 len behind Herman Hesse carrying 53kg at $12. The race before that won by 0.5 len at Matamata Hcp October 2 over 2000m defeating Rolls with 55.5kg at $4.40. Happy to risk. | ||
Data retrieved: 22/10/2024 01:16 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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Race comments
MURAMASA (3) was scratched from the Caulfield Cup due to a wet track and comes here with a very strong chance. Both runs back from a spell have been excellent and third-up last Spring he thrashed Duke De Sessa, who won said Caulfield Cup on Saturday. The son of Deep Impact should get conditions to suit here and will take beating. UNUSUAL LEGACY (9) comes through the G1 The Metropolitan, sticking on well for a distant third behind a top quinella. On the up and will take beating. FRANCESCO GUARDI (2) missed a run in the Caulfield Cup but was strong to the line in the Turnbull behind Via Sistina which reads very well. Will be charging late. BIRDMAN (14) is very intriguing as a lightly raced import. The run two back behind Illinois would go close here. INTERPRETATION (8) was better last time and has claims at each way odds.