A ballot free ride into November’s $8 million Melbourne Cup field is up for grabs at HQ on Saturday with a class field of stayers engaged in The Andrew Ramsden Stakes 2021.
Former VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound chases a spot in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field via Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes at HQ. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Due to run as Flemington Race 6 at 2:50pm (AEST), this year’s Listed $400,000 The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) features a line-up of runners led in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au by the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Realm Of Flowers ($3.80).
Mark Zahra partners the four-year-old So You Think mare in Melbourne’s feature race of the weekend coming back aboard her for the first time since a close second in last November’s Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) over the mile and a half.
Realm Of Flowers has been good over the autumn including a Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) second at Rosehill and her last start fifth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 17 at Randwick.
This shapes-up as an easier grade of rival for her and over the distance with a bit of luck she could be hard to beat.
It’s a close affair in The Andrew Ramsden betting this season with the danger being the Danny O’Brien-trained Group 1 winning Miami Bound ($4.20).
Jumping from barrier 10 with Ben Allen in the saddle, the former VRC Oaks champion chases her first victory since last October’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
She contested the 2020 Melbourne Cup running 14th and gets the chance to earn another shot at the world’s richest handicap race via a win in The Andrew Ramsden.
The now four-year-old Reliable Man mare has been very strong in Sydney in the lead-up coming off back-to-back Group 1 thirds in the Tancred Stakes and Sydney Cup, plus she’s a two-time winner at Flemington.
The bookies are having a hard time separating the best from the rest in The Andrew Ramsden odds with a host of other runners also at single-figures including the Ciaron Maher & Daivd Eustace-trained trio of: Persan ($4.80), therails-drawn stablemate Grand Promenade ($6) and three-year-old VRC St Leger winner last time out Through Irish Eyes ($6).
Pierro four-year-old Persan is the shortest-priced of The Andrew Ramsden acceptors in the current all-in Melbourne Cup 2021 odds online paying $26, a price sure to firm should he win on the weekend.
He’s a Flemington specialist having won four from seven at the track including last October’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings that led into his credible fifth in the Melbourne Cup behind Twilight Payment when under three lengths beaten at 40/1.
Click here for the latest 2021 Melbourne Cup futures markets and here for Saturday’s Andrew Ramsden odds.
2021 The Andrew Ramsden Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0x90x0x055 | CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Dean Holland | 8 | 58.5kg | 94 | |
| 2 | 14x844x221 | GRAND PROMENADE (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 1 | 58.5kg | 85 | |
| 3 | 121215×124 | PERSAN | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Michael Dee | 4 | 58kg | 105 | |
| 4 | 30x0x86112 | MOHICAN HEIGHTS (IRE) | Chris Waller | (late alt) | 9 | 58kg | 91 | |
| 5 | 6107×87833 | MIAMI BOUND (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Ben Allen | 10 | 56kg | 105 | |
| 6 | 58862×6225 | REALM OF FLOWERS | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 6 | 56kg | 95 | |
| 7 | 34612x9x77 | NEVER LISTEN | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 2 | 56kg | 80 | |
| 8 | 410x212x47 | LION’S SHARE | Steven Pateman | Will Price (a) | 7 | 56kg | 65 | |
| 9 | 633121 | THROUGH IRISH EYES (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Michael Poy | 3 | 54kg | 77 | |
| 10 | 2252×82302 | SALTO ANGEL (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Damien Thornton | 5 | 52kg | 75 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
