Melbourne Cup Selections

In the early hours of Tuesday morning (4AM UK time) the race that stops a nation will be run at Flemington in Australia. The Melbourne Cup is a Grade 1 Handicap that trainers across the world dream of winning. Dermot Weld was the first European to make the trek down under with Vintage Crop back in 1993, and he repeated the trick with Media Puzzle nine years later. Weld was a trailblazer and now it is the rule rather than the exception for some of Europe's top stayers to take their chance in this hugely valuable race. 

This year there are plenty of challengers from this side of the world, with Willie Mullins, Aidan O'Brien, Ed Dunlop, Michael Stoute and Saeed Bin Suroor all sending horses to take part. There has been a bit of rain around and the ground at Flemington is currently described as good to soft. One horse that will definitely appreciate a bit of cut in the ground is the Godolphin owned and Bin Suroor trained Sky Hunter. 

This son of Motivator was last seen in a Group 3 at Newbury when he produced an excellent run over 11f to finish 2nd to The Corsican. He was beaten less than 2L but was giving his rival 8lb in weight so it is a run that deserves to be marked up. His previous run, in Meydan, saw him land a Group 2 over 12f, and previous to that he absolutely hacked up in a Group 3 on soft over the same trip at Newbury. 

He has yet to score at further than 12f, but his only try over further came on really quick ground and the surface today will suit him a lot better. He carries just 8-7 for this race and will feel like he is running loose after carrying a stone more last time out. His dam was best over 12f, but her half brother won over 16f on the flat and his own half brother Highest was second in a St Leger. He should stay, the ground is perfect and he has an excellent draw in stall 7. At 40/1 he looks well worthy of a little each way support. 

Another horse that has caught my eye at a huge price is the less fancied of the two Japanese runners. Hokko Brave has form in some of Japan's best staying races, and wasn't all that far behind likely favourite when they met in Kyoto back in May. Fame Game was runner up and Hokko Brave came sixth, just over a length behind Fame Game. That race was run off level weights though, and Hokko Brave gets 4lb from that rival today. 

The worries are the ground as he is unproven with cut, and his draw could definitely been better than stall 20. However, top Aussie pilot Craig Williams has been booked and the forecast suggests that the ground might dry out a little bit before the race gets under way. His connections are bullish about his chances and seemingly he has been working very well at his Australian base. He will need a lot of luck in  running from his wide draw, but if Williams can work his magic then Hokko Brave could run a big race at odds of 40/1. 

STEVOS' SELECTIONS: MELBOURNE CUP: SKY HUNTER             E/W 40/1

                                                                                    HOKKO BRAVE         E/W 40/1