The race that stops a nation and also the race I can never seem to get right. I think I have managed one place in the last five years but God loves a trier, as the saying goes, se we’ll do just that and try again.
The one that will have to carry the double penalty of the Stevos’ shilling this year is the former Andrew Balding inmate, Saint George. Now trained Down Under by Ciaron Maher, this 4yo grey son of Roaring Lion was good enough to place second in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase last year when trained by Balding. He found just Gregory too good by 0.5l and that horse hasn’t been beaten far in some top staying races this season.
He got to within 4.25l of Kyprios when third in the Goodwood
Cup (a head behind Sweet William). At York in the G2 Lonsdale Cup he was 3l
behind the fav for this race, Vauban, off level weights. So, on a line through
Gregory, Saint George looks weighted to beat that rival getting 12lbs from him.
Two Fine Efforts
This lad has had three runs since moving to Australia and
two of them have been fine efforts. On his Aussie debut he was beaten just half
a length in a G3 handicap at Caulfield over 10f. He just lacked the pace to get
up in the final furlong but he kept on well and it was a very encouraging effort
considering it was his first run for over a year.
Two weeks later he didn’t run to his best at Flemington upped
to 12f but the ground was good to soft and this horse is best on good or
quicker. Even so, he seemed to handle the track well and despite finishing ninth,
he was beaten just over 4l for the win.
Last time out in the Moonee Valley Cup it was much more like
it. Dropped out early, his jockey was in no hurry to put him into the race.
With just 200m to go he was still last and seemingly going nowhere but once his
rider got stuck into him, with less than 100m to go, he picked up really well
and finished off very strongly for fifth.
He finished just 3l behind Okita Sushi and he is 2lb better
off with that rival now. He was 0.5l behind Sharp And Smart and I think he can
turn that form around over this longer trip. Going up to two miles should really
suit this fella and his dam is by Galileo, so stamina shouldn’t be an issue.
I am not too familiar with his jockey, Tyler Schiller, but
he has ridden three winners in the last fortnight so he won’t be lacking in
confidence. With no rain forecast, Saint George should get his favoured
underfoot conditions and with five places on offer, he is worth chancing each
way at odds of 25/1.
2024 Melbourne Cup Tip: Saint George e/w @ 25/1 (5 places)
