Without a Fight was 13th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in 2022 in his second start in Australia.
A year later, after a full season to acclimate to Australian racing, Without a Fight ran the race of his career to win Tuesday’s $5.4 million Melbourne Cup at two miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
There are not many horses in the world like Vauban, the favorite for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening.
Vauban has won 4 of 6 starts in flat races on turf, notably the Copper Horse Handicap at 1 3/4 miles at Royal Ascot in Britain on June 20, and the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Naas Racecourse in Ireland on Aug. 7.
The Australian 4-year-old filly Discretions was beaten for the first time in her second start when she finished a game third in a handicap at Coffs Harbour on Oct. 13, closing from off the pace.
Discretions was unable to catch the pacesetter at Coffs Harbour, but the style of her performance was easy to like, considering she had not raced in more than than three months.
Discretions will have her third start in a five-furlong handicap at Ballina Racecourse on Sunday evening.
The Group 1 Melbourne Cup at two miles at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday local time will be a test of stamina for many of the 24 runners.
The recent French import Lastotchka is an exception. She will have her first start in Australia in the $5.45 million Melbourne Cup, but is a veteran of turf marathons.
Now trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., Lastotchka won her final start in Europe in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur at 1 15/16 miles at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Sept. 3, her third stakes win since June 2022.
Paul Lally:
R1 3-9-14-5
R2 6-1-11-10
R3 7-3-11-13
R4 10-7-1-8
R5 8-11-9-4
R6 13-8-1-3
R7 7-10-2-3
R8 4-3-9-6
R9 5-1-10-12
R10 7-4-6-5
Best Bet R2 N6 Joyful Life
Longshot R6 N13 Winning Data
Play R8 QQP 3-4-9
:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming
By Leo Schlink
Reunited with Super Sunny Sing, Matthew Chadwick hopes the gelding’s improved physique and maturity will allow Chris So’s stable star to push for victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 November).
Chadwick replaces suspended Vincent Ho on Super Sunny Sing as the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner attempts to advance claims towards a possible start in the HK$32 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 10 December.
A stakes with a massive purse and a key last-chance qualifier for the Melbourne Cup early next week highlight stakes at tracks in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia on Friday evening.
The races range from two top-class sprints, races at 7 1/2 furlongs and a mile, and staying races at 1 9/16 miles.
The richest race in the nation on Friday evening is the $6.41 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens. The race drew 19 runners led by the colt Hawaii Five Oh and filly Amelia’s Jewel, who both run from off the pace.
Since late September, Northern Tahnee has reeled off three consecutive wins in Australia at distances ranging from 1 3/16 miles to 1 9/16 miles.
A fourth consecutive win would be an achievement.
At Wagga Wagga Racecourse on Thursday evening, Northern Tahnee will be tried at two miles for the first time against a slightly higher class of runners than the 4-year-old gelding has faced in recent starts.
