Youth prevailed in Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia. Rekindling, the only 3-year-old in the field, won by a half-length over Johannes Vermeer for trainer Joseph O’Brien, 24.
Johannes Vermeer is trained by O’Brien’s father, Aidan. Max Dynamite, trained by Willie Mullins, finished third in the field of 24, giving Irish-trained runners a sweep of the trifecta in the $4.6 million handicap race at two miles on turf.
John Blance
Race 1: 1-5-11-6 (1 WIN)
Race 2: 10-9-8-7 (10/9 QQP)
Race 3: 6-10-1-5 (6/10 QQP)
Race 4: 1-6-5-4 (1 WIN)
Race 5: 7-11-2-1 (7 WIN)
Race 6: 2-1-12-4 (2/1 QQP)
Race 7: 8-11-3-7 (8 W/P)
Race 8: 5-12-3-8 (5 WIN)
Best Bet - Race 8: Super Turbo
Longshot - Race 5: #1 Golden Harvest
Best play - Race 6: 2/1 QQP
HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, November 8, 2017)
RACE 1: #9 Rock The Tree, #1 Gold Velvet, #6 Wealthy Fortune, #5 My Gift
RACE 2: #6 Noble De Boy, #8 Don't Miss, #10 Ever Strong, #9 Peace Combination
RACE 3: #6 Multigogo, #1 Leisured Feet, #5 Formula Galore, #10 Otouto
RACE 4: #6 Curling Luxury, #1 Mister Monte, #2 Grand Harbour, #7 Forever Posh
RACE 5: #11 Sam's Love, #2 Fantastic Eight, #10 Smart Boy, #1 Golden Harvest
Super Turbo ended the 2016-17 season in Hong Kong in excellent form, with a win and a second in two six-furlong handicaps.
For his debut in the current season, in the $238,633 Aberdeen Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday, Super Turbo will need to be in mid-season form.
In Wednesday’s 12-horse field, Super Turbo faces three notable rivals – Pablosky, Spotlight Dream and Starlight. The Aberdeen Handicap is the final race on an eight-race program that begins at 6:15 a.m. Eastern. The Aberdeen Handicap has a post time of 9:50 a.m.
Almandin gave Australian horse owner Lloyd Williams a fifth win in the Melbourne Cup last year. Williams is after more. In Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse, Williams is co-owner of six runners, or 25 percent of the field, for the $4.63 million handicap race at two miles on turf.
Post time is 11 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Aside from Almandin, Williams has a direct rooting interest in Bondi Beach, Gallante, Johannes Vermeer, Rekindling, and U S Army Ranger.
Eagle Way might want more distance than he gets Sunday at Sha Tin in the Group 3, $384,519 Sa Sa Ladies Purse, but 1800 meters might be just enough.
Eagle Way looks like the most promising of 14 entrants in the Sunday Sha Tin Feature, but he is destined for races longer than the 1 1/8 miles he gets in the Sa Sa Ladies. One of four entrants here for trainer John Moore, Eagle Way is being pointed to the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over 2400 meters on Dec. 10, but the Sa Sa Ladies purse definitely will suit him better than his 1400-meter seasonal debut Oct 1.
For all his success around the world, jockey Frankie Dettori has never won the Melbourne Cup in 15 attempts.
This year, Dettori will be on a proven horse in Almandin, who won the 2016 Melbourne Cup. The two-mile race on turf at Flemington Racecourse is run on Tuesday in Australia, with a post time of 11 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Almandin can become the first repeat winner since Makybe Diva, who won three consecutive runnings from 2003-05.
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, November 5, 2017)
RACE 1: #1 Alcari, #2 All You Know, #10 Lucky Lucky, #6 Amazing Star
RACE 2: #8 Unleashed Dragon, #1 Golden Deer, #9 Winner St Paul's, #2 Good Method
RACE 3: #13 Super Junior, #9 Hot King Prawn, #10 Royal Mojito, #5 Ace King
RACE 4: #5 Conte, #7 Spring Win, #3 Ambitious Heart, #12 Enjoy Life
RACE 5: #13 Midnite Promise, #6 King Winsa, #4 Po Ching Treasure, #7 Je Pense
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, November 1)
Brett Davis
Race 1: 2-3-6-5
Race 2: 10-4-11-3
Race 3: 12-5-3-6
Race 4: 10-6-5-2
Race 5: 2-6-14-1
Race 6: 5-11-10-6
Race 7: 7-2-3-6
Race 8: 6-5-4-14
Best Bet - Race 5: #2 Smart Baby
Longshot - Race 3: #6 Exponents
Best Play - Race 7: Trio 7/2,3,4,6,9
SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, November 1, 2017)
RACE 1: #11 Rainbow Gold, #2 A Fast One, #10 Oriental Fantasia, #5 Happy Sound
RACE 2: #4 Silly Buddies, #10 Startling Power, #3 Hearts Keeper, #11 Rochford
RACE 3: #2 Great Toplight, #12 Happy Friendship, #7 Equity Doctrine, #13 Digital Pioneer
RACE 4: #11 Confucius Spirit, #6 Beekely, #9 Nice Fandango, #8 Respect