By MIKE DILLON
The Poms hold the key, but the Anzacs are not about to pass up today's $A3 million Melbourne Cup.
New Zealand's Kaapstad Way, with top Aussie jockey Damien Oliver up, stands in their way.
So do Freemason and Diatribe.
With Melbourne's dicey weather finally clear and the Flemington track drying by the hour, Kaapstad Way comes strongly into favour to bring the Cup back to New Zealand for only the fifth time in 28 years.
New Zealand-breds have made the Melbourne Cup almost their own, but only Van Der Hum (1976), Kiwi (1983), Empire Rose (1988) and Jezabeel two years ago have been trained in New Zealand.
Former jumps jockey Chris Wood is confident he has Kaapstad Way in the right condition to feature.
Oliver made a special trip to Bevan Laming's private track at Balnarring to ride Kaapstad Way in his final gallop on Sunday.
On Oliver's advice Wood slightly altered the stayer's training.
"He worked very well in a solo gallop and Damien and I had a long talk afterwards. Damien said to make sure he wasn't too fresh because with the hype and crowd on the day the last thing you want is for him to be a fraction too fresh and to get fired up."
Wood got former topline New Zealand jockey Maurice Campbell to ride Kaapstad Way in his additional work yesterday morning.
Campbell climbed off and said: "Excellent."
The question is whether Kaapstad Way can stay the extreme 3200m distance. His sire Kaapstad has yet to leave a winner at the distance, but Kaapstad Way has one enormous
advantage, his ability to relax until called on.
And Oliver is unquestionably the most patient staying rider in Australia.
Wood lunched at a local winery yesterday, confident he has done everything he can to have Kaapstad Way in the best shape for Australasia's toughest staying test.
After yesterday's Calling Of The Card Kaapstad Way was third favourite at 8-1, just behind joint favourites Diatribe and Freemason on 7-1.
Freemason shot into favouritism when he drew No2 barrier, but being such a big, long-striding type a few barriers wider may have been a better draw.
To avoid any backward shuffle, Larry Cassidy will be obliged to go forward on Freemason, at least for the first 200-300m.
The firming of the track is against Freemason. He has won on good footing, but handles the wet a treat, while rain-affected footing would have ruled a lot of his opposition out of business.
Diatribe has also to prove he can manage 3200m at this level, but the way he ground out the closing stages of a tough 2500m Victoria Derby 12 months ago to finish just behind the placegetters, suggests he is worth the risk.
His veteran trainer George Hanlon has an outstanding record at putting the finishing touches on a stayer for a major race.
Second Coming, at 20-1, is probably the best of the mid-range chances, with fellow Kiwi Hill Of Grace good value with bookmakers on 33-1. Damien Oliver was pleased with her sixth in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes, declaring the mare to have been travelling stronger on the finish line that when appearing to be battling for much of the home straight.
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Blurb1: Blurb1
Body1: The Poms hold the key, but the Anzacs are not about to pass up today's $A3 million Melbourne Cup.
New Zealand's Kaapstad Way, with top Aussie jockey Damien Oliver up, stands in their way.
So do Freemason and Diatribe.
With Melbourne's dicey weather finally clear and the Flemington track drying by the hour, Kaapstad Way comes strongly into favour to bring the Cup back to New Zealand for only the fifth time in 28 years.
New Zealand-breds have made the Melbourne Cup almost their own, but only Van Der Hum (1976), Kiwi (1983), Empire Rose (1988) and Jezabeel two years ago have been trained in New Zealand.
Former jumps jockey Chris Wood is confident he has Kaapstad Way in the right condition to feature.
Oliver made a special trip to Bevan Laming's private track at Balnarring to ride Kaapstad Way in his final gallop on Sunday.
On Oliver's advice Wood slightly altered the stayer's training.
"He worked very well in a solo gallop and Damien and I had a long talk afterwards. Damien said to make sure he wasn't too fresh because with the hype and crowd on the day the last thing you want is for him to be a fraction too fresh and to get fired up."
Wood got former topline New Zealand jockey Maurice Campbell to ride Kaapstad Way in his additional work yesterday morning.
Campbell climbed off and said: "Excellent."
The question is whether Kaapstad Way can stay the extreme 3200m distance. His sire Kaapstad has yet to leave a winner at the distance, but Kaapstad Way has one enormous
advantage, his ability to relax until called on.
And Oliver is unquestionably the most patient staying rider in Australia.
Wood lunched at a local winery yesterday, confident he has done everything he can to have Kaapstad Way in the best shape for Australasia's toughest staying test.
After yesterday's Calling Of The Card Kaapstad Way was third favourite at 8-1, just behind joint favourites Diatribe and Freemason on 7-1.
Freemason shot into favouritism when he drew No2 barrier, but being such a big, long-striding type a few barriers wider may have been a better draw.
To avoid any backward shuffle, Larry Cassidy will be obliged to go forward on Freemason, at least for the first 200-300m.
The firming of the track is against Freemason. He has won on good footing, but handles the wet a treat, while rain-affected footing would have ruled out a lot of his opposition.
Diatribe has also to prove he can manage 3200m at this level, but the way he ground out the closing stages of a tough 2500m Victoria Derby 12 months ago to finish just behind the placegetters, suggests he is worth the risk.
His veteran trainer George Hanlon has an outstanding record at putting the finishing touches on a stayer.
Second Coming, at 20-1, is probably the best of the mid-range chances, with fellow Kiwi Hill Of Grace good value with bookmakers on 33-1. Damien Oliver was pleased with her sixth in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes, saying the mare was travelling stronger on the finish line than when appearing to be battling on the home straight.
Racing: Anzacs stand ground against northern raid
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