Al Riffa Versus Half Yours In Race That Stops Nation
International Raiders Dominate A$10 Million Melbourne Cup Showdown
The Melbourne Cup returns to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, bringing together 24 of the world's finest stayers in a contest that will see A$10 million (US$6.5 million) distributed amongst the entire field. The 3200 metres test represents the pinnacle of Australian racing, where European class confronts local staying power in the race that stops a nation.
Al Riffa will be attempting to give Joseph O'Brien his third Melbourne Cup victory when he takes on Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours in the 165th running of Australia's greatest race. O'Brien already has two Melbourne Cups in his trophy cabinet with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020, whilst Tony & Calvin McEvoy are seeking their first triumph. Chris Waller can add to his 2021 Melbourne Cup success with Verry Elleegant, fielding eight runners including Cox Plate runner-up Buckaroo and Caulfield Cup third Valiant King.
The contest promises a fascinating battle between European class and Australian staying power, with a record A$10 million (US$6.5 million) in prize money ensuring even those finishing 13th to 24th will collect A$100,000 (US$65,000).
Al Riffa heads the weights on 59kg for O'Brien, arriving with exceptional credentials after demolishing his rivals by four widening lengths in the Gr.1 Irish St Leger. The 5YO entire posted a Timeform rating of 125, one of the most impressive St Leger performances in the last decade, defeating the previously unbeaten Amiloc, who had won five consecutive starts including the King Edward Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Prior to that, Al Riffa captured the Gr.2 Curragh Cup by five lengths over 2816m, giving O'Brien his third winner of that race following previous Cup champions. The form has been thoroughly franked, with third-placed Al Qareem subsequently winning the Gr.3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes by six lengths.
Al Riffa's form book reveals racing against the best stayers in Europe and Japan, including Derby winner City Of Troy, Prix Ganay winner Sosie, Japan Cup runner-up Shin Emperor and Arc winner Ace Impact. He also claimed the Gr.1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin in Germany.
However, history presents a formidable challenge. The handicapper has allocated him 59kg, a weight not carried to victory since Rain Lover's 60.5kg triumph in 1969. Only seven horses have won carrying 59kg or more in 174 years. Yet with dual Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra aboard, Al Riffa possesses the class to defy the statistics.
Caulfield Cup Form Dominates Local Challenge
The Caulfield Cup has delivered six Melbourne Cup winners and 12 placegetters in the last 25 years, making it the premier lead-up race.
Half Yours created history when Jamie Melham became the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup, defeating River Of Stars by half a length with a powerful late surge. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy trained gelding had earlier captured the Gr.3 Naturalism Stakes by three and a half lengths and ran a slashing fourth in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes with the race's fastest closing splits.
Rising 2kg from his Caulfield winning weight to 53kg, Half Yours aims to become the 13th horse to complete the coveted double.
River Of Stars was the surprise packet of the Caulfield Cup, running second at long odds.
At 51.5kg from barrier 14, the Sea the Stars mare ridden by Beau Mertens represents exceptional prospects.
Valiant King ran an eye-catching third in the Caulfield Cup after his stunning Gr.3 Bart Cummings Stakes victory by two and three-quarter lengths.
With Jye McNeil aboard, winner of the 2020 Cup on Twilight Payment, and carrying just 51kg runs from barrier 10.
Cox Plate Runner-Up Adds Star Quality
Buckaroo ran the race of his life when going down by a half-head to dual champion Via Sistina.The 7YO showed remarkable courage under Zahra in the Gr.1 Cox Plate.
Craig Williams takes the ride on Buckaroo, who carries 57kg from barrier 12, with the 3200 metres distance the only query.
European Challenge Looks Formidable Throughout
Presage Nocturne caught the eye with a strong fourth in the Caulfield Cup, posting a new career-peak . The Alessandro Botti trained French raider was narrowly beaten in the Gr.2 Prix Kergolay at Deauville over 3000 metres, a race successfully used by previous Cup winners Americain and Protectionist.
Stephane Pasquier retains the ride on the 55.5kg chance from barrier 9.
Onesmoothoperator stormed back into calculations with a devastating near-last-to-first victory in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. The Brian Ellison trained UK raider won by three-quarters of a length. Harry Coffey takes the ride from barrier 6 on the 53kg chance.
Meydaan had little luck in the Caulfield Cup, finishing ninth. The Simon & Ed Crisford trained son of Frankel finished third over 2400 metres at Kempton behind Hong Kong International Vase winner Giavellotto. James McDonald takes the ride from barrier 22 on the 54kg chance.
Parchment Party makes history as the first American trained Melbourne Cup runner. The William Mott trained entire won the Gr.2 Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga by a wide margin. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez makes the journey, though racing exclusively on dirt in the US raises questions. At 52kg from barrier 3, he receives 7kg from the topweights.
Flatten The Curve, the globetrotting German stayer trained by Henk Grewe, carries 53.5kg under Thore-Hammer Hansen from barrier 17.
Vauban makes his third Melbourne Cup attempt for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, having shown strong form in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes. Blake Shinn takes the ride on the 56.5kg chance from barrier 2.
Goodie Two Shoes is O'Brien's second runner, arriving with solid European staying form proven up to 3419m. Wayne Lordan rides the 51.5kg chance from barrier 20.
Absurde makes his third Melbourne Cup attempt for Willie Mullins, having finished fifth and seventh in previous years. Kerrin McEvoy rides the 53.5kg chance from barrier 4.
Chevalier Rose brings Japanese staying credentials for trainer Hisashi Shimizu, with Damian Lane aboard the 55.5kg chance from barrier 5. The veteran Deep Impact 8YO is a proven Group Two winner up to 3600 metres.
Local Hopes Chase Breakthrough Victory
Royal Supremacy produced an effortless victory in the Gr.1 Metropolitan, his third win from four starts. The Ciaron Maher trained galloper moved into the race powerfully under Robbie Dolan, who won last year's Cup aboard Knight's Choice. At 51kg from barrier 21, he represents a solid proposition.
Torranzino created the Gr.3 Geelong Cup upset, defeating favourite Gilded Water. Paul Preusker's gelding secured his golden ticket with Celine Gaudray making her Cup debut, carrying 51kg from barrier 18.
Changingoftheguard won the Listed Tatt's Cup at Randwick for Kris Lees. The Irish import formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien finished fourth behind Torranzino in the Geelong Cup. Tim Clark takes the ride on the 53kg chance from barrier 24.
Arapaho represents Bjorn Baker carrying 56.5kg under Rachel King from barrier 15.
Waller also saddles Land Legend at 53.5kg under Joao Moreira from barrier 16 and More Felons on 53kg with Tommy Berry from barrier 23.
Middle Earth represents Maher carrying 54.5kg under Ethan Brown from barrier 13, whilst his stablemate Smokin' Romans goes under Ben Melham on 53.5kg from barrier 11.
Furthur, the Andrew Balding trained UK raider, carries 52kg under Michael Dee from barrier 7, whilst Athabascan represents John O'Shea & Tom Charlton with Declan Bates aboard the 51.5kg chance from barrier 1.
Al Riffa possesses the class to overcome his weight burden, though history suggests the 59kg will prove telling. Half Yours presents the best credentialled local hope, whilst River Of Stars and Valiant King both offer exceptional prospects at light weights. Buckaroo brings Cox Plate class whilst Presage Nocturne looms as the best international staying chance. History will be made at Flemington when Australia stops for its greatest race.
1. AL RIFFA (T: Joseph O'Brien / J: Mark Zahra)
2. BUCKAROO (T: Chris Waller / J: Craig Williams)
3. ARAPAHO (T: Bjorn Baker / J: Rachel King)
4. VAUBAN (T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / J: Blake Shinn)
5. CHEVALIER ROSE (T: Hisashi Shimizu / J: Damian Lane)
6. PRESAGE NOCTURNE (T: Alessandro Botti / J: Stephane Pasquier)
7. MIDDLE EARTH (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Ethan Brown)
8. MEYDAAN (T: Simon & Ed Crisford / J: James McDonald)
9. ABSURDE (T: Willie Mullins / J: Kerrin McEvoy)
10. FLATTEN THE CURVE (T: Henk Grewe / J: Thore-Hammer Hansen)
11. LAND LEGEND (T: Chris Waller / J: Joao Moreira)
12. SMOKIN' ROMANS (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Ben Melham)
13. CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (T: Kris Lees / J: Tim Clark)
14. HALF YOURS (T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy / J: Jamie Melham)
15. MORE FELONS (T: Chris Waller / J: Tommy Berry)
16. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (T: Brian Ellison / J: Harry Coffey)
17. FURTHUR (T: Andrew Balding / J: Michael Dee)
18. PARCHMENT PARTY (T: William Mott / J: John Velazquez)
19. ATHABASCAN (T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton / J: Declan Bates)
20. GOODIE TWO SHOES (T: Joseph O'Brien / J: Wayne Lordan)
21. RIVER OF STARS (T: Chris Waller / J: Beau Mertens)
22. ROYAL SUPREMACY (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Robbie Dolan)
23. TORRANZINO (T: Paul Preusker / J: Celine Gaudray)
24. VALIANT KING (T: Chris Waller / J: Jye McNeil)