Terry’s Tips
Melbourne Cup Day
The day has arrived, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, the race that not only stops our nation but pretty much the world.
Incredibly when you look at the field of 24 runners, two stables have combined half of the line-up.
Gun Australian trainer Ciaron Maher will saddle up seven runners, and outstanding young Irish horseman Joseph O’Brien will send out a team of five in pursuit of a third Melbourne Cup success.
Obviously, it goes without saying they have a tremendous hand and my top two selections from each barn are the following.
For Maher I am going with last year’s third placegetter Middle Earth with Mark Zahra to ride, and the Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law which Ethan Brown will pilot.
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With the O’Brien team I am leaning to Trustyourinstinct who has the services of James McDonald who is coming off four winners on Victoria Derby Day, and the Craig Williams mount James J Braddock.
Away from the Maher, O’Brien stables the other horse that appeals to me is another visitor Hopewell Rock with champion young hoop Zac Lloyd aboard.
Locally at Morphettville our big 10 race program kicks off at 11.10am, and we can start the day with a special in the opener with Chix Diggus.
He has shown good ability in two runs for Stuart Gower and Noel Callow, who like James McDonald, is coming off a four-win winning day last Saturday at Morphettville, will take the reins.
Our feature race at Morphettville is Race 7 the Sportsbet John Letts Cup (1800m), named in honour of the great South Australian jockey, two-time Melbourne Cup winner, and Racing Australia Hall Of Famer, John Letts.
Air Assault for Andrew Gluyas is chasing a third successive win in the feature, but I feel it might be the day for stablemate Freedom Flame and Rose Hammond in another great rendition of the John Letts.
It is all set for a cracking Lexus Melbourne Cup Day!
