Ken Callander: ride the Jet stream to win his way into the Cup

AUSTRALIA'S favourite tipster, Ken Callander, backs Jet Away to win today's Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington and make Tuesday's Melbourne Cup field.

Taxmeifyoucan didn't handle the Melbourne way of going last start and can atone at Rosehill.

JET Away has to win today's G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington to make the Cup field on Tuesday and I think he is the day's best bet.

After Damien Oliver's poor ride on the horse in the Caulfield Cup, David Hayes has booked Glen Boss for today and, if he wins, Bossy will stick with him on Tuesday.

In the Caulfield Cup Oliver could not hold the horse and he took off 1000m from home and, after leading on the turn, he sustained the run to the line to finish a sensational fourth to Fawkner.

White Sage is resuming but is all the rage with punters at Rosehill Gardens.

Race 1 (12.20) Rosehill

Betting: $1.50 White Sage, $4.40 Gamba, $7.50 Kristy Lee

Comment: White Sage has not run since June, but she won her only two starts by 7 lens and 5 lens and has had two trials. Gamba won five out of six before finishing fifth in stronger company at Randwick last start and Kristy Lee goes well fresh and is resuming after winning at Rosehill in August. Just A Girl is the likely leader, but needs to improve.

Bet: 4 White Sage

Exotics: Quinella 4 White Sage, 5 Kristy Lee

Race 2 (1.05)

Betting: $4.40 Scratch Me Lucky, Double Happy, $6.50 Duccio, $8.50 Next Level

Comment: Scratch Me Lucky was super impressive in flashing home for a close second to Alpha Miss at Randwick on Oct. 19 and Double Happy was held up and unlucky when sixth in the same race. Khrysler showed promise in his only run and Duccio and Rock Esprit, both unraced, are tips from the trials.

Bet: 1 Scratch Me Lucky

Exotics: Quinella 1 Scratch Me Lucky, 6 Duccio

If he's at his best, the resuming Pampelonne would easily win race four at Rosehill Gardens.

Race 3 (1.50)

Betting: $3 Polarmore, $5 Blackboard Special, $6 Adage, $8.50 Koroibete

Comment: Polarmore looked super in winning at the midweeks at his second start, Adage has won his last two at Canterbury and Newcastle and is on the up and Blackboard Special ran a track record in a 7 lens maiden win at Grafton (his apprentice rider cannot claim). Koroibete has had only two runs and shows promise and Earnest Desire goes well and looks big value.

Bet: 11 Blackboard Special

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Adage, 4 Earnest Desire, 7 Polarmore, 11 Blackboard Special

Race 4 (2.35)

Betting: $3.80 Pampelonne, $4.60 Zaratone, Hidden Warrior, $5 Didntcostalot

Comment: Pampelonne was out of form last preparation, but he has trialled well and would kill this lot on his best. Zaratone loves the Rosehill 1100m and will give a big sight in front. Didntcostalot will be close up in the run, but can be a touch weak and Hidden Warrior has a hope, but is coming back from 1400m.

Bet: 1 Pampelonne

Exotics: Box quinella 1 Pampelonne, 2 Zaratone, 6 Didntcostalot

Index Linked should get the race tempo he needs to win over 1800m. Picture: Mark Evans

Race 5 (3.20)

Betting: $2.70 Index Linked, $6 The Offer, $7.50 Single, Choice Bro

Comment: Index Linked won well over 1600m at Randwick and he looks as though he will get speed on here with Done Nothin' Wrong leading and Choice Bro to be ridden more forward. Two big shows are The Offer who will also be suited by a good pace and Single, who led at Randwick last start and ran a great race.

Bet: 5 Index Linked

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Single, 4 The Offer, 5 Index Linked, 8 Done Nothin' Wrong

Race 6 (4.05)

Betting: $8 Tralfaz, $8.50 Ivory Cognac, Rastro, Words Are Weapons, $9 Skip Town

Comment: Speed will be hot with Quick's The Word, Tralfaz and Shiso all likely to go hard. Rastro could ease over into a good spot with the pace on and Tahitian Black is sure to get a good run from the inside alley. Skip Town and Kanjistar, both first-up, are big queries. Tough race.

Bet: 8 Rastro

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Tahitian Black, 3 Skip Town, 8 Rastro, 9 Kanjistar

Taxmeifyoucan didn't handle the Melbourne way of going last start and can atone at Rosehill.

Race 7 (4.50)

Betting: $3.20 Coup Ay Tee, Taxmeifyoucan, $7 Maluckyday, Fulgur

Comment: Even with Riva De Lago scratched Chris Waller has five of the eight runners. Coup Ay Tee, big run last start, looks the stable pick but he has to be ridden quietly which could put him at a disadvantage to Taxmeifyoucan who should lead and get a soft run. Maluckyday and Fulgur both need further but can surprise. Frozen Rope needs to improve on his first-up run.

Bet: 7 Taxmeifyoucan

Exotics: Box quinella 2 Coup Ay Tee, 3 Maluckyday, 7 Taxmeifyoucan

Race 8 (5.30)

Betting: $4.20 King Cobia, $5.50 Magna Amica, $6 Specific Choice, $8 Hunter Jack

Comment: King Cobia will race on speed and won well at the midweeks and Magna Amica has won three from three but has not beaten much. Maximilian and Corryvreckan are racing well and Hunter Jack and Specific Choice are first up and have trialled well. Solemn is a stayer who could surprise.

Bet: 7 Specific Choice

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 King Cobia, 4 Maximilian, 6 Solemn, 7 Specific Choice

KEN'S CALL

Best Bet:

Race 2, No. 1

Scratch Me Lucky

Best value:

Race 8, No. 7

Specific Choice

Hucklebuck (red, purple and white silks) faces a big ask over 1600m today. Picture: Jay Town

WHO'S HOT

Bush galloper Blackboard Special has been backed from $15 to $5 in R3 at Rosehill. His jockey Matthew McGuren won't be able to take his claim.

WHO'S NOT

South Aussie Hucklebuck is up to 1600m for the first time in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington and looks under the odds at $2.

DROP A HINT

Kirramosa had no luck when pipped at Randwick last run and will appreciate the 2000m of today's Wakeful Stakes at Flemington.

EYE CATCHER

Tupac Amaru caught the eye when second in the Geelong Classic 10 days ago and he is one Victoria Derby runner who will be suited by the 2500m.

Craig Newitt completes trackwork on Chris Waller's Lexus Stakes hope Kelinni.

KEN'S MELBOURNE MAIL

1. Equator to win from the favourite Hucklebuck. Will be on pace, suited by the distance and Bossy is a big help.

2. May's Dream looks the best staying filly in Melbourne and this is her race. Last start Randwick winner Kirramosa is a danger.

3. Kelinni won this race last year and can do it again. Bass Strait won't be far away if you are looking for a quinella.

4. Zoustar went like a rocket in a gallop on Tuesday and he should make it six from eight. The Queenslander Missy Longstocking is second pick.

5. Jet Away should make the Cup field by winning. Pakal is being tipped in the right places and is second pick.

6. Criterion great value on his Champion Stakes run and he will love Flemington. Savvy Nature is the one he has to beat.

7. Red Tracer is all class and bolted in last start. She will get the cash with Fire Up Fife, helped by barrier one, second pick.

8. Almost a lottery. Fontellina was just pipped in G1 last run and can win and Chiaramonte, unlucky last start, is worth a saver.

9. Stick with the Sydneysiders. Riva De Lago, with Cassidy back on top, to win from Strike The Stars.