Owners of Winx, Black Caviar and Frankel join forces to chase Melbourne Cup glory with Finche
FINCHE has brought together the owners of three of the greatest champions of them all, Frankel, Winx and Black Caviar, to try and win the Melbourne Cup.
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FINCHE has brought together the owners of three of the greatest champions of them all, Frankel, Winx and Black Caviar, to try and win the $7.3 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.
Prince Khalid Abdullah, a member of the House of Saud, is one of the leading owner-breeders in world racing. He has raced many champions including Dancing Brave, Arrogate and Enable but none greater than the mighty Frankel.
The unbeaten English superhorse won 14 races, 10 at Group 1 level, and earned the highest Timeform rating ever of 147.
Frankel is now proving a sensation at stud and five-year-old Finche is from his first crop to race. He is also the sire of rival Melbourne Cup hopeful Rostropovich.
But Prince Khalid’s desire to win a Melbourne Cup meant he would cross paths with Peter Tighe, part-owner of mighty mare Winx, winner of 29 races in succession, including four Cox Plates, and Neil Werrett, who raced the great Black Caviar, undefeated winner of 25 races.
“I understand that Prince Khalid wanted to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup and through a (bloodstock) agent in Europe, got in touch with Chris Waller and asked him to train Finche,’’ Tighe said. “Then we were approached to buy into the horse and I’ve got a small share, along with Neil and a few others.’’
Tighe has experienced some extraordinary moments as Winx has gone on her famous winning streak, which includes a world record 22 Group 1 wins, but he’s still a novice when it comes to the Melbourne Cup.
“I had shares in Preferment who ran in 2015, he was my only runner but he got flattened in the straight and finished well back,’’ he said.
“But I always wanted to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup and it was special to be a part of it that day. I’m looking forward to watching Finche race (Tuesday).’’
Finche is a Group 2 winner in France but was having only his ninth start when making his Australian debut, closing late for third to Runaway in the Geelong Cup.
“He’s only lightly raced and it might all come a bit quick for him but he is certainly untapped,’’ Tighe said. “His run at Geelong was pleasing, he’s a big striding horse so Flemington should suit and I know Chris and the team are very, very happy with him.’’
Werrett has had a couple of Melbourne Cup runners before with the Waller-trained Kelinni’s fourth to Green Moon in 2012 his best result. “I had shares in Warringah — he led the first lap and came last in the second lap,’’ Werrett said.
Werrett also has shares in Vengeur Masque and gives both his Cup hopefuls an each-way chance.
“I think the barrier daw was interesting with the favourites drawing out wide,’’ Werrett said.
“Finche ran well at Geelong and Vengeur Masque is going better than he has ever gone.’’
Finche is among three starters in the Melbourne Cup for Waller. He also has veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman and Youngstar.
Waller was asked on Sydney radio on Monday to assess his stable trio and suggested Youngstar is his best chance of winning the Melbourne Cup.
“I’m a straight shooter, I think Youngstar, being the Australian-bred horse of my three runners, is the best chance,’’ Waller said. “She’s got good credentials, she’s a young horse, meaning she’s still got a bit extra.”
#Winx was sent for a spell on Monday with future race plans on hold until early next year.
#Black Caviar recently gave birth to her fifth foal, a filly by I Am Invincible last month. Werrett confirmed the mare soon be served by I Am Invincible again.
Yesterday afternoon Winx headed out to the paddock - she even stopped to have a look around and say goodbye before getting on the float. @winx_horse @SkyRacingAU @TheValley @FlemingtonVRC @HugeBowman @anz_news pic.twitter.com/60xbMf9eLU
— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) November 4, 2018
Bowman happy with Marmelo’s fresh approach
CHAMPION jockey Hugh Bowman doesn’t mind that Marmelo has been “flying under the radar” going into the Melbourne Cup.
Marmelo ran unplaced as favourite in the race last year but there isn’t the same hype around the English stayer going into Tuesday’s race.
Bowman believes this is because Marmelo has not raced in Australia prior to the big race – a deliberate tactic by his trainer Hughie Morrison.
“I remember Hughie (Morrison) wasn’t so keen to run in the Caulfield Cup last year but there is so much history in the Melbourne Cup and it tells you that generally you need to have a lead-up run,’’ Bowman said.
“So, they decided to run in the Caulfield Cup last year and he ran very well but we didn’t see him at his best in the Melbourne Cup. This year they have taken a different path.’’
Morrison said at Werribee trackwork on Monday that “if you don’t learn lessons for a start, you shouldn’t come back”.
“We learnt that we want a fresh horse, he is not a horse designed particularly for Australian surfaces,’’ Morrison said. “He runs very well on firm ground, but he is not the sort of horse you can keep running back-to-back, which a lot of horses do over here.
“We really planned the whole year around having a good break after the Kergorlay in early August and going straight to the (Melbourne Cup).”
Marmelo has raced only four times this year, winning twice and finishing twice in his other two starts, including the Kergolay.
“He has run well every time in Europe this year,’’ Bowman said. “I’ve been out to Werribee to ride him twice and he feels fantastic. I think he is going every bit as good, if not better than last year.’’
Morrison said agrees that Marmelo is “looking better than he was last year.’’
“We learnt that we need a fresh horse and I think the horse learned something,’’
Morrison said. “Everywhere he has been this year, whether it is quarantine, aeroplane, here (at Werribee), he is just more chilled out by the whole thing. It is good to have a happy horse.”
But Morrison conceded Marmelo has to produce a career-best effort to win the Melbourne Cup.
“We have a Group 2 horse running in a Group 1 race that is handicapped as a Group 2 horse and I think in any handicap, you have to find something a bit more than what your form has shown before, and we are obviously hoping for that,’’ he said.
“It doesn’t necessarily happen. I am realistic to know that this is a handicap and we have to improve on what we have shown before to be in the first two.’’