Melbourne Cup 2016: Japanese veteran Curren Mirotic on mission to create history at Flemington

HE IS trying to be become the oldest winner of a Melbourne Cup but he already boasts a race time that would have won every Cup ever run. Meet Japanese warhorse Curren Mirotic.

HE is trying to be become the oldest winner of a Melbourne Cup yet but he already boasts a race time that would have won every Cup ever run.

Meet the Japanese warhorse Curren Mirotic who just might be ready to embarrass some of the world’s best stayers in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Curren Mirotic will be easy to identify during the race — he sports bright, fluorescent orange bridle and reins, plus matching bandages on his front and back legs.

WEEKEND BEST BETS

MELBOURNE CUP: EARLY FORM GUIDE

“You won’t miss him, the bridle and reins stand-out,’’ race jockey Tommy Berry said.

Curren Mirotic is a nine-year-old and will be the oldest horse in Tuesday’s big race.

In fact, since the Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861, no horse as old as Curren Mirotic has won the race. The age record is shared by eight-year-olds Toryboy way back in 1865 and equalled by Catalogue in 1938.

Japanese raider Curren Mirotic will be the oldest runner in the Cup field on Tuesday. Picture: Ian Currie

But Berry is adamant “Father Time” has not caught up with Curren Mirotic just yet.

“When I rode him in Japan earlier this year he went onto the track bucking, he felt that good,’’ Berry said. “He doesn’t know how old he is.’’

Berry will put Curren Mirotic through his paces at Werribee trackwork on Friday morning ahead of Tuesday’s big race.

Curren Mirotic may not have won a race for three years but his 3200m form remains outstanding, including his effort in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) three starts back when he was beaten in a very close photo finish by Japan’s top stayer Kitasan Black.

The winning time for the 3200m that day was a staggering 3 minutes, 15.3 seconds — faster than any Melbourne Cup ever run.

Kingston Rule remains the race record-holder in the Melbourne Cup with his 1990 win which was a full second slower than Curren Mirotic’s recent effort.

Curren Mirotic has not won a race for three years but his form over 3200m is strong. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Curren Mirotic, striving to give Japan it’s second Melbourne Cup after the Delta Blues-Pop Rock quinella 10 years ago, is rated at $21 in early TAB Fixeds Odds betting on Tuesday’s big race.

Hartnell remains the $4.20 favourite for the big race but there has been some good support for some of Curren Mirotic’s co-residents at Werribee.

Irish raider Wicklow Brave continues to be well supported with a bet of $4,000 each way at $16 wagered on the Willie Mullins-trained stayer on Thursday.

Godolphin could have as many as five starters in the Melbourne Cup with Oceanographer poised to secure a start by winning the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

One TAB Fixed Odds punter expects Oceanographer to be alongside Godolphin’s Hartnell, Beautiful Romance, Secret Number and Qewy in Tuesday’s race after investing $8,000 at $26 on the stayer late Thursday.