‘He must really like the horse’: Damien Oliver’s 2024 Cranbourne Cup, The Meteorite tips

Champion jockey Damien Oliver says when a certain leading jockey puts up his hand to ride at a “rock bottom” 54.5kg, punters should take notice. … and that’s exactly what we’ll see on Saturday.

Damien Oliver

2 min read

November 21, 2024 - 11:51AM

Champion jockey Damien Oliver (inset) is keen on Baraqiel in the Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

Opinion

Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.

There is a lot to look forward to now they’ve really beefed-up this Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup meeting.

The club must be thrilled with the field for this first running of the Ladbrokes Meteorite in which favourite Baraqiel ($2.70 with Ladbrokes) looks the obvious.

I’m totally forgiving of his latest run at Flemington. We’ve seen enough now to know he’s just not the same horse down the straight as he is around bends.

He’s back around a bend here, gets in really well under the set weights and penalty conditions of this race and is a clear top pick. It’ll just take a nice ride from Ben Allen to get a good spot up on the speed from a bit of sticky draw in barrier eight.

Rey Magnerio ($6.50) is the danger. He’s not quite as well suited by the weight conditions, but he gets his home track and lovely draw (barrier seven). He’ll be hard to beat.

Nadal is the other one right in the betting, but I think he’s a bit better at 1000m or 1100m. He was unlucky in that Flemington race behind Rey Magnerio last time. Ethan Brown will need to ride him quiet to run out a strong 1200m.

What. A. Finish. ðŸ˜¤

REY MAGNERIO finally comes out on top, claiming victory in the Cirka Always Welcome Stakes.

ðŸŽ¥ @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/tI4o80WOjH
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 9, 2024

The value is Robrick ($14). He finished right alongside Rey Magnerio at Flemington and looks a horse on the up at the right time.

The best of Oscars Fortune ($13) would also bring him right into play, but I’m just not sure where he’s at.

In the Cup, I’m really warming to the Kiwi raider, It’s A Wild Night.

The best pointer you’ll get is Blake Shinn getting down to ride him at 54.5kg. That’s about rock bottom for Blake and he’s doing it after a suspension, too. He must really like the horse.

It’s A Wild Night is part of the strong Te Akau barn and has a terrific record with eight wins from just 15 starts.

I found a run where he ran second to the former top Kiwi mare Prowess, which is very good form for a race like this.

PROWESS upsets the 2 big guns and takes out the Karaka Million 3yo Classic for @Roger_JamesNZ @RobertWellwood and jockey Warren Kennedy pic.twitter.com/0ttp14MGQm
— Trackside NZ (@TracksideNZ) January 21, 2023

Globe will take some catching. He’s always shown a lot of talent and looks back to something like this best this campaign.

He’s suited by the mile (1600m) and the long run to the first bend you have over that trip here at Cranbourne.

Cadmus could be the blowout. I liked his run in the same race as Globe last time. It’s early in his preparation and he could be the big improver.

There's no doubt The Meteorite has added another layer of excitement to Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day â˜„ï¸@SthsideRacing @Quinny_1 pic.twitter.com/ikPSL3pFud
— Ladbrokes Australia (@ladbrokescomau) November 20, 2024