Inside mail: Fiorente placed to perfection for Cup glory

SHE has been trying for 20 years without success but Fiorente ticks all the boxes for Gai Waterhouse to finally win the Melbourne Cup.

$6.2 MILLION MELBOURNE CUP (3200M), FLEMINGTON, TUESDAY

1 105x4322x8 DUNADEN (FR) Mikel Delzangles Jamie Spencer 1 58.5kg

2 171x44x599 GREEN MOON (IRE) Robert Hickmott Brett Prebble 10 57.5kg

3 81x2389624 RED CADEAUX (GB) Ed Dunlop Gerald Mosse 23 56.5kg

4 115x8x0021 SEA MOON (GB) Robert Hickmott Steven Arnold 7 56.5kg

5 417238x115 BROWN PANTHER (GB) Tom Dascombe Richard Kingscote 6 55kg

6 x42x3x6143 FIORENTE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse Damien Oliver 5 55kg

7 1522x81024 FORETELLER (GB) Chris Waller Craig Newitt 15 55kg

8 2127x221x2 DANDINO (GB) Marco Botti Ryan Moore 4 54.5kg

9 640x0x5004 ETHIOPIA Pat Carey Rhys McLeod 14 54.5kg

10 112x3x7531 FAWKNER Robert Hickmott Nicholas Hall 8 54.5kg

11 4x8841x787 MOURAYAN (IRE) Robert Hickmott Brenton Avdulla 19 54.5kg

12 x052x00917 SEVILLE (GER) Robert Hickmott Hugh Bowman 9 54.5kg 1.0kg

13 x311x34935 SUPER COOL Mark Kavanagh Corey Brown 13 54.5kg

14 73948x0320 MASKED MARVEL (GB) Robert Hickmott Michael Rodd 2 54kg

15 1x50x1582x MOUNT ATHOS (IRE) Luca Cumani Craig Williams 22 54kg

16 x1220x1122 ROYAL EMPIRE (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor Kerrin McEvoy 11 54kg

17 41x1x21321 VOLEUSE DE COEURS (IRE) Michael Moroney James McDonald 21 54kg

18 6111x71457 HAWKSPUR Chris Waller Jim Cassidy 18 53.5kg

19 5x45x42x23 SIMENON (IRE) William Mullins Richard Hughes 12 53.5kg

20 1x59451801 IBICENCO (GER) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 17 53kg

21 144x32511x VEREMA (FR) Alain de Royer Dupre Christophe Lemaire 3 53kg

22 2167x73832 DEAR DEMI Clarry Conners Chris Munce 16 51kg

23 1x6513211x TRES BLUE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse Tommy Berry 20 51kg

24 1x39433321 RUSCELLO (IRE) Ed Walker Chad Schofield (a) 24 50kg

MELBOURNE CUP SWEEP GENERATOR

Ibicenco beats Verdant to win the Geelong Cup last month.

THE HISTORIC BIG-RACE DOUBLES

Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup: Ethereal (2001), Might And Power (1997), Doriemus (1995), Let's Elope (1991), Gurner's Lane (1982), Galilee

(1966), Even Stevens (1962), Rising Fast (1954), Rivette (1939), The Trump (1937), Poseidon (1906)

Tuesday: Fawkner

Mackinnon Stakes-Melbourne Cup: 16 includes Rogan Josh (1999), Let's Elope (1991), Rain Lover (1968), Rising Fast (1954), Comic Court (1950), Peter Pan (1932/1934), Phar Lap (1930), Carbine (1890)

Tuesday: None

Moonee Valley Cup-Melbourne Cup: Kingston Rule (1990), Wodalla (1953), Blue Spec (1905), Clean Sweep (1900)

Tuesday: None

VRC Lexus Quality-Melbourne Cup: 10 includes Shocking (2009), Brew (2000), Think Big (1974), Baystone (1958), Foxzami (1949), Sirius (1944), Dark Felt (1943)

Tuesday: Ruscello

Geelong Cup-Melbourne Cup:

Dunaden (2011), Americain (2010), Media Puzzle (2002)

Tuesday: Ibicenco

VRC Turnbull Stakes-Melbourne Cup: Green Moon (2012), (Makybe Diva (2005), Let's Elope (1991), Rising Fast (1954), Comic Court (1950)

Tuesday: None

ATC The Metropolitan-Melbourne Cup: Macdougal (1959), Straight Draw (1957), Dalray (1952), Delta (1951), Tim Whiffler (1867)

Tuesday: Seville

Makybe Diva Stakes-Melbourne Cup: Rain Lover (1969), Light Fingers (1965)

Tuesday: Foreteller

Sydney Cup-Melbourne Cup: Makybe Diva (2004), Carbine (1890)

Tuesday: Mourayan

ATC Australian Derby-Melbourne Cup (same year since 1979): Nil

Tuesday: Ethiopia

Mourayan, with jockey Hugh Bowman, wins the Sydney Cup at Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Piper

MELBOURNE CUP HORSE PROFILES

THE TRAINERS

Robert Hickmott, trainer of a record six runners, Green Moon, Sea Moon, Fawkner, Seville, Masked Marvel and Mourayan, is chasing back-to-back wins in the great race after Green Moon's triumph 12 months ago.

Mike Moroney, trainer of Voleuse De Couers, is also chasing his second Melbourne Cup after Brew's success in 2000, as is Mark Kavanagh (Super Cool) who won with Shocking in 2009.

The only other trainers with runners in the Melbourne Cup to have won the race previously are all from overseas - French trainers Alain de Royer Dupre (Americain 2010) is back with Verema and Mikel Delzangles (Dunaden 2011) has returned with Dunaden.

The maestro Bart Cummings holds the record with an incredible 12 Melbourne Cups with Light Fingers (1965), Galilee (1966), Red Handed (1967), Think Big (1974-75), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Kingston Rule (1990), Let's Elope (1991), Saintly (1996), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008).

Trainer Robert Hickmott, jockey Brett Prebble and owner Nick Williams celebrate Green Moon's 2012 Cup triumph. Picture: Jay Town

THE JOCKEYS

Damien Oliver (Fiorente) has already won the race twice on Doriemus (1995) and Media Puzzle (2002), and Jim Cassidy (Hawkspur) is also after his third Cup after previous successes with Kiwi (1983) and Might And Power (1997).

Brett Prebble is chasing successive Melbourne Cup wins with Green Moon, Gerald Mosse (Red Cadeaux) won on American (2010), Michael Rodd (Masked Marvel), won on Efficient in 2007, Corey Brown (Super Cool) won with Shocking in 2009, Chris Munce (Dear Demi) scored on Jezabeel (1998), and Christophe Lemaire (Verema) won with Dunaden two years ago.

The race riding record is held jointly by Bobbie Lewis who won on The Victory 1902, Patrobas 1915, Artilleryman 1919 and Trivalve 1927, and Harry White on Think Big 1974-75, Arwon 1978 and Hyperno 1979.

Jockey Chris Munce at home in his study with a painting of the mare Jezabeel. Picture: Steve Pohlner

THE DISTANCE

There are seven Melbourne Cup runners with wins at 3200m or further - Dunaden, Green Moon, Brown Panther, Mourayan, Voleuse De Couers, Simenon and Ibicenco.

THE SPECIALIST

Dunaden (2011) and Green Moon (2012) are previous Melbourne Cup winners. Red Cadeaux (2011) and Fiorente (2012) both ran second in the Cup, showing they are also adept at the Flemington 3200m.

THE FAVOURITES

Only five favourites have won in the last 30 years - Empire Rose (5/1, 1988), Kingston Rule (7/1, 1990), Might And Power (7/2, 1997) , Makybe Diva ($3.60, 2004), Makybe Diva ($4.40, 2005).

THE SPEED MAP

There isn't a noted front-runner in the field although Ruscello did lead throughout to win the Lexus Stakes last Saturday. He may well be ridden aggressively early to across from his wide barrier.
Tres Blue may also come over with him from gate 20. With the race loaded with European stayers it is unlikely the leaders will be allowed to drop "anchor" in front and slow the temp too much. Green Moon, Mourayan and perhaps even Ibicenco will roll forward early, I expect Fiorente to settle in the front half, Dunaden back midfield at best in settling down.

LEAD-UP RACES

CAULFIELD CUP, CAULFIELD, OCTOBER 19

Fawkner was on trial at 2400m but ran the trip right out, sprinting hard over the final 200m to win the Caulfield Cup. Dandino was forced to go wide on the turn but ran on powerfully to run second while Dear Demi came from well back early and snuck along the rails to finish the closest of thirds. Hawkspur had no luck, being held up behind runners before finishing strongly for a close seventh.

COX PLATE, MOONEE VALLEY, OCTOBER 26

Shamus Award became the first maiden to win the Cox Plate from Happy Trails but both are not in the Melbourne Cup. Fiorente finished third in the Cox Plate and his effort was simply sensational from a Cup point of view. Fiorente drew wide and was trapped deep at the first turn, eventually making a long, sustained run to sit outside the leader and keep going right to the line to finish a close third. Seville (seventh), Green Moon (ninth) and Masked Marvel (10th) will be better suited at Flemington over 3200m.

AND THE BIG-RACE VERDICT IS

Fiorente has been the form stayer all spring, winning the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes before an unlucky fourth in the Turnbull Stakes and then his phenomenal effort in the Cox Plate.

He endured a torrid run last start but rallied magnificently under pressure and was closing on the leaders again on the line.

He showed last year with an excellent second behind Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup that he can run a strong 3200m. He can provide trainer Gai Waterhouse with her first Melbourne Cup and jockey Damien Oliver his third win in the great race.

Seville scored a tough, grinding win in The Metropolitan then ran well for seventh in the Cox Plate. He drops considerably in weight to 54.5kg and has the ability and is a strong stayer.

Hawkspur has won the Queensland Derby and Chelmsford Stakes but has had no luck in recent starts. Expected to be ridden in a more forward position on Tuesday and although he is a risk at 3200m, he has the class to run a big race.

Dear Demi comes out of successive minor placings in the Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes, she excels at Flemington and has only 51kg. This Melbourne Cup is a race of many chances but the best outsider could well be Simenon. He is a very strong stayer and his Herbert Power Stakes third was a solid effort.

RAY'S TIPS

1 FIORENTE

2 Seville

3 Hawkspur

4 Dear Demi