Melbourne Cup 2016: Irish favourite Order Of St George not the only import catching attention of punters

PROFESSIONAL punter Daniel O’Sullivan says Melbourne Cup favourite Order Of St George is a “superstar” but three other imports are more attractive in early betting.

Made to Order: 2014 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Ryan Moore pilots Order Of St George (centre) to an impressive performance at the famous Royal Ascot carnival this year. Picture: Getty Images

PROFESSIONAL punter Daniel O’Sullivan says Melbourne Cup favourite Order Of St George is a “genuine superstar” but three other imports are more attractive in early betting markets.

Irish stayer Order Of St George, majority owned by Australian Lloyd Williams, is the $11 Cup favourite with tab.com.au after a dominant win in last month’s Ascot Gold Cup.

Ratings expert O’Sullivan believes Order Of St George can win the Cup if he carries 57.5kg or 58kg but there is a good chance he could be allotted more, especially if he wins successive Irish St Legers.

However O’Sullivan has nominated other imports Bondi Beach ($21), Cheval Grand ($21) and Mizzou ($21) as the horses who appeal most from a Cup betting proposition with more than three months to go.

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sheila Laxon with the most famous trophy in Australian racing. Picture: Mark Calleja

Irish stayer Bondi Beach ran 16th in last year’s Cup but O’Sullivan says he was totally unsuited when back and wide off a very slow pace.

“He’s returned well in 2016 with two wins from as many starts and is still very much on the improve,” O’Sullivan said.

“His current ratings quality, combined with scope for improvement, make him a genuine chance this year.”

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Bondi Beach works at Werribee last year. Picture: Colleen Petch

O’Sullivan also has plenty of time for lightly-raced Japanese Stayer Cheval Grand, who finished third in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) in May.

“Prior to that, he was a dominant Group 2 winner over 3000m,” O’Sullivan says.

“His ratings put him in the mix under handicap conditions and after just 14 career starts he may still have a new career peak to come.

“That is an appealing profile this far out from the race. “

Mizzou, in the care of astute British trainer Luca Cumani, is another import that O’Sullivan has his eye on in the lead-up to the Cup.

“He’s a lightly raced European stayer with just 10 starts and he looks to be very much on the improve,” he said.

Order Of St George (centre) wins the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June. Picture: AFP

“He went to a new career peak when second in the Ascot Gold Cup to Order of St George at his last start and is likely to have another peak rating to come in his future.”

Spring Carnival hype has already started to bubble with 2001 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sheila Laxon taking the famous trophy on a tour of Brisbane on Monday.

Trying to pick a Cup winner this far out can be a perilous task, but O’Sullivan says one factor is vital when assessing the imports.

History shows they must have an Australian lead-up run before the Cup to be effective on the first Tuesday in November.

“Since 1993 when Jeune won, we’ve had 86 international runners try to win the Melbourne Cup without an Australian lead-up for zero winners,” O’Sullivan says.

“Internationals who do have a lead-up run have been far more effective. Four of the last 10 Melbourne Cup winners have been internationals with an Australian lead-up run.”

Sheila Laxon relaxes in Brisbane with the Melbourne Cup trophy. Picture: Mark Calleja

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2016: Irish favourite Order Of St George not the only import catching attention of punters