Melbourne Cup! 2025

[Bates]

# 7

[Bates]

Ok, think I've finalised my picks for the Cup. Will be a wet track unfortunately, rated a Soft7 at present and it looks like Melbourne has had the bulk of its predicted rain. However, more showers are possible right through tomorrow. Depends how much falls at Flemington. Lots of overseas horses, or prev trained overseas presents a challenge!

Top pick - No: 6 ze fwarnch oss Presage Nocturne. Loved his Caufield Cup run, distance no problem and can handle up to soft going. A heavy track could test though. Lovely grey, there's a few in the race. Slight gamble on French trainer/jockey combo taking on the locals, but can be done.

Next best - No: 9 Absurde. Had 2 prev cracks could it be 3rd time lucky? Ran well last year. Think his wily trainer Willie Mullins would have made any corrections from those experiences. Distance/conditions suit. Had a messy checkered run in the Caulfield Cup and still ran well, jockey upgrade here. Warming to him.

Third pick - No: 22 Royal Supremacy. Can the singing irishman Robbie win an unlikely b2b Melb Cup double? His trainer Ciaron Maher thinks so. His confidence is giving me some. Nice light weight, if he stays a strong 2 miles good roughie.

Good luck all, and remember last years result showed anyone can win!

lol they're still running.

There's always Keno and the meat raffle

[redwhiteblue]

So did Think Big win?

Andy, I tested my memory and happy to report I can go back as far as 1974 when I was 7 years old. I was chatting to a school friend the other day and I remembered being in the playground saying to her that I won't remember the name Belmura Lad as I'd gotten it a sweep. She said just think of the Bermuda Triangle and lads and lassies and you won't forget..well I never did..she got Leilani that day..

I hope this will bring back memories for some..

https://www.kingsoftheturf.com/1977-...ps-to-conquer/

I can remember many horses between 1974-78, where my musical preferences and TV watching habits are stuck also..

This time last year I'd gone around to Vinnies and bought a wonderful framed print of 3 different artists' impressions of a racetrack with crowds in colourful clothing in a lovely old wooden frame meant for 3 pictures. I keep it in my hallway along with a vintage shoehorn and clothing brush with horses heads.

[mightyrooster]

Another year done and no winners in our household. Not sure if anyone tipped the winner here? It’s rare to get the Melbourne Cup / Caulfield Cup double.

[007]

Another year done and no winners in our household. Not sure if anyone tipped the winner here? It’s rare to get the Melbourne Cup / Caulfield Cup double.

No, unfortunately not mighty rooster. Andrew Walker was the closest when he said 'Half Yours' was well weighted which stands true but it wasn't his tip.

My 30/1 shot Torranzino ran a bold race (finished 5th) but no prizes for 5th.

Kudos to Jamie Melham though - an absolutely brilliant ride; was very patient and picked the gaps. As always - very humble in victory which is always great to see. Very happy for her (and her late Grandpa watching from up above) and all the connections. A well-deserved victory and no doubt many more to come. Not just her, but many more female jockeys.

[mightyrooster]

No, unfortunately not mighty rooster. Andrew Walker was the closest when he said 'Half Yours' was well weighted which stands true but it wasn't his tip.

My 30/1 shot Torranzino ran a bold race (finished 5th) but no prizes for 5th.

Kudos to Jamie Melham though - an absolutely brilliant ride; was very patient and picked the gaps. As always - very humble in victory which is always great to see. Very happy for her (and her late Grandpa watching from up above) and all the connections. A well-deserved victory and no doubt many more to come. Not just her, but many more female jockeys.

Mine finished 4th. It was a great effort but sadly not close enough. It was great to see another female jockey get the win though and an Aussie horse too.

[Crab]

Thought I'd start a thread so you can let us know who your picks/bets/sweeps are for tomorrow's big race.

I think we all mostly bombed last year, with the exception of Crab who was on the winner Knights Choice.

Will post my thoughts later.

Thanks Jacks
I actually had a shocker this year ! My number 6 became race favourite in the conditions but is, unfortunately, still running !!! Number 11 wasgoing great at the halfway , leading by 7 lengths ! Unfortunately too much to soon and my roughie 10, flatten the curve was running last for most of the race and maybe that's where it finished ? Oh well.. Caarn the Chooks in 2026

[Andrew Walker]

No, unfortunately not mighty rooster. Andrew Walker was the closest when he said 'Half Yours' was well weighted which stands true but it wasn't his tip.

My 30/1 shot Torranzino ran a bold race (finished 5th) but no prizes for 5th.

Kudos to Jamie Melham though - an absolutely brilliant ride; was very patient and picked the gaps. As always - very humble in victory which is always great to see. Very happy for her (and her late Grandpa watching from up above) and all the connections. A well-deserved victory and no doubt many more to come. Not just her, but many more female jockeys.

A smart punter always backs 2 in this type of race I had $300 River Of Stars to win at 20-1 abs 200 on Half Yours to win at 8.50 I also had a trifecta where I spent $50 with both horses mentioned to win and come 2nd with the field for 3rd.

So in short I’m very happy as you have said not to have tipped the winner here yet still won $1150 on the race

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Another Cup done and dusted. Some ended up with patches on their britches, and others chuffed down the shampoo and caviar. Congrats if you got a collect. I ended up whinging on the day (despite duffing the Cup) thanks to some other good results.

Great to see Jamie Melham (not Kah, Matty Hill!) get the cash. I'm in awe of our female jockeys, and Jamie is one of the best in the world. My last winner yesterday was thanks to a gutsy ride on a tough little horse (Sunrise) by another upcoming star female jockey in Anna Roper. It pains me that our jockeys in Australia aren't decorated as highly as they should be as elite athletes. The sacrifices, skill and courage they exhibit are unparalleled in sport imho.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

That was my pick but then i started watching some so called experts on Youtube basically saying that horse has ADHD and struggles to truly settle during the races. Somehow if the training can settle it, then it might be a chance...i will still have something on it.

So Jaxx, out of interest is there any expert u follow where u get tips or leanings from, or if u do all tips yourself what do u particularly look for in a racehorse to win or place in it's race?

G'day Rockstar! See you all too infrequently around here.

Mate I'm old school in the game. Grew up a bit of a Don Scott disciple, and still use his foundation principles of form, class and weight when assessing a race. I give some attention to speed maps and overlay my own thoughts to some that are available online. I'm not a big "times" punter but will pay some heed if you've got 'like' tracks and conditions where you can make a comparison. Don't form my own markets like the pros, but have an opinion on the market order that I then hunt for value with. Race replays are important study, and I am a believer in trusting the eye. Stage of prep is important, as horses often peak at a similar time each prep. Don Scott said a horse is generally always either improving/or declining in its performance during a prep and nailing this can be crucial. I definitely don't follow other tipsters, in fact deliberately avoid media comment in the days leading up to meets I have studied.

Punting has morphed a lot differently these days with Betfair and laying horses, betting in the run etc.

Having said the above, I don't give that amount of time/effort to the Cup as there are too many formlines to blend. It's more a like a process of elimination and pick the best of what's left. I thought the Caulfield Cup form would yield the winner (which it did) but I wrongly doubted Half Yours over 2 miles.

Ah well, as I said to a punter who was having a rough trot...mate, you've got something that no other punter in the world has. And that's....your judgement! Don't be afraid to use it.

[Andrew Walker]

Another Cup done and dusted. Some ended up with patches on their britches, and others chuffed down the shampoo and caviar. Congrats if you got a collect. I ended up whinging on the day (despite duffing the Cup) thanks to some other good results.

Great to see Jamie Melham (not Kah, Matty Hill!) get the cash. I'm in awe of our female jockeys, and Jamie is one of the best in the world. My last winner yesterday was thanks to a gutsy ride on a tough little horse (Sunrise) by another upcoming star female jockey in Anna Roper. It pains me that our jockeys in Australia aren't decorated as highly as they should be as elite athletes. The sacrifices, skill and courage they exhibit are unparalleled in sport imho.

Anna Roper is certainly a gun rider I had a big day yesterday I also backed Burma Start at $10 and my luck was so in I was sitting in the beer garden at the pub and saw Sunrise in the last so I backed it as I like the song Sunrise by Norah Jones and the song has a story attached to it with my Parents mainly my Dad

Sitting in a car with them a day before I moved to Gold Coast this song Sunrise comes on which I’d never heard before but as soon as I heard her sing I knew it was Norah Jones and I’ve said aah this is Norah Jones My old man rrsponds how would you know who this is I said I’m telling you it’s Norah Jones I recognise the voice My old man’s hammering me saying you wouldn’t know who such a fine singer like this is I’ve heard the music you listen to I said Dad I’m telling you it’s Norah Jones My Mum says he seems pretty certain let’s listen to see if they say who it is. Anyway song finishes and FFS guy says that was Sunrise by Norah Jones My Mum laughed and says to my Dad. He does know his music

Back to Sunrise the horse it was never going to win in the run but got up in the last strides Big day yesterday I’m nursing a big hangover Have to play the song now

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Anna Roper is certainly a gun rider I had a big day yesterday I also backed Burma Start at $10 and my luck was so in I was sitting in the beer garden at the pub and saw Sunrise in the last so I backed it as I like the song Sunrise by Norah Jones and the song has a story attached to it with my Parents mainly my Dad

Sitting in a car with them a day before I moved to Gold Coast this song Sunrise comes on which I’d never heard before but as soon as I heard her sing I knew it was Norah Jones and I’ve said aah this is Norah Jones My old man rrsponds how would you know who this is I said I’m telling you it’s Norah Jones I recognise the voice My old man’s hammering me saying you wouldn’t know who such a fine singer like this is I’ve heard the music you listen to I said Dad I’m telling you it’s Norah Jones My Mum says he seems pretty certain let’s listen to see if they say who it is. Anyway song finishes and FFS guy says that was Sunrise by Norah Jones My Mum laughed and says to my Dad. He does know his music

Back to Sunrise the horse it was never going to win in the run but got up in the last strides Big day yesterday I’m nursing a big hangover Have to play the song now

I think you pinched my notes....Burma Star was my best result too.

Nash tried to 'bully' Anna on Sunrise, but she wasn't gping to take it.

I wouldn't know about hangovers, as I only drink tea.

Nice tune, I won't bother playing Rolf Harris's sunrise, he's banned.