After Southern Speed claimed an upset Caulfield Cup 2011 victory, becoming just the third mare in history to do so, markets for the other major spring cup are set for a big shake-up, especially after the failure of Mark Kavanagh’s top-fancy December Draw who was on the second line of 2011 Melbourne Cup betting.
December Draw looks done for the spring after failing to beat home any other runners in the $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday October 15, despite starting the short-priced $3.30 favourite at Luxbet.
December Draw will likely miss the 2011 Melbourne Cup after finishing last in the Caulfield Cup
Prior to their Caulfield Cup failure December Draw was the $10 second-favourite behind defending Melbourne Cup winner Americain ($8.50) in the Luxbet odds on the famous two-mile Flemington showdown to run on Tuesday November 1.
With 2011 Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed having run and won her spring Grand Final and not set to contest the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), Americain is now set to shorten in their odds at Luxbet to win successive editions of the ‘race that stops a nation’.
Americain will have their final Melbourne Cup 2011 lead-up race on Cox Plate Day next Saturday October 22, with a decision pending whether to go for the traditional Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) or go out on a limb and run them against crack three-year-old Helmet and in-form Kiwi raider Jimmy Choux in the weight-for-age $3 million Cox Plate (2040m).
The Caulfield Cup 2011 finishing order threw up a number of other genuine Melbourne Cup horses:
- Green Moon (2nd) – Eye-catching second to Southern Speed in the Caulfield Cup, made up lots of ground late after getting stuck wide around the turn for home. Was at $31 in the Melbourne Cup odds – will get crunched from this and looks a big challenge to their stablemates, the fellow Williams-owned At First Sight and Midas Touch who are paying around $18 – $20
- Tullamore (3rd) – Brave third in the Caulfield Cup from Gai Waterhouse’s Brisbane Cup winner, looked to be wanting a little more ground which they will get in the Cup, sire Savabeel could get a Melbourne Cup win in 2011 still after the withdrawal of Savabeel filly Scarlett Lady earlier in the spring – Previous Melbourne Cup price $71 at Luxbet, we tip they will come into about $31 at least
- Manighar (4th) – Luca Cumani’s always-honest stayer went one better than their Caulfield Cup finish 12 months ago to cross three lengths away fourth, good Melbourne Cup trial for a horse Cumani hopes to win his maiden Melbourne Cup victory with having come close with the runner-up two times previously – Was at $35 in the Melbourne Cup odds at Luxbet
- Lucas Cranach (5th) – First Australian run by the imported German that is now prepared by Anthony Freedman, was only a nose away from Manighar when fifth in the Caulfield Cup finish, was equal $10 odds with December Draw to win the Melbourne Cup through Luxbet could firm to near favouritism with Americain, was found to have come through the Caulfield Cup slightly lame in the near-fore hoof though so stay tuned for updates
Australia’s leading online bookmaker Luxbet are set to reopen their Melbourne Cup betting markets shortly, so get ready for the action by signing up with them today and remember to quote the code BONUSBET when making your first deposit this spring for a bonus bet up to $500!
