Illo is Bart Cumming’s top hope for a win in the 2011 Melbourne Cup but is the master a realistic shot at claiming the race that stops a nation this year?
Punters don’t really think so, they’re yet to warm to the German import which currently sits at a $21 fixed quote with online bookmaker Luxbet.
The Master will need to work his magic with Illo in Melbourne Cup 2011
That being said it’s never wise to rule out the Cup’s King, a man who has won 12 of them in an unmatched career over the two miles.
Illo has had just the one start in Australia after coming from Europe where he was in fantastic form.
In fact form his 14 career starts he’s won five of them and placed a further six times.
We got our first look at Illo when he ran in the Moonee Valley Cup, a race where he finished third behind Americain and Tullamore.
It was noticeable to the eye he wasn’t at peak fitness that day though and he looked in good need of a few extra kilograms.
That’s going to be the major key to his Melbourne Cup chance, whether or not the master has had the time to get the horse up to peak fitness and in a condition to run out the full two miles.
The 2500m of the Moonee Valley Cup was the furthest he’s gone to date so it is a big ask however if anyone can do it it’s one Bart Cummings.
The aura around Bart is actually what’s keeping him steady in the market at the moment.
Off that first up run he couldn’t possibly win the Melbourne Cup, but with improvement to come and the touch of the master, anything could happen on Tuesday,
If you want to back Illo in the 2011 Melbourne Cup jump on to Luxbet now for best odds of $21.
Remember that with an outlay as small as $25 you can score a $100 free bet too, punch in that code 100BONUSBET to get yourself in on this one time exclusive offer.
#14 Illo – Horse Profile
- Jockey: Jim Cassidy
- Trainer: Bart Cummings
- Owners: R A Pegum & D C Orrock
- Age: 6YO
- Gender: Horse
- Breeding: by Tertullian out of Iora
- Career: 14:5-3-3
- Prize Money: $168,459
- Track: 0-0-0-0
- Distance: 0-0-0-0
- Current Melbourne Cup Odds: $21 @ Luxbet
Why Illo Can Win The 2011 Melbourne Cup
- Massive amount of improvement to come form that first up run
- Even not at full fitness he wasn’t disgraced in Moonee Valley Cup
- Get’s 3.5kg turn around on Americain
- The Cummings factor
Why Illo Can’t Win The 2011 Melbourne Cup
- Never been beyond 2500m and never won beyond 2400m
- Never been in a field with more than 12 horses
- Beaten comfortably by both Americain and Tullamore last start
- Cummings has never trained a European horse before and has only limited time to get him up to scratch
Illo is certainly an interesting prospect for the 2011 Melbourne Cup but Cummings looks to have his work cut out in getting him up to par.
That being said it’d take a brave man to write him off and we think he can run a big race.
Back Illo now with online bookmaker Luxbet to make sure you always have the best odds and you’re never paid less than the TAB!
