Another of the recent guides to the Melbourne Cup is run today......the Geelong Cup.
In recent years both Media Puzzle and Bauer have won this race and gone on to be VERY competitive in the Melbourne Cup.....with Media Puzzle of course winning in very emotional scenes for jockey Damien Oliver.
Of the internationals, Luca Cumani’s Basaltico looks set to start the race as favourite (with Oliver taking the ride) and only a victory in the race would guarantee Basaltico a place in the Melbourne Cup. Basaltico isn't the only international runner with Godolphin represented by Crime Scene ridden by Kerrin McEvoy.
The Mug Punting Team have scoured the field and like the look of:
9 - Sterling Prince
2 - Balsaltico
15 - Leica Ding
Sterling Prince has been very competitive around the cream of the New Zealand WFA talent this campaign. Strong 3rd behind Daffodil in the Windsor Park and was good again in the Kelt Capital. Daffodil has since come out and franked that form with a huge run in the Caulfield Cup and with a big drop in weight for Sterling Prince here really expecting a big showing by this promising stayer.
Balsaltico won a listed race, the Grand Prix de Nantes over 2400m in October last year and ran third in the listed Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m in February. That's excellent form for a Geelong Cup. Plenty of upside in him, drawn well and in well at the weights. Expect a bold showing.
Leica Ding is a lightly raced staying mare who has some promise. Worked home very well at her last couple of starts at Moonee Valley behind some good horses in unsuitably run races. This looks much more suitable as she will certainly get the trip and with no weight on her back and average luck from the shocking barrier draw she can figure in the finish.
Best Roughie: Young Centaur