Melbourne Spring Carnival Thread

[Peter Gleason]

Saturday should be an awesome day of racing!

Black Caviar to face a decent field for once - Hay List, Sea Siren, Snitzerland, Bel Sprinter, Rain Affair, Buffering and even More Joyous in the noms. Interesting to see who actually accepts but potensh the best field she will ever race!

It's a Dundeel v Fiveandahalfstar in the Derby. I remember sitting at the Radisson Covina last November, seeing the Victoria Derby result and cringing. Turns out it was possibly the best Derby ever, with It's a Dundeel, 5.5star and Super Cool all in it. It's a Dundeel a distance query at all?

Sires is always interesting - can Overreach back up over 7f? Guelph, Criterion and Fast N Rocking all should improve with extra disance. Wouldn't have thought Overreach is a Pierro type who would improve with added distance

[Anzu Mccann]

I really don't think about half of that field will turn up to face BC.. which is a shame, here's hoping they will show some balls!

[Peter Gleason]

$5m for Caviar brother

[Laura Cameron]

Helenus died earlier this month. Makes me sad - he was my first favourite, the first horse whose every race I watched, live, from debut to retirement.

[Charles Bunbury]

Good to see All Too Hard heading over here to Ascot.

[Peter Gleason]

Helenus died earlier this month. Makes me sad - he was my first favourite, the first horse whose every race I watched, live, from debut to retirement.

I remember that great run he had in the Spring of '02 (?) - winning the Stutt as a maiden, the Guineas over Bel Esprit and Choisir, then the Vase and the Derby by the barest of margins. He kind of went downhill after that due to just being crazy I guess, although I think he did win either the Rosehill Guineas or Canterbury Guineas if that race was still around then. Was producing some good horses at stud too.

Good to see All Too Hard heading over here to Ascot.

Haradasun and Starcraft were pretty competitive in the race, and I'd put ATH on top of them in terms of class, so I think he should go pretty well. Would have loved to see him race Pierro one last time though!

How about that Singo interview after the All Aged? If his version of events is true then I'd take my horses off Gai too!

[Charles Bunbury]

How about that Singo interview after the All Aged? If his version of events is true then I'd take my horses off Gai too!

This is the person that tried to get Frankel over for a race in Australia?

[John Nicholson]

if i was gai waterhouse id be glad he took his horses away the owner looks like a typical rich idiot who cries when things dont go his way

[Peter Gleason]

Scarily this thread was started 5 years ago

The spring carnival is coming up...ergo the potential for some banter in this thread.

Early markets for the big ones:

Cox Plate:
Puissance De Lune $6
It's a Dundeel $6
Super Cool $6.5
Atlantic Jewel $7
Fiorente $15
Sea Moon $17

Melbourne Cup
Puissance De Lune $6
Fiorente $11
Sea Moon $13
Mount Athos $21
Brown Panther $21
It's a Dundeel $21

Caulfield Cup
Royal Descent $11
Jet Away $13
Fiorente $13
Waldpark $15
Beaten Up $15
Dandino $17

Caulfield Guineas
Prince Harada $5
Cauthen $8
Eclair Big Bang $11
Fast N Rocking $11
Zoustar $11
Sidestep $11

Early questions:

Is PDL as good as everyone seems to think? Will he take out the Cox Plate - MC double? Melbourne Cup probably at his mercy more than the Cox.

Will Atlantic Jewel come back as good as she was pre injury? Clear best horse in the country when right

Will the 3yos continue their dominance at 4? Although Pierro, All too Hard and Fiveandahalfstar are out of action, It's a Dundeel, Super Cool and Royal Descent are still there to fly the flag.

3yos - hopefully Overreach, Miracles of Life and Guelph all meet in something (1000 G?). The boys don't really have a headliner with the top three favourites in the Guineas market not even stakeswinners at this point.

[Karl Smythe]

Looking for huge things from Dandino.
He will really like the distance and handles travel well (he was here last season).

[John Nicholson]

red cadeaux ran second on saturday (13f) in his last race before going into quarantine a third melbourne cup atempt awaits

[Peter Gleason]

Didn't realise he was coming back again! Hopefully his weight isn't too high!

[Melissa Mae]

With Dandino and Red Cadeaux coming, I'll definitely be paying attention to the Carnival this year. Love those two!

[Peter Gleason]

Hope Atlantic Jewel stays sound. Great first up win!

[Peter Gleason]

Didn't see yesterday's race coming! Bit concerned - surely Atlantic Jewel is some sort of distance query going forward to the Cox Plate.

Royal Descent and Hawkspur ticking along nicely for the big ones. Good to see some local breds doing ok for once