On the opening card of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, Saturday’s
Mackinnon (Aus-G1) annually marks the final chance for its entrants to earn a
ballot-exempted, automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) three days
later, although no horse has completed the double since Rogan Josh in 1999, and
fewer Mackinnon winners each year are taking their spot in Australia’s famed
handicap.
Already guaranteed a spot in the Cup next Tuesday is last year’s Crown Oaks
(Aus-G1) winner Dear Demi (Dehere), who has put in a handful of courageous
finishes this season, most recently checking in third in the Caulfield Cup
(Aus-G1).
Amongst the intriguing opposition to the filly in the Mackinnon will be Side
Glance (Passing Glance), who finished third in the Arlington Million (G1) in
August before checking in a solid sixth in his Australian debut in the Cox Plate
(Aus-G1) last weekend. Regular rider Jamie Spencer flies in to regain the mount
from Craig Williams, who partnered the seven-year-old in the Cox Plate. A dual
Group 3 winner in his native England, Side Glance has performed admirably in
some of that country’s important middle distance contests.
Another interesting British invader is Jet Away (Cape Cross), who looks to
book his ticket to the Melbourne Cup off a strong fourth-place finish in the
Caulfield Cup. That effort marked the seven-year-old’s fourth Australian start
he won his first two, including the Easter Cup (Aus-G3) on March 30, and was
seventh in the Turnbull (Aus-G1)on October 5.
Solzhenitsyn (St. Petersburg) reroutes to this weight-for-age contest off a
repeat victory in the 1600 meter Toorak H. (Aus-G1) on October 12. Trainer
Robert Heathcote has indicated that the gelding’s trademark blinkers may be
removed, and that jockey Nash Rawiller said he thinks the added distance will
suit.
“Nash seems to think 2000 meters he will be better over, so we may even move
the goalposts where we are headed now,” Heathcote told Racenet.com.au. “Nash is
convinced 2000 meters will see the best of this horse and he has even suggested
we take the blinkers off.”
Darley looks to have a stranglehold on yet another
sophomore feature in Australia this season, with a three-pronged attack set for
the Victoria Derby (Aus-G1) later on the card.
The trio is headed by last out Spring Champion (Aus-G1) winner Complacent
(Authorized), the lone Group 1-winner in the field. A 1 1/2-length winner of
that Randwick contest on October 12 when given a rail-skimming ride by Christian
Reith, Complacent will be reunited with top stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy for the
Victoria Derby and will have to once again turn back Criterion (Sebring) and
Savvy Nature (Savabeel), who both suffered wide trips before putting in fast
finishes to be second and third, respectively, in the Spring Champion. All three
are drawn wide in this fully subscribed field.
Also carrying the Darley maroon and white will be Tupac Amaru (Street Cry)
and San Diego (Exceed and Excel).
The lightly-raced Tupac Amaru broke his maiden two starts ago going 1600
meters at Ballarat, and was most recently a narrowly beaten second in the 2200
meter Geelong Classic last week.
San Diego’s only off-the-board finish in six outings came at quirky Moonee
Valley in the Bill Stutt (Aus-G2) on September 27, and he rebounded to be second
to the re-opposing Polanski (Rakti), who was doubling up after his victory in
Flemington’s October 5 Uci, in the Norman Robinson (Aus-G3) at Caulfield on
October 19.
Epic Saga (Real Saga) has just one to his credit from eight outings, but his
last three have been near misses, including a second-place effort, beaten a
head, in the Uci and a most recent third in the Norman Robinson.
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