Werribee Whispers – Melbourne Cup

Since the internationals’ first arrival on Grand Final weekend, AFL Racing.com has made Werribee our second home as we follow the journeys of this year’s overseas spring competitors and the brilliant teams that look after them. With some topping the field and already putting in dominant performances, and others hoping second time around will be the charm for our great race, here’s the latest ahead of Tuesday’s marquee event.

VAUBANN

Keen to right the wrongs of last year after being beaten favorites, the team pulled out all the stops to ensure a better result this year. They started later, thus leaving less time between races, did not travel to Flemington for the race, and gave their stablemate Absurd another lead horse so that the responsibility would not rest with Vauban.

He comes into the race in good form, having won two starts at York over 3300m (after being warm and spirited in the parade ring) and last start was second at Group 1 level to the extremely talented stayer Kyprios. No stone has been left unturned in the preparation for this year’s competition, so if he can’t get the job done, it will simply be down to how he acclimates to the unique challenge of the race that is stopping the nation.

ABSURD

He entered last year’s race somewhat unnoticed as stablemate of the favorite after breaking into the field with his victory at Ebor. The team will be back again this year and, like Vauban, the team will be hoping that a change in approach will also help this opponent. The team had originally intended to send him early to compete for the Caulfield Cup, however this plan was changed and he joined Vauban on the next delivery.

Kerryn McEvoy rides Absurde and visited Werribee to gallop for the first time last Tuesday. McAvoy said the gelding was “handsome and smart.” Mullins also noted that the horse continues to mature mentally and “continues to improve” and so the team will be hoping to improve on last year’s seventh place finish.

STRAIN RATE

The team will be looking to turn around a poor run in the Caulfield Cup, although he may not have had the right conditions on this occasion, and will benefit from increased distance and firmer ground underfoot.

He’s a talented stayer who boasts the form of some strong horses in Japan, and he has a talented up-and-coming jockey right on the plane from the Breeders’ Cup to partner with him. Although the team noted that they might have preferred a slightly wider gate, they were certainly not deterred or disappointed by Barrier 3.

SEA KING

The newest addition to Eustace’s stable, Sea King, will remain in Australia beyond the spring and will go to Matt Dunn. He appears to have thrived in one-on-one life at Werribee, working well with traveling head girl Laura Pike. His win in Bendigo was impressive, showing that he had acclimated well to life in Australia and handled the race well. If he maintains this fitness and style on Tuesday, he will be competitive.

ONMOTOR OPERATOR

It’s no secret that Brian Ellison has had some bad luck on previous trips to Melbourne, but the gelding is hoping his connections will change that. Smoothie, as he is better known to the team, is thriving in Werribee. He is an eye-catcher and from the moment we first saw him in Werribee he commanded attention. He then produced a dominant performance to win the Geelong Cup. Ellison shares that confidence, praising the way his galloper has settled into life in Australia. He had a good gap between runs heading into Tuesday and all indications are that he will benefit from the increased distance and course at Flemington.