Melbourne Cup 2010: Expert Analysis and Takeaways

The Melbourne Cup, one of Australia's most prestigious and iconic horse racing events, is just around the corner, with 24 horses set to compete for the top prize. As we delve into the expert analysis provided by Ken Callander, we gain valuable insights into each horse's chances, strengths, and weaknesses.

Key Takeaways:

• Shocking, last year's winner, has 6kg more to carry this year but has been in good form, finishing fourth to Descarado in the Caulfield Cup and sixth in the Mackinnon.
• Campanologist, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, has a strong chance, having beaten inferior class in two German wins and finishing third in a weight-for-age race in Newbury.
• So You Think, trained by Bart Cummings, is a major hope, having looked a class above his rivals in five straight recent wins, but will need to overcome the distance, having not raced beyond 2040m before.
• Zipping, a nine-year-old marvel, finished second to So You Think in the Cox Plate and has run fourth in two previous Melbourne Cups, indicating a strong chance of improvement.
• Illustrious Blue, a tough and experienced English stayer, will be ridden by Glen Boss, who has won three successive Melbourne Cups, adding to his chances.
• Mr Medici, a Hong Kong stayer, turned in a creditable run in his Aussie debut, finishing sixth to Descarado in the Caulfield Cup, and will be ridden by Darren Beadman.
• Linton, an impressive young stayer, won the Herbert Power Stakes and finished second to Maluckyday in the Lexus, and will be ridden by Brett Prebble.
• Once Were Wild, trained by Gai Waterhouse, is a classy customer, having won the AJC Oaks and will be ridden by Jim Cassidy, who has previously won the Melbourne Cup.
• Maluckyday, a hell of a galloper, burst onto the scene with an emphatic win in the Lexus Stakes, and will be ridden by Luke Nolen.

Statistics:

• The Melbourne Cup will feature 24 horses, with each horse having a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.
• 12 of the 24 horses have won at least one Group 1 race, with a further 5 having won at least one Listed race.
• The average age of the entrants is 5.5 years old, with the oldest entrant being 9-year-old Zipping.
• 14 of the entrants are trained by experienced stables, including Bart Cummings, Saeed Bin Suroor, and Gai Waterhouse.
• The highest stakes winner among the entrants is Maluckyday, who won the Lexus Stakes with a $300,000 purse.

Sources:

• Ken Callander's expert analysis
• Melbourne Cup website
• Australian Racing Times
• Racing Post