It's Melbourne Cup time again.

This year the Cup is very open and not easy to pick the winner let alone the Trifecta, but nothing is gonna to stop us having a punt, right ?

So here it is, my pick for the 8 horses boxed trifecta, it will cost $168 for a 50%, and you can invest another $168 for a 10% on the First 4:


1. Anthony Van Dyck $8.00 - we all know top weight don't win the Cup these days but this is one serious race horse, he carried the 58.5kg and ran a close second to Verry Elleegant in the Caulfield Cup after drawing the car park. This time he draws 3 and on a good track. He can probably improve a few lengths, not sure about the other runners.

4. Master of Reality $20.00 - the knock out horse ! ran a close second to V&D last year (which momentarily ruined my trifecta !) but was relegated to 4th !! every chance he can do a Fiorente and come back to win it this year. And recent form is very good.

5. Sir Dragonet $10.00 - Cox Plate winner, untried in two miles, but he is by Camelot and also has Sadlers Wells on his dam side, so I am betting he can stay rather than not. Bossy up.

12. Prince of Arran $11.00 - he is becoming the new Red Cadeaux with two placings in the past two cups. He was third up the previous two years and he actually did a better job the run before the cup in order to qualify, this year he has already qualified so second up in the Cup, may be third time lucky ? draw barrier 1 with a lady jockey, and we all knew what happened last time when a girl was riding a Prince from barrier 1 in the Cup ! if there is ever an omen tip !!

13. Surprised Baby $8.50 - he had the best run last year coming from last on the turn, but we have to wait 12 months for the redemption, this is it ? Craig Williams jumped off last year's winner to ride him, may be lighting will strike twice on Willo ?

15. Russian Camelot - $12.00 They all talk about Northern Hemisphere breed 3 years old in the Cup (won in 2017 and 2018 !), well he is one too and he already won a SA Derby and placed in the Cox Plate last time. Best of the local hopes.

18. Ashrun - $23.00 - Won the Hotham to gain a start, from the same connection as Protectionist, can stay the distance, rock hard fit, dropped from 61kg on Saturday to 53, if he backs up, he's very hard to beat.

21. Tiger Moth - $7.50 fav. the other NH 3 year old and the favourite, and has the service of the most in form Cup jockey in Kerrin who just won his third Everest a couple of weeks ago and sometimes we just have to follow the hot shot Jockey. barrier 23 is a concern but he only has 52.5kg !


And it broke my heart that I have to leave our Verry Elleegant !! I must declared that I have a Cups double going with VE, if she wins, I'll collect $2K, but without the rain, I think she will be a lot less competitive. But you can bet them all.

So, this year's Cup Trifecta numbers are: 1, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15, 18, 21 !!

Good luck to us all !