TAB Fast Facts: Kiwi Contenders in The Melbourne Cup

TAB Fast Facts: Kiwi Contenders in The Melbourne Cup

Tuesday 1st November at 5pm, on Trackside 1

• The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the world’s most renowned and successful horseracing events, attracting more than 325,000 race-goers to Flemington over four days each year.
• First run in 1861 for a prize of a gold watch and £170 cash, the A$6million Emirates Melbourne Cup is the richest prize in Australian sport, and the world’s richest handicap race run over 3200m. But it’s much more than just a horse race; it is a 155-year old social and cultural tradition that literally brings Australia and New Zealand to a standstill.
• In the 155 runnings of the Melbourne Cup, New Zealand-bred horses have won 43, of which 16 of were also New Zealand trained.
• The last New Zealand Bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup was Prince of Penzance in 2015
• The last New Zealand Jockey to win the Melbourne Cup was Jimmy Cassidy on Might and Power in 1997
• The last New Zealand trainer to win the Melbourne Cup was Graeme Rogerson with Efficient in 2007
THREE NZ BRED RUNNERS

7. Who Shot Thebarman ($31)
2014 Group 1 Auckland Cup winner owned by the O'Leary brothers: Dan, Michael, Shaun and Humphrey and is trained by expatriate New Zealander Chris Waller. It is expected up to 70 members of the O'Leary brothers family and friends will travel to Melbourne to support Who Shot Thebarman. The seven year-old was bred by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton in North Taieri, Mosgiel. This will be Who Shot Thebarman's third tilt at the Melbourne Cup after finishing third in the 2014 edition of the great race.

22. Pentathlon ($81)
The only New Zealand trained, bred and owned starter in this year's Melbourne Cup - Pentathlon is being prepared by Kiwi training legend John Wheeler from New Plymouth. Its been 20 years since Wheeler saddled up a runner in the great race. Pentathlon comes from similar beginnings as 2015 Winner Prince of Penzance - being Sired by Pentire, and bred by Rich Hill Stud in Cambridge. He will be ridden by New Zealand Jockey Mark Du Plessis.

24. Rose of Virginia ($151)
A former New Zealand-trained mare who has won six races from 37 starts. Finished 2nd in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in March but her best effort in four Australian starts since then was a 4th in the Coongy Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on 15 October. Beat only one home in the Lexus Stakes (2500m) on this Track on Saturday and hard to have on that form.

THREE KIWI JOCKEYS

James McDonald (6. Hartnell) $5
This is McDonald's fifth tilt at the Melbourne Cup and he believes its his best riding the favourite

Michael Walker (9. Almoonqith) $21

Mark Du Plessis (22. Pentathlon) $81

TWO NZ TRAINERS

Chris Waller (Formerly Foxton) will saddle up Who Shot Thebarman ($21) and Grand Marshal ($35)

John Wheeler (New Plymouth) will saddle up Pentathlon - his first Melbourne Cup runner in 20 years

2015 MELBOURNE CUP

* In 2015 the TAB took just over 1 million bets on the Melbourne Cup.
* TAB Turnover on the Melbourne Cup Race was $10.39m

TRACKSIDE COVERAGE

10am – 12pm Melbourne Cup Preview Show
12pm – 8pm Live Coverage Flemington (Channel 7) & Ellerslie. Melbourne Cup at 5pm

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