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
ends