How not to get conned in the office sweep0:30
We'll show you 5 ways to make sure the Melbourne cup sweep stays above board
Which AFL team is your Melbourne Cup horse?
DON’T know much about horses by love your footy?
Well we’ve likened every Melbourne Cup horse to an AFL club, just to make things a little easier for you.
Here’s which horse, or horses you should be cheering for, depending on which footy club you support:
1. BIG ORANGE — Greater Western Sydney
Raw-boned, inexperienced and hugely talented, Big O excels at home — twice winning Goodwood Cups — and was a revelation during his first finals series at Flemington, finishing fifth in the Grand Final. Will again team up with the accomplished Michael Bell (trainer) and Jamie Spencer (jockey). Renowned for high tempo performance and bottomless courage.
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2. OUR IVANHOWE — St Kilda
Shares German heritage like Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt. And like the Saints the seven-year-old has been highly touted to do some big things over the journey but never quite delivered. Third in last year’s Caulfield Cup and sixth this year shows he will again be around the mark.
3. CURREN MIROTIC — North Melbourne
Always seems in contention for finals action, but hasn’t made the Grand Final in a while. In fact, it’s been three years since the Japanese-born enforcer has tasted overall glory. Moody and talented, capable of emulating the form that carried the Roos on a 12-game winning streak. But just as likely to tail home, much as Brad Scott’s troops did this season.
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4. BONDI BEACH — Sydney Swans
No point trying to get too fancy here ... Sydney is the obvious choice, surely?
5. EXOSPHERIC — Essendon
Whoever designed Essendon’s shocking grey clash, being the operative term, guernsey must have drawn inspiration from Lee and Anthony Freedman’s red and white silks with a purple sash!
6. HARTNELL — Sydney
Owned by the team seemingly with a bottomless financial pit (Godolphin), this bloke forever looks the goods but at his most recent outing finished a clear-cut second to a much more popular rival. Now calls Sydney home after being a convert to the Harbour City, just like most of the Swans, but always gives his all. Definite chance.
7. WHO SHOT THEBARMAN — West Coast
The Wild West is where such incidents in bars are likely to happen. Both are consistent performers up the top end but lack something to get them the ultimate. The Chris Waller trained veteran finished third in this race two years ago and 11th last year.
8. WICKLOW BRAVE — Geelong
Respected, gifted and tough, the Irish raider has a touch of class. Coached by Willie Mullins, who has been to the Big Dance with Simenon (fourth) and last year with Max Dynamite. The query might be discipline. Not the horse, but jockey. Frankie Dettori returns to centre stage a year after earning a month-long suspension and a $20,000 fine for rough play in last year’s decider.
9. ALMOONQITH — Adelaide
Perennially around the mark, but still rates a good chance, but has a habit of falling short of the serious prizemoney. Taking strong form into the big race, a fast-finishing effort in the Caulfield Cup. Trainer David Hayes is a Crows fan. Don’t forget he was at an Adelaide game one time when the Queen rang him about her horse Bold Sniper.
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10. GALLANTE — Melbourne
Gallante could be anything or just as easily run last. Won the Sydney Cup (3200m) last campaign to break his maiden status and hasn’t been first past the post since. Wonder if trainer Robert Hickmott drives a Range Rover because you can bet your bottom dollar owners Lloyd and Nick Williams would have a couple in the fifth garage.
11. GRAND MARSHAL — Collingwood
A plodder who bobs up and wins a big game every now and then. That’s pretty much been the Pies over the last couple of seasons, ordinary for most of the time and then will turn up unexpectedly and take a scalp. That’s what Grand Marshal did on Cox Plate Day, winning the Moonee Valley Cup at $40.
12. JAMEKA — Western Bulldogs
The pick of the locals and just like the premiers, Jameka looks to be peaking at the right time. Ciaron Maher must draw on his inner “Luke Beveridge” to snap a 15-year drought since mighty mare Ethereal (2001) completed the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double. All we need is Bob Murphy to present the Cup to complete the picture.
13. HEARTBREAK CITY — Western Bulldogs
Typecast as a battler because of a staying/hurdling background, Heartbreak City is coached by wizard Irish coach Tony Martin, a svengali-like figure not unlike Alastair Clarkson or Luke Beveridge. Martin has a knack of preparing his squad to the minute and, backed by a coterie of cashed-up New York-based Irishmen, is not afraid to put his money where his mouth is. On a huge roll after the Ebor.
14. SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD — Melbourne
Had four different trainers in past couple of years which is something Melbourne players could relate to. And like the Demons this Sydney trained galloper lacks class and will be just making up the numbers again.
15. EXCESS KNOWLEDGE — Richmond
Hard to go past Richmond when you look at the silks (yellow and black) and new general manager of football, Neil Balme, who brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge from Collingwood and Geelong.
16. BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE — Fremantle
Been around the traps for a while, this club is yet to win the Big One. Came close on three occasions, but always seems to find one better. Coach Saeed Bin Suroor prefers to give his squad a let-up before spring action. Always competitive, and one of the few female players in the Grand Final, but will need to play the game of her life.
17. ALMANDIN — Hawthorn
Seasoned, high-class performer. Shown ability to win away from home — he’s won in Europe and Australia — Almandin is not only entering the finals series on the back of successive wins against quality opposition, but has the polish of former Melbourne footballer Robert Hickmott, whose training credits include Melbourne Cup victory with Green Moon.
18. ASSIGN — Gold Coast
New kid on the block but down the pecking order in the eyes of its boss ... just like the Suns. Promising young horse having just its 10th start but is the least fancied of Lloyd Williams’ four-prong attack on the Cup.
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19. GREY LION — Brisbane Lions
Don’t need to be a rocket doctor to link Brisbane Lions and silver fox Chris Fagan with the five-year-old son of super sire Galileo. The future is bright for this Irish-cum-Ballarat-based galloper a winner of four of his 12 starts.
20. OCEANOGRAPHER — Western Bulldogs
Fresh on the scene, flying and everyone wants to get on board. Sound familiar? Oceanographer impressed at Geelong but didn’t quite get the chockies — like the Bullies this year — but once it came to town on Derby Day there was no stopping it. Likely to start the big one second favourite but has a truckload of momentum.
21. SECRET NUMBER — Port Adelaide
Super talented, but enigmatic. Hailing from Saeed Bin Suroor’s development squad, Secret Number has oodles of talent but often frustrates with susceptibility to injury. Now entering veteran class, sufficiently accomplished to go all the way.
22. PENTATHLON — Carlton
The Blues went over to New Zealand and had a win a year or two back. Remember that? Well this Kiwi stayer was second in the Wellington Cup and while showing signs just probably isn’t up to it.
23. QEWY — Hawthorn
Another of the Godolphin runners so we know there’s lots in the coffers. Was too good in the Geelong Cup but that’s yesterday’s news now. Is a bit of a frontrunner and looks likely to be swamped by some fresher horses on the scene.
24. ROSE OF VIRGINIA — Essendon
Had been some debate about whether the horse would take its place in the race but the VRC knew its fans, err, connections, would have been gutted to make it sit this one out. Not expected to be a major player but expect its loyal fans to show up on Tuesday.