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2019 Melbourne Cup Early Contenders

Date: 10/07/2019

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous and prestigious race. It is for three-year-olds and above and is the richest two mile handicap in the world, also putting it as one of the richest turf races. You only have to look at 2018 with a purse of A$8,000,000, which is the key reason why it is targeted from connections around the world. The race is fast approaching and this has led to more Melbourne Cup betting offers becoming available. Here we cover some of the early contenders.

Finche

The current favourite is the locally trained Finche. He is a five-year-old by Frankel, so is certainly bred to be up to the task. He is coming off the back of being beaten a short head in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Prior to moving to Chris Waller, he had been trained by Andre Fabre. He was beaten by just four lengths from Cracksman in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel. Another eye catching result was a five-length beating by the now 2019 Arc winner Waldgeist. A similar display must make him a leading contender for this race.

Surprise Baby

Another key contender amongst the favourites is Surprise Baby, who recently booked his place following a victory in the Bart Cummings. The five-year-old is trained by Paul Preusker and appears to be a fast improver. He will now get in under a penalty and must have a strong chance of going close in the race based on that recent performance in a Group 3 handicap.

Marmelo

The next horse is last year’s runner-up Marmelo. He led entering the final furlong and looked set to win the race, so can he now go one better this season. He is now a six-year-old and trained by Hughie Morrison and is coming off the back of a Group Two victory in the Darley Prix Kergorlay. He also returned this season with an impressive victory in a Group 3 at Newbury. Marmelo appears to be a better horse this season and must have a strong chance of landing the Melbourne cup.

Constantinople

Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien before moving to David Hayes & Tom Dabernig, Constantinople is a three-year-old by Galileo and has already posted a number of impressive performances. If he can continue to do so then he must have a strong chance in Australia. This includes a recent 1 3/4 length defeat to St Leger winner Logician. He had also been beaten just a neck in the Group 3 Qatar Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Cross Counter

The final horse who must enter calculations at this early stage is last year’s winner Cross Counter. He is a four-year-old trained by Charlie Appleby and was a hugely impressive winner last season, looking tailor-made for the race. Following a break he returned by landing the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. He has now followed this up with a few disappointing runs included when well fancied in the Irish St Leger. If he can return to his best then he must have a strong chance of becoming the first back to back winner since Makybe Diva.

CROSS COUNTER reigns supreme in the Lexus #MelbourneCup. @godolphin have done it at last! pic.twitter.com/wdCbNswqCi

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 6, 2018

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