Japan’s Fame Game, to be partnered by Hong Kong’s star Australian born jockey Zac Purton, is a short priced favourite to defy ten other overseas trained runners and 13 local challengers in Tuesday’s A$ 6 million G 1 Melbourne Cup (3200 metres) at Flemington.
The Yoshitada Munakata trained Fame Game, being the shortest at betting, is well clear of second elect, the Ed Dunlop trained Trip To Paris. Trip To Paris in turn is more popular than his stablemate, ten-year-old Red Cadeaux, despite the latter having run second in the race on three previous occasions.
Fame Game readied for the Melbourne with an eye-catching performance in the G 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on 17 October. He finished sixth, 4.85 lengths behind the winner Mongolian Khan and 4.35 lengths behind runner-up Trip To Paris but it was the manner of his strong finish and respect for the Japanese staying form which has him so well fancied. Not to mention Purton’s observation that “the Melbourne Cup was more his race.”
The Japanese have had only one serious contender tackle the Cup since they quinellaed the race with Delta Blues and Pop Rock - who came through the Caulfield Cup - in 2006. That, tragically, was Purton’s mount Admire Rakti who collapsed and died after trailing home the 22nd runner last year.
Trainer Munakata is confident his horse is right for Tuesday. “Everything has gone extremely well with his preparation. He appears to have improved since the Caulfield Cup and with a bit of luck in the Melbourne we should be a good chance,” he said.
Local jockey Tommy Berry, yet to win the Cup, retains the ride on Trip To Paris after his ground-saving ride secured second place at Caulfield. Gerald Mosse, who won in 2010 aboard Americain, rides Red Cadeaux as he did when the horse ran second in 2013 and 2014.
“It never ceases to amaze me the affection afforded this horse in Australia and the boys (assistant trainer and track rider) tell me he’s in pretty good shape again,” Dunlop said of Red Cadeaux who was also second in 2011 and eighth in 2012 (with Michael Rodd riding).
Joao Moreira also flies in from Hong Kong to ride the G 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) winner The United States for prominent owner Lloyd Williams and his partners. Only one of the past 26 Moonee Valley Cup winners to run in the Melbourne Cup has managed to complete the double but The United States is peaking at the right time, has a light weight and the talent of Moreira on his side.
Sydney trainer Chris Waller who notched his eighth Group 1 win for the season at Flemington on Saturday, has three runners headed by Preferment who is the shortest priced Australian trained runner. “He’s my best chance,” Waller said.
Godolphin, still chasing that elusive first Cup win, is represented by Hartnell from it’s Australian arm headed by trainer John O’Shea; while Saeed bin Suroor has travelled Sky Hunter, this year’s Dubai City of Gold (G2 2410m) winner, to Flemington.
Aidan O’Brien, fresh from winning the Breeders Cup Turf with Found, has Kingfisher and Bondi Beach in contention while Ryan Moore - who rode Found - jets in to ride Snow Sky for Sir Michael Stoute. Moore, of course, won last year’s Cup on Protectionist.
The Michael Bell trained Big Orange; a second Japanese Hokko Brave, prepared by Yasutoshi Matsunaga; Willie Mullins’ Max Dynamite and Roger Charlton’s Quest For More complete the list of international runners.
