English trainer Martin Pipe is planning to use a daring new tactic with his stayer Far Cry in a bold attempt to win Tuesday`s A$3 million (US$1.6 million) Melbourne Cup and give the northern hemisphere its second win in Australia`s biggest horserace.
Pipe wants his six-year-old gelding to set a cracking pace from the outset of Tuesday`s 3200 metre event and break the established pattern of racing by the locals.
Australian long distance races are usually run at a medium to slow pace with the winners making their run from about the 400 metre mark.
But Pipe believes he can cause an upset by employing a different strategy.
'I`m not going to give away all my secrets but the plan is to quicken the pace,' Pipe said. 'My horse is a genuine stayer and his best chance of winning is if the race is a test of stamina.'
The only northern hemisphere trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup was the Irish stayer Vintage Crop in 1993, a result which has inspired a host of European trainers to come and try their luck at Flemington.
None of them has succeeded since Vintage Crop but it hasn`t stopped them trying and Pipe decided to give it a shot after Far Cry finished second to Kayf Tara at this year`s Ascot Gold Cup (4000m).
'This is one of the great races in the world and certainly the biggest challenge I`ve ever had,' said Pipe.
'It`s been proven it can be done and the prizemoney isn`t too bad either (the winner receives A$2 million).'
To help achieve his dream, Pipe plans to use blinkers on Far Cry for the first time. The horse has worn them in training but never in a race and Pipe is hoping they will help him relax. 'I`ve been waiting for the right time to try them on him, and there`s no better time than this,' he said.
Far Cry is one of four European-based runners in this year`s Cup.
Australia`s bookmakers are expecting a late betting splurge on Irish-trained Enzeli after the Aga Khan sold him to Australia`s richest man Kerry Packer, whose massive betting splurges have become part of Melbourne Cup folklore.
The six-year-old is trained by John Oxx, whose outstanding colt Sinndar won this year`s English and Irish Derbys and the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe.
The odds layers are worried. 'They haven`t made their move yet but I`ll bet my life they`ll come for Enzeli,' said leading bookmaker Michael Eskander.
Despite the presence of the overseas horses, the local runner Freemason was still the favourite after Monday`s traditional Call of the Card with bookmakers laying 6-1 about the four-year-old.
More than 120,000 people are expected to flock to Flemington racecourse for the 140th running of the Cup with more than A$100 million bet on the race.
Reuters
