2010 Melbourne Cup - 2 Nov 10

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

In this thread, we like to cover all aspects of the Melbourne Cup.


Carnival's over: Cup loses fizz as Moet puts cork in it
ELI GREENBLAT
July 30, 2010 - 12:10PM


The bubbly served trackside and in the sumptuous marquees at this year's Melbourne Cup will still be French, but in a massive break in sponsorship and tradition, the champagne will no longer be poured from Moet & Chandon bottles.

After 15 years as the official champagne of the race that stops a nation, the Victorian Racing Club is set to announce - perhaps as early as this weekend - that rival French label G.H. Mumm will be exclusively cascaded into flutes and served to the thirsty crowds.

G.H. Mumm, whose champagne bottles carry a distinctive red sash, is currently Formula One's global sponsor and is always at hand for drivers on the podium as they celebrate a top-three finish.

Now it will also be poured out at Flemington and the 150th Melbourne Cup in November as Moet & Chandon is banished from the racetrack entirely to make way for its biggest competitor.

Owned by French beverages giant Pernod Ricard, G.H. Mumm is Australia's fastest-growing champagne brand and is estimated to be racing ahead at four times industry turnover rates.

It is also the most popular champagne inside France, having knocked Moet off its perch.

The VRC's deal with G.H. Mumm is the first major sponsorship announcement for the upcoming Melbourne Cup.

In the next few months, other corporates and businesses are expected to unveil their own advertising relationship with the club that oversees the Cup and its related celebrations.

Spokespeople for Moet, G.H. Mumm and the VRC were unavailable for comment.

It is believed Moet will focus its advertising and sponsorship dollars on the global cinema industry, with the champagne appearing in Sex in the City 2 and spruiked by Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson.

Moet still remains the most popular champagne in Australia. More than one in three bottles of champagne sold in Australia are Moet.

Australia is the 10th-biggest export market for champagne, with just under 3 million bottles - or one bottle for every seven people - of the stuff guzzled, tippled and sprayed on sports podiums during 2009.

In France, the champagne consumption ratio is three bottles for every citizen.

egreenblat@theage.com.au

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

The race that Americain won at Vichy or wherever a few weeks ago was fairly low key, as it didn't make the Racing Post database. He is entered in the Prix du Carrousel (Listed) 1m7f, 4yo+ at Deauville this weekend.

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

The race was actually this afternoon. Won.

[Posts: 182Joined: 21 Jan 2010, 11:39]

The original source I read said Ebor, but the Lonsdale makes more sense.

So perhaps we'll see Americain amongst the nominations then?

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

Dunno, I'm ignorant. Jordon, as you know, mentioned him a couple of weeks ago.


The 8/9yo Tokai Match has just been mentioned on the radio as coming over for the Cups . . .


edit: Sorry, Tokai Trick. Not sure how I transmogrified that.

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

This is a video of his win in March.


edit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SEXcE5H42g



Comes from a bit back, and has complicated colours.

[Posts: 10Joined: 25 Jul 2010, 00:38]

Interesting replay. They appear about five lengths off Jaguar Mail though.

Don't know what you guys think, but I can't remember a time when there has been so many chances for the cups coming from all directions. I've attempted to make a shortlist of those I want to get early odds on, however my list is still up around 50! I don't know where to look.

With so many internationals coming out, not to mention all the expats (Williams and Freedman) there's probably only about 12 spots in the 24 for the locals in the big one. It's going to be hard enough getting a run in the lead up races.

By the way it would be a good idea to dismiss Lord's Ransoms last campaign in Melbourne with Peter Morgan. The horse wasn't right, and I don't think Peter quite knew what to do with him. Those Wilde lads will figure him out. The horse is a gun

P.S - Not sure about More Joyous, she just has that look about her. Win a couple lead ups then unfortunately go amiss. She's worth too much in the breeding barn to push her too far

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

I'm the last one to try to give betting advice. However, tried to look for a horse that is qualified, will be aimed at the race, and will get into the race, is 100+ on betfair, and then I decided to add the condition that the horse hasn't run in the race before. The latter ruled out Master O'Reilly, Harris Tweed and Moatize. Left with Drunken Sailor, but there is still the doubt over whether he won $60000+ in the Galway race.

[Posts: 1793Joined: 07 Jan 2010, 15:53]

I wonder how many of your Melbourne Cup fans were on the gamble landed at Galway last night?
Japanese trained POP ROCK (beaten a short head in The Melbourne Cup) won the last at Galway under Fran Berry, backed from 8-1 down to 9-2. Is this the first Japanese trained winner at Ballybrit? Almost certaintly!
Appologies for not putting the tip up in this thread...I didn't think but I did post the tip in plenty time on my lays & plays

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

Video of Shoot Out's win in the Bletchingly (6 furlongs) today ought to be here:-

http://horseracing.bigpondsport.com/liv ... fault.aspx


I'd read earlier that he would have problems with Moonee Valley for the Cox Plate, but he seemed to rail the bend okay today.

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

Haven't been able to get decent/any television reception since yesterday lunchtime. My theory is that a large seagull landed on the areial and dislodged it.

Didn't see the Glorious, just listened to it. Whispering Gallery folded tamely, so at the moment it looks unlikely he'll make the trip as he still hasn't passed the first ballot clause. I'm rather surprised by this as I was thinking earlier this year that the Godolphin horse to go for would be one running well in Dubai.

[Posts: 182Joined: 21 Jan 2010, 11:39]

Interesting replay. They appear about five lengths off Jaguar Mail though.

Don't know what you guys think, but I can't remember a time when there has been so many chances for the cups coming from all directions. I've attempted to make a shortlist of those I want to get early odds on, however my list is still up around 50! I don't know where to look.

With so many internationals coming out, not to mention all the expats (Williams and Freedman) there's probably only about 12 spots in the 24 for the locals in the big one. It's going to be hard enough getting a run in the lead up races.

By the way it would be a good idea to dismiss Lord's Ransoms last campaign in Melbourne with Peter Morgan. The horse wasn't right, and I don't think Peter quite knew what to do with him. Those Wilde lads will figure him out. The horse is a gun

P.S - Not sure about More Joyous, she just has that look about her. Win a couple lead ups then unfortunately go amiss. She's worth too much in the breeding barn to push her too far

You are fitting in perfectly here Anthony...the more the merrier!

I agree - I'm thinking, including exports, there may be even less than 12.

Lloyd seems to have three main exports on the Cups trail - Alandi, Mourayan and Grand Ducal.

Freedman has Speed Gifted, Above Average, Fanjura and Ajhar. He may have Doctor Fremantle going that way too, while Savarain is injured and won't be seen.

And there are others too - Noonan has Buccellati, Waller has some (although none are likely to get to the Melbourne Cup).

The local horses are going to have to be good to get in to the field.

Look, every way I look at the race - it is going to be a fantastic Melbourne Cup. No way it can't be, especially if the Japanese get down.

Leigh Jordon told me a few weeks ago that he was expecting between four and eight horses from Europe - that was when the Japanese were unlikely. With three, or possibly four, Japanese, that takes the international count POSSIBLY to 12, although it may be less.

It means possibly that only the classy horses will get a start, it will be difficult for horses who aren't classy to get a start.

I guess that's a good thing though - hopefully some horses that would never have even considered a run in the race may run - I'm thinking specifically Whobegotyou, although I doubt he'd win.

I'd love to see So You Think in there, but realistically he needs to run top 3 in the Cox Plate to qualify.

I still like Monaco Consul.

[Posts: 4851Joined: 05 Dec 2008, 01:34Location: Ashford]

Kavanagh was toying with running Whobegotyou in the Melbourne Cup last year, until whatever went wrong in the Cox Plate.

[Posts: 10Joined: 25 Jul 2010, 00:38]

Well Monaco Consul will certainly make the field, and he'll stay all day. Did Mike Moroney ever offer a reason as to what happened in NZ during summer??? Cause I agree he ticks all the boxes, and for mine he had Shoot Out nailed in the AJC Derby if there were another 30m or so. I just can't get his NZ form out of my head. What happened???

Gerald I think your right about massive odds. After all there the most entertaining bets. The likes of Faint Perfume and Linton are both around 15-1, and those odds are likely to be avaliable most of the Spring. There looks to be plenty of good horses with 100's or better on offer.

Bloody mouthwatering stuff though!

Hopefully there will be a few absentees from the noms on Monday to help narrow things down a bit.

I'll take the ridiculous odds on the Perth Cup quinella just to start off.

[Posts: 182Joined: 21 Jan 2010, 11:39]

They will probably remain that way though Anthony, just be cautious.

Unless they run massively first up, they may drift.

I guess that's the risk you have to take.

Sad news though - Gloria De Campeao won't be seen down here, has been retired immediately after a tendon injury overnight.