Spin

Spin is in.

By Casey O'Connor

It is hard to believe that we are only a few more sleeps away from the 2021 Melbourne Cup and of course what that means is it’s not long until the bloke in the red suit and beard pays us all another visit. (Can’t be true surely)

It probably also means if you haven’t already, you should be paying attention to what you will be doing on the first Tuesday in November.

If you live in my house, it will be a day when the fact we can’t be at Flemington is a real source of irritation (again) to my Spin partner.

That will be tempered only by the knowledge of how difficult it has been for all Victorians not just those who would like to be at the races for the Cup.

Ladies and gents alike should have at least decided on a venue to watch the race, their Melbourne Cup outfit (hat a necessity) and in my household a couple of outfits just in case of a weather change.

Then of course comes the age-old question – picking the winner – or trying to. Everyone has their expert opinion. Picking any winner can be difficult, but picking the winner of the Melbourne Cup is a definite challenge. You just have to choose one of 24 horses, from different states, different countries, and many with vastly different form and some we’ve never heard of. How hard can it be?

Past form can help (sometimes). The winners of races like the Turnbull Stakes, the Caulfield Cup, the Geelong Cup, the Cox Plate and the Lexus Hotham Handicap are all worthy of a look.

Choose a galloper that has finished strongly at the end of recent races not one that is following the field.

Horses that are four-or-five-year-old’s have proven most successful over the history of the race. But don’t discount a six-year-old. Stallions have a good record as do geldings. Many punters don’t like mares, but I bet they all wished they’d backed Makybe Diva in one, or all of her three wins.

Barriers are not necessarily important, but weight definitely can play a role.

Many people will back a horse purely because of who is in the saddle or who is the trainer. If your name is Cummings, you would think you would have a bit of an insight seeing the patriarch Bart trained the winner an amazing 12 times.

Grandson James might be the next Cummings on the podium but this year Peter Moody will be looking for his first win in the race after his success in the Caulfield Cup.

Much like horses, look for trainers in form. Cummings, Moody, Joseph O’Bien, Waller and the like.

This year our overseas horses will be restricted due to Covid – some say a good thing too.

Where does that leave you? You should be looking for a galloper with an in form jockey and trainer that is not carrying the grandstand and has some form to its name – How easy was that.

If all else fails pick the one whose name appeals, has a nice face or who has colours you like. Then there is always the PIN method.

The fancies from the Spin team (well before the field is finalised are:- Incentivise; Verry Elleegant (Go the Girls), Johnny Get Angry and Grand Promenade

Good Luck, good punting.

Casey