What a great race the Melbourne Cup was yesterday, even if I had 3 bets and a trifecta, plus a mystery trifecta and still collected nothing.   I did manage to get 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the Trifecta (if only Americain got home that 1 second sooner), and did have a small bet on Red Cadeaux for the win only.

The 3 horses given the best rides finished in the top 3, with all 3 of those horses having trouble-free runs, racing off the pace, but not at the tail of the field, and most importantly, not being taken to the lead too early from home.  It was a classy race and it was won by a classy French stayer, a great day all told.

Onto the burning question... Do we have too many International horses in the Race that Stops a Nation?  Many are saying we do and that it's much easier for European horses to qualify than it is for our homegrowns.    It is a fact that in Australia we don't breed them to stay (speaking in majorities), but it is also true that in Europe the horses that qualify for the Melbourne Cup usually travel to do so. That is, even in England, there are more spints and miles vs Staying races.

Personally I think it is great that we get the interest and intrigue of the international horses thrown into the mix.  Let's face it, even with all of the hype, in the last 10 years, Australian-raced horses have still won 6 of the BIG ONES vs 4 to the Internations.Though I have to admit Makybe Diva does help give us a boost in the statistic.

Bring on next year's Cup.

Michael

PS, who backed a winner yesterday?