Cup Goes to Best Sprinter

Although the Cup continues to build momentum largely around a growing international audience, it has been slightly tared as a competitive contest in recent years by a brush of rather lenient handicapping, poorly thought out qualification races and some suspect track irrigation practices.

Therefore when one of the strongest fields in Cup history faced the starter this year, hopes were high for a contest befitting some of the classic staying contests seen in the races iconic 152 year history. Sadly a farcical race tempo rather spoiled this years event as a contest, although many Australians at least will have been buoyed that the winner Green Moon was locally trained.

Green Moon won this year's Cup in 3.20.45, well outside the race record of 3.16.30 set by Kingston Rose in 1990 on a similarly fast track - this year's track which started the day a Dead 4 but was upgraded after race 2, saw a number of fast times recorded in the supporting races.

From seventh on the turn the Cup winner ran home in 33.6/22.6 and 11.66 with his last 1000 in 57.94.

Little wonder that those back of mid-field failed to play any part in the finish. The efforts of Jakkalberry and Mt Athos were outstanding. Jakkalberry closed off in 59.58, while Mt Athos, who received a check at the top of the straight and had a slightly more interrupted passage than the third place-getter, ran home in sectionals of 57.96/33.55 and 11.46.

If you ever doubted how difficult a race the Cup is to win then spare a thought for the English trainer Luca Cumani. His charge Purple Moon runs second to one of the best Cup winners in recent memory in Efficient; two years later in 2009 his next runner Bauer is beaten a nose, then he does a wonderful job of getting Mt Athos into this years contest with a winnable weight, only to strike interference during the running and a race pattern best suited to Lightning Stakes performers.

In all 21 of the 24 starters broke 1 minute for their last 1000m so any horse that made ground over the closing stages did very well.

Sure the Cup eve Yarra Valley wine tour played it's part in the authors demise but no amount of study would have unearthed this years Cup result.