Geelong Cup wash up: three biggest takeaways
GAI Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer Runaway has taken out the Geelong Cup on Wednesday in front-running victory that should gain the horse a start in this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Leading from start to finish, the rig delivered a powerful performance from the head of affairs, forcing online bookmaker Sportsbet wind the horse in from $301 into $41.
Ever since Media Puzzle’s 2002 Geelong Cup/Melbourne Cup double the race from Sleepy Hollow has been one to follow and the team at Horse Betting has taken a look at the three biggest stories to come out of the feature event.
Runaway was impressive – but he’s not a realistic Cup hope
All credit to the Waterhouse and Bott team in the aftermath of a brilliant display from Runaway, but we’re not taking anything from that win and applying it to the Melbourne Cup in a fortnight’s time.
Not to rain on anyone’s parade here but the class of horse Runaway is going to confront in the race that stops a nation is a significant step-up from the field he saw on Wednesday.
Getting a cheap and easy lead will be much harder and staying the journey will be much more difficult. On Runaway’s sole attempt at the 3200m distance he finished 10th as a well supported runner.
It didn’t make for pretty viewing and we’re not sure the two mile journey is the horse’s forte.
The Geelong Cup win was impressive, but ignore the firming odds on Runaway for the Cup – it’s not going to happen.
Future looks bright for Finche
Whether or not the new addition to the Chris Waller stable Finche runs in the 2018 Melbourne Cup remains to be seen, but we saw enough to suggest the horse will be featuring in Australia’s premier staying races in the future.
Currently 27th on the official Melbourne Cup order of entry, Finche got shuffled back after a great start but made up fantastic ground as the finishing post loomed.
The pace of the race did not suit backmarkers either, which made the performance much more compelling.
The horse looks like it has a bit to learn yet but the five-year-old could benefit from the Flemington track and looks a good chance to defy the $21 price via Ladbrokes for the Cup.
Withhold shouldn’t run in the Melbourne Cup
Withhold was the hot-pot heading down the highway to Geelong on Wednesday.
The Brit firmed in to as short as $2.80 prior to the jump, but despite getting what looked like the ideal tail into the race on the back of eventual winner Runaway. the Roger Charlton-trained gelding quickly wilted into the straight, finishing right at the back of the field.
It came out in the aftermath of the race that Withhold bled from both nostrils. We doubt the horse will get cleared to race, but either way the import’s papers have been stamped ahead of this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Veterinary Information: 24-10-2018 bet365 Geelong R7 – Withhold – bled both nostrils
— RVStewards (@RVStewards) October 24, 2018