Oceanographer races into Melbourne Cup with Lexus win
OCEANOGRAPHER put fear into the locals with an outstanding win in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes and it will now head to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday with all the momentum.
The European-trained gelding showed a glimpse of its form when third in the Geelong Cup, but what it showed on Saturday at Flemington was good enough for punters to consider it as the main danger to the Australian Melbourne Cup entrants.
The Charlie Appleby-trained runner was heavily backed into $2.30 and it is now paying $6 at CrownBet.com.au to win the 2016 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
“Whatever he does, he’s done us proud and we can have another day on Tuesday and enjoy ourselves,” Appleby said.
“He’s taken it all very well, they’re (European horses) thriving out here and this sunshine will do a power of good.
“We’ll get him back and we’ll freshen him as much as we can and freshen him up for Tuesday.”
The race panned out will for Oceanographer which settled at the tail of the field with a hot pace being set up front by Tom Melbourne. The five-year-old was warming up early in the straight and it showed some great pace late to nab Tom Melbourne near the line.
“Kerrin gave him a fantastic ride, he went out there and basically told us what he’s going to do. I said ‘Kerrin we’re not going to try tell you what to do’, he’s on fire, he gave him a great ride and the horse has found for him,” Appleby said.
“I thought the track would suit him more so than in the Geelong Cup.”
Kerrin McEvoy showed why he’s one of the best jockeys in the world currently, but it will be Chad Schofield who rides Oceanographer in the Melbourne Cup.
“The stable said time your run and it’s perfect if there’s something to aim at,” McEvoy said. “He was steady early, nice and relaxed.
“I knew I was finishing and I had Tom Melbourne to aim at so I was pretty happy at the 100m.”
Tom Melbourne was strong in second and has subsequently shortened to $51 for the Melbourne Cup. Connections aren’t sure if they will pay up for Tom Melbourne in the Melbourne Cup as it might not make the field, but there are other options later in the carnival.
Tally battled on well for third, but will not take its place next Tuesday. Real Love is also considered unlikely to take its place in the Melbourne Cup.
Oceanographer has incurred a 1kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup.
Updated 2016 Melbourne Cup field
Top 10 market players courtesy of CrownBet*
Hartnell – $4.60
Oceanographer – $6
Jameka – $8
Bondi Beach – $9
Heartbreak City – $13
Almandin – $15
Big Orange – $15
Exospheric – $15
Wicklow Brave – $15
Almoonqith – $21