The Map secures golden ticket into 2024 Melbourne Cup
Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray will have a runner in the 2024 Melbourne Cup after The Map (+280) claimed a strong victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden at Flemington, securing a golden ticket into the 3200m race.
Thanks to a cool, calm, and collected ride from Damian Lane, the daughter of Alpine Eagle picked her way through the field before letting down with a strong finish to record a half-length win over the fast-finishing Mostly Cloudy (+550).
With little to no speed expected in the race, Garachico (+8000) and Dashing Duchess (+5000) were allowed to roll along out in front and run the race at a sedate tempo throughout the 2800m contest.
Let’sbefrankbaby (+1200) settled in the box seat with the favorites, including the winner, settling midfield and awaiting a run as they turned for home with 400m to go.
Excelleration (+600) weaved his way through the field to take an inside run and a slender lead ahead of Let’sbefrankbaby before The Map started her run on the outside of those two.
In the final 100m, The Map gained a slight advantage and held off the late challenge of Mostly Cloudy to book her spot in the race that stops the nation on the first Tuesday in November.
2024 Andrew Ramsden replay – The Map
Oopy MacGillivray was on course to speak about the win and she was quick to compliment Damian Lane’s ride.
“It’s been a phenomenal couple of weeks in my life … it’s just awesome,” she said.
“I’m not sure if I’m overexcited, I’m overwhelmed … she’s just a ripping horse. She’s a beautiful horse.
“We’ve kept working her, we didn’t change a thing, she kept eating. She just gets more and more self-assured, every time she comes out she does it a bit easier.”
“That was a superb ride. He (Lane) sat in there amongst all those horses, he never got anxious, he let her do her thing.
“I said to him, ‘if she’s doing her thing, she’ll be happy, and when you get out, she’ll go.’ He had to sort of push out, but once she was out, there was no stopping her.
“We’ll go to the paddock now, she can have three or four weeks off and we’ll just let her chill.
“The aim is, we’re in the Melbourne Cup – let’s get her there fit, probably with no weight penalty, so that’s the first plan.”
Damian Lane was very pleased with the win and for the owners post-race.
“Everyone dreams of having a runner in the Melbourne Cup,” Lane said.
“To be apart of it, especially under the circumstances recently, a tough time for the family, so it must be a great thrill for them, just to be competing at this level and to get into the Melbourne Cup it’s even better.
“I could see Dean (Yendall) travelling really well on Let’sbefrankbaby and I just could see a little bit of urgency wash over him to make a move, so I dived onto his back to follow him through.
“Lucky enough, he created a big enough pathway that I could track him through and had the last crack.”
The Map is now the equal second favourite for the Melbourne Cup, with online bookmakers marking her a +1400 chance.