Irish trainer Dermot Weld says he’s not bringing Profound Beauty to Australia. TP Maher will keep his money in his pocket.
Melbourne cup
Horse & Jockey: finding succor at the Valley by the freeway
If you don’t know who Manikato is, you’ve obviously been given a very poor education in contemporary Australian life and there is nothing T P Maher can do for you.
Horse & Jockey: Flemington on fire
Happily, horses have no knowledge of human expectations because they are dumb, dumb animals, writes TP Maher, reviewing the weekend’s racing at Flemington.
And they’re off in the 2008 Melbourne Cup…
We watch with delight
The recession proof carnival
As the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival reaches its peak crowds, and betting turnover, on the Caulfield and Moonee Valley carnival days have been at near record levels, writes Jeff Wall.
Saul Eslake: Changing the rules of engagement
Upon coming to power, new Treasurer Wayne Swan announced he will work more closely with Treasury than his predecessor, and the RBA annonced significant changes to the way it communicates its work with the financial community and the public. ANZ Chief Economist muses on the apparent changes to the rules of engagement.
Cricket in crisis: Call in the handicapper
Cricket looks like it’s in crisis for the forseeable future (and it’s not just the almost gameless December). What can be done to make Test cricket a test once again? asks Norman Abjorensen.
Reality check: Interest at an all time low
In the wake of the Melbourne Cup, interest in politics has reached an all time low. There is only one political story in the four top five lists in today’s survey and that is a very peripheral reference on the ABC web site about broadband.
Australia revealed: Kevin Rudd, Cup favourite
We’ve dug into Roy Morgan data to pull out the 25 seats with the highest percentage of electors who watch the Melbourne Cup, writes Christian Kerr.
A Cup history: From Wotan to Wagner to Highland Nectar Whiskey
When Wotan won the 1936 Melbourne Cup at 100 to one, the bookies laughed. Placed last at the mile post, the New Zealand four-year old finished in a record 3 minutes 21 ¼ seconds. Turf historians put Wotan’s success down to breeding, though lineage had not been in evidence when it tailed the field of the Cox Plate.
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
Crikey’s cut out & keep Not-the-Cup Sweepstakes.
The Cup: Rain and a new track add to the intrigue
The one race millions of Australians put some of their hard earned one each year is generally the most difficult to find the winner of – and tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup will be no exception.
The Caulfield Cup: Steeped in history but a graveyard for certainties
The Caulfield Cup was first run in 1879 and for generations was second only to the Melbourne Cup in status – but in recent years it has proven to be something of a graveyard for certainties, and punters who are keen to back the favourite, writes Jeff Wall.
Why do election campaigns tighten the purse strings?
Every retailer knows that an election campaign dampens retail spending, yet no-one can explain why this should be so, writes retail commentator Rob Lake.
The Melbourne Cup is more than half full
Equine flu might be a real worry for some of the best horses in the land, but anyone who suggests that this year’s visitor-deprived Melbourne Cup will be no classier than a Bendigo Maiden should be hosed down with disinfectant and marched up Flemington’s straight six with a penetrometer up their posterior.
The equine flu ramifications may be very long term
The stark reality that the equine flu outbreak may have serious long term ramifications for the Australian racing industry is finally being realised by the industry’s stakeholders.
Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival: Clearly the world’s best
Any doubts that the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the pre-eminent thoroughbred horse racing event in the World have been dispelled by the quality of the international nominations for this year’s carnival, writes Jeff Wall.
