Our team of horse racing experts have complied a number of 2014 Melbourne Cup Best Bets for the $6 million staying championship that will be held at Flemington tomorrow.
There has been plenty of action in 2014 Melbourne Cup betting markets in the past 24 hours; with the likes of Protectionist ($8), Fawkner ($8), Signoff ($7.50) and Mutual Regard ($11) receiving support from punters, while the quote of Admire Rakti has continued to lengthen and he is now out to $6.
Araldo is worth an each-way bet in the 2014 Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
2014 Melbourne Cup Best Bet – #1 Admire Rakti
No horse has completed the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double since Ethereal in 2001, but Admire Rakti is an excellent chance of achieving the rare double in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Admire Rakti worked home strongly to take out the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 and the Japanese stayer has even stronger form over 3200 metres after winning the 2013 Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3419m), finishing third in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3218m) and second in the Group 2 Daishoten Stakes (3016m).
The rise in weight would generally be a concern and no horse has carried more than 58 kilograms to victory since Think Big in 1975, but the weights are condensed in the 2014 Melbourne Cup due to the lack of a natural top weight and the majority of the field will carry at least 53 and a half kilograms.
There is no such thing as a certainty in ‘the race that stops a nation’, but Admire Rakti has drifted out to very attractive Melbourne Cup odds of $6 and is definitely the horse to beat tomorrow.
2014 Melbourne Cup Best Place Bet – #21 Araldo
Araldo will need a bit of luck in running from barrier 24, but the imported stayer has had an ideal lead-up to the Melbourne Cup and looks as though he will be suited by the step-up to 3200 metres.
The High Chaparral entire missed the autumn due to injury and finished a tough third in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 in his first chance over a suitable trip before working home strongly to finish fifth in the Caulfield Cup.
Araldo will likely be settled towards the tail of the field by jockey Dwayne Dunn in the early stages of the Melbourne Cup, but should be hitting the line strongly and needs to be included in all multiples and exotic bets.
2014 Melbourne Cup Best Outsider – #14 My Ambivalent
My Ambivalent is an inconsistent mare, but on natural talent she may just have the edge over the rest of her rivals in the Melbourne Cup field.
The Authorized mare finished third behind champion Japanese mare Gentildonna and French superstar Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) at Meydan earlier this year and she took out the Group 2 Middleton Stakes (2092m) at York on May 15 before finishing third behind Cirrus Des Aigles and Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe runner-up Flintshire in the Group 1 Coronation Cup (2423m).
My Ambivalent has not had an ideal Melbourne Cup preparation after missing the Caulfield Cup and she is no certainty to see out the trip, but she is far too talented to be going around at such lengthy Melbourne Cup odds.
