2016 Melbourne Cup Field: Jameka to undergo 2nd vet’s check

Caulfield Cup winner Jameka will have to pass a second vet’s check on Saturday morning if she is to take her place in the field for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Jameka, above, will have to pass a second vet's inspection before being cleared to take her place in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Jameka, above, will have to pass a second vet’s inspection before being cleared to take her place in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

All thirty-two horses still in contention for the Melbourne Cup were passed fit today heading to the big race on Tuesday and even though Jameka trotted up fine, the Racing Victoria Stewards have ordered another inspection after the Ciaron Maher trained mare had twisted a shoe in her work on Friday morning.

Jameka has had a trouble free Spring Carnival preparation and proved to be one of the main chances in the Melbourne Cup with her three lengths win in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 15.

Maher said that Jameka has developed into a strong mature mare and is not too concerned that she will have to carry the 54.5kg in ‘The Race That Stops A Nation’.

“No worries there,” Maher told Moody On The Mic.

“She has always been ahead of her age in terms of strength and maturity and as a four year old mare she has really let down into that open class horse.”

Jameka is currently on the second line of betting at $5.50 for the Melbourne Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au behind the $4.60 favourite Hartnell.

The John O’Shea trained Hartnell is having his second attempt at winning the Melbourne Cup and goes into this year’s race in much better form than last year when he finished fifteenth to Prince Of Penzance.

Prior to getting beaten by eight lengths last start when second to Winx in the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday, Hartnell had strung together a Spring Carnival hat trick of wins.

After a first up second to Winx in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20, Hartnell scored the first of his three wins in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 3 and then repeated that winning performance in the Group 2 $200,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 17.

O’Shea then headed to Melbourne with Hartnell who went on his winning way with a three and a quarter lengths victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.

The Aidan O’Brien trained Irish stayer Bondi Beach remains steady on the third line of betting at $10 just ahead of Irish hurdler Heartbreak City at $11.

Early Melbourne Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Hartnell, $5.50 Jameka, $10 Bondi Beach, $11 Heartbreak  City $13 Almandin, $16 Wicklow Brave, $17 Big Orange, Exospheric, $18 Almoonqith, $21 Oceanographer, Curren Mirotic, $26 Who Shot Thebarman, Qewy, Secret Number, $31 Grand Marshall, Grey Lion, Our Ivanhowe, Real Love, Beautiful Romance, Tom Melbourne, $51 Gallante, Assign, Excess Knowledge, $61 Tally, Howard Be Thy Name, De Little Engine, Sir John Hawkwood, $67, Pentathlon, $81 Vengeur Masque, $301 Rose Of Virginia, The Bandit.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.