Delta Deel wrote:

James Bond Esq wrote:

Hokko Brave hasn't won for two years. A couple of well respected Journos reckon it is past it's peak as an 8 year old. What do others think,

Your respected journos are the fools from get on who you obviously watched last night

That is right but if you have got better information please share?

Kingy wrote:

Everytime I've seen Snow Sky he reminds me of a horse that thinks he's a rockstar or something... Just has the bullish swagger about him. Very stubborn. I love it.

I'm on Snow Sky for the CC but would like to hear if people think the CC or MC would be their main focus?

The Mugg

Yeah Good luck reading or understanding the German language.

Baden-Baden: Grosser Preis von Baden (Group 1) - Winner: Ivan Howe

Köln: Gerling-Preis (Gruppe 2) - Sieger: Ivanhowe

2015 - double wins ¥ 100,000 game # 2 Diamond Stakes

After seeing some pics and videos from Weribee yesterday I have made a couple of assumptions.

Snow Sky- looks a deadset picture and really fit,quite a striking horse that grabs my attention

Fame Game- very bullish as a stallion, shows a lot of white in the eye and will never be a kids pony. Carrying condition and will need the run Saturday as Purton has said

Highland Rule- not as harsh as DO2 but the horse is very ,very light and not much behind. Either a 100% fit and lightly framed or is not a good doer.

Hoko Brave- bit more refined than what I am used to seeing from the Japanese horses out here, nicely built and looks very fit

Couple more galloped but didnt really grab me. Unfortunately no footage/pics of Arod so he may not have worked yesterday

Surely if Snow Sky brings his A game he just wins. He was 3/1 in the 2400 Group 1 King George on Champions Day. Also smashed Hartnell last time they met. The fact that he races best on fast ground is another big tick. Have a large bet at 21s.

Our Ivanhowe and Fame Game are next best for me. Will be happy if either win as have huge doubles on them into Arod and HR.

If anyone is going to Werribee and spots a horse called "lips Arieos" any comments general in nature would be appreciated as I own a small share and live in another state. Thanks

Im very keen on snow sky and our ivanhowe.
I think alot of these staying races in Australia develop into a sit and sprint as most jockeys are concerned about there mounts getting the trip.

Snow Sky is quite dour but im hoping he goes straight to the front and starts winding it up 800m out..if they let this horse dictate the race he can definitely win.

And thats what I think will happen..hes improving,needs fast ground which he didnt get in the king george.Massively overpriced in my opinion at $17.

Our Ivanhowe loves 2400m and should be peaking now for both cup races..
I'd be amazed if he's not in the first 4..stays and has a turn of foot and yr yet to see the best of him in oz.

Fame Game will be a monster in the melbourne cup..only gets going that last 400m but with luck in running and if within 8 at the bend I just think it wind..explosive finishing burst.

Arod can definitely win the cox plate..been mixing it with Solow in Europe over a mile,handles all tracks..an absolute professional..loves fast ground..electric turn of foot..he's my preference to highland reel who I thought was outclassed by Golden Horn and Free Eagle in Ireland but looked very good against weak opposition in america.

I just think mooney valley will really suit Arod..EW special

Out of all the others only Bondi Beach interests me in the M.cup.
Very brave gutsy stayer with a touch of class I guarantee it runs in the top 5 in melbourne if acclimatised..has the lot but so do some others.

Some good racing coming up.

VPI wrote:

Snow Sky @ $20 did look attractive, looks to handle firm ground. Yet to be impressed by Our Ivanhowe,

Japanese & A O'Brien big hopes.

Interesting. Hope I haven't over-assessed. I think on NH performances he clearly has plenty of class. I was very taken by his last start 2nd under the big weight. I trust Lee will be winding him up nicely. Hasn't had many starts this prep and will be taking good improvement from each. Would expect a forward showing here before producing his best in the MC.

Sunline...simply supreme

Hope Snow Sky can win! It and Rising Romance my long range plays.

Mug-Punter wrote:

Just thinking out loud here and could be wrong but my way of thinking is that Snow Sky is targeting CC over MC. With Oliver being booked onto for CC but not MC (And he now jumping on Lloyd's horse for MC) does that give any indication of CC is the main target? Why didn't Oliver get booked for both?

Oliver probably feels he is weighted out of the melb cup, good horses can win a CC with 56kg+ but they cant win a MC

Thanks D Oliver very much appreciated

I was on Rising Romance e/w from very early on at massive prices last year and sentimentally hoping she can win it this year ... but surely that means both of the Japanese runners are massive overs.

They are pitched in at comparable weights to Admire Rakti, and they appear to be at least as well performed as he was.

I've gone with Hokko Brave as my main play - he seems to have more tactical speed and his winning form is around the 2400m.

If Fame Game is beaten here, it won't be by far, and if we get a firm track at flemington, he will be unbackable (my anchor in doubles)

I will be cheering the same Quinella RR + a Japanese runner.

Also had some early dabbles on Snow Sky, Our Ivanhoe and Volks, with exotics around them.

Good Luck All!

In reference to every post in the Trump thread ... "There may have been a tiny bit of license taken there" ... Ok, Thanks for the "heads up" PT!

International Raiders & Breakdowns

Baden-Baden: Grosser Preis von Baden (Group 1) - Winner: Ivan Howe

München: Pastorius-Großer Preis von Bayern (Gruppe 1) - Sieger: Ivanhowe

Köln: Gerling-Preis (Gruppe 2) - Sieger: Ivanhowe

2015 - double wins ¥ 100,000 game # 2 Diamond Stakes