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Nom Du Jeu To Win The Melbourne Cup

by Anthony Sharwood | 03 Nov 2008 | 3 Comments

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Number 5, Nom du Jeu, will win the Melbourne Cup. This fine Kiwi nag is several lengths ahead of any other southern hemisphere contender, and is destined to make the Europeans wish they’d never left their cold, crumbling, insular little continent.
I could go on all day about Nom du Jeu’s form (as my workmates will attest) but I’ll leave the talking to YouTube. Check this year’s Caulfield Cup (above). If you’re short on time, then move the arrow thingy to the two-minute mark or thereabouts. See the horse running last with the blue and gold cap? The horse running about 10 deep? The horse storming down the outside to finish just behind the winner? That’s Nom du Jeu.
If you’re really into the video analysis thang, check this one out too. It’s a nothing race called the Waikato Guineas in NZ, which Nom Du Jeu won after being blocked about six times, changing strides, changing direction and helping a little old mare across the road. Wow.
So. Do it for love. Do it for money. Do it for your hemisphere. Back Nom du Jeu, which I’m sure I needn’t remind any of you highly intelligent Alpha readers, is French for “Name of the Game”.
For the record, my tips for first, second and third are: Nom Du Jeu, Mad Rush and Alessandro Volta. Alpha accepts no responsibility for being in any way wrong…

Now for the full rundown:

1. Septimus: Irish raider whose name means “over-rated boom horse” in Latin.
2. Master O’Reilly: Ran 8th as favourite last year and hasn’t gotten any quicker.
3. Honolulu: Don’t try to fund your trip to Hawaii by backing this thing.
4. C’est la Guerre: Stablemate of last year’s winner Efficient but nowhere near as good.
5. Nom Du Jeu: Connections are currently preparing their victory speech
6. Yellowstone: Not even Old Faithful could propel this bloke to victory
7. Zipping: Fourth in the last two Cups. Like Britney Spears, will look really good for a while, then fall in a heap.
8. Mad Rush: The likely race favourite ran a luckless fourth in the Caulfield Cup and has Damien Oliver on board.
9. Ice Chariot: Last year’s winning jockey Michael Rodd is going around for practice.
10. Viewed: Bart Cummings has won 11 Cups, but this bloke won’t bring number #12, despite decent Caulfield Cup run.
11. Littorio. Was going really good a month ago. Isn’t now.
12. Bauer: Geelong Cup winner trying to do a Media Puzzle and win the Big One too. Probably won’t, though.
13. Boundless: There are crap longshots and reasonable longshots with half a chance. This one is the latter.
14. Gallopin: And this one is the former (see Boundless)
15. Guyno: If, like Alpha editor Rob Pegley, you draw this nag in the sweep, it’s not too late to call Lifeline.
16. Zarita: SCRATCHED. Possibly by the racecourse cat.
17. Newport: This Newcastle galloper would require some of Joey Johns’ magic pills to get over the line.
18. Profound Beauty: Makybe Diva’s jockey Glen Boss was booked three months ago for this ride.
19. Red Lord: Trained by Bart Cummings’ son Anthony who, sadly, is no chip off the old block.
20. Varevees: Won the Arrogant Pig Stakes at Longchamp in France, but won’t do anything here.
21. Prize Lady: That Lifeline number is 13 11 14.
22. Alessandro Volta: Will almost certainly lead. Hey, at least you’ll know where your horse is in a room full of screamers.
23. Barbaricus: Another frontrunner who’ll be in the thick of things… and then in the thin of things.
24. Moatize: As mentioned, Bart has had 11 winners. He’s also saddled up 70 odd losers. Like this horse.

Good luck. Your turf pundit – Anthony.

On 3 November 2008 Bob B says:

Allow me to differ:
1. Septimus: Keeps blowing in the betting which may be a disaster for the bookies. Must be a chance.
2. Master O’Reilly: Last year’s Caulfield Cup will remain at the fron of his trophy cabinet
3. Honolulu: I tend to agree with Anthony. “Don’t try to fund your trip to Hawaii by backing this thing”.
4. C’est la Guerre: If he wins it will be C’est Magnifique, but can we let a Kiwi raider with a French name win this race?
5. Nom Du Jeu: Got a great sit on Littorio and Mad Rush and then a gap opened for him to finish fast. He was only 10 deep in the straight!! Don’t count your cash yet Anthony!
6. Yellowstone: Will need lots of Love And Affection for this Rock of Gibralter to greet the judge.
7. Zipping: Loves being thereabouts but I doubt he will Zipping past the post at the front, as a 7 year old.
8. Mad Rush: Didn’t get the best run in the Caulfield Cup and Olly will give him every chance.
9. Ice Chariot: Tough, has won at the distance, but not up to this.
10. Viewed: Bart Cummings can train them but he will probably be viewed somewhere mid field at the finish.
11. Littorio. I am going on his great run in last year’s Vic Derby (got me last year’s cup winner) and his good run in the Caulfield Cup. He is my top pick.
12. Bauer: Terrific win in the Geelong Cup and one for the exotics as he may slip in under the radar. If he is as tough as Jack in ‘24’ he will be right in it.
13. Boundless: Yep, may have half a chance. But needs a full one. Bound to be thereabouts but won’t greet the judge.
14. Gallopin: Dour stayer loves the track. Not for me but don’t be surprised if he is right up there.
15. Guyno: This Guy.....No!!
16. Zarita: SCRATCHED. A great reason there should be emergencies for the Cup!
17. Newport: Maybe a smokey. Good win in the Metrop and not suited by Moonee Valley last start. Still hard to have though.
18. Profound Beauty: Bossy knows how to win this race and this lightly raced gal may be the one to knock this off. One of my top 3.
19. Red Lord: The name Lord does not qualify for this class.
20. Varevees: I think an easier race would have been better suited to cover her travel costs..
21. Prize Lady: How many other Auckland Cup winners have tried and failed? Not a good form line.
22. Alessandro Volta: Some think he is here as the pacemaker for Septimus, but form shows he is not a leader. 2 wins from 9 starts does not equate to sound melb Cup form.
23. Barbaricus: If there is a UK front runner this guy will either wear it out or get a good sit in 2nd and make a race of it. It all depends on how the race is run.
24. Moatize: Breeding back to Zabeel which should make him a genuine stayer but may not be ready for this class despite the expertize of Bart. Better chance than Viewed though.

And my top 3 are:
Littorio
Mad Rush
Profound Beauty

Best Roughie:
Baeur
On 4 November 2008 Farkwit says:

The both of you weren’t even close.

Still scratching my head after the race.... Viewed?? How the hell did it even get into the race. Last 4 starts were terrible (8,7,0,0) - I can’t believe it was a 40-1 chance - should have been 200-1 based on the other Cup runners and its recent form....
On 6 November 2008 Bob B says:

“Viewed: Bart Cummings can train them but he will probably be viewed somewhere mid field at the finish.”
And Bart’s “hay fever” was much viewed after the race. He’s a genious and I am broke....need I say more!
“Bauer: Terrific win in the Geelong Cup and one for the exotics as he may slip in under the radar. If he is as tough as Jack in ‘24’ he will be right in it.”
I wasn’t far wrong with this fella and had him in my exotics....but ya gotta get the others right for a payout!!
“ C’est la Guerre: If he wins it will be C’est Magnifique, but can we let a Kiwi raider with a French name win this race?”
No, but he wasn’t far away!!
As for Littorio.....about 2000m is as far as he want’s to run and I should have taken notice of the experts......but I would have lost on my other tips anyway so who cares!!
Back to the drawing board for us Anthony! But as for Farkwit’s comment, at least we had a go!!

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Nom Du Jeu To Win The Melbourne Cup

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