A genuine Hawke’s Bay hope in the Melbourne Cup there isn’t, but there are still two connections out to win Tuesday’s $10 million, 3200m, 24-horse race after unsuccessful bids in the past.
They are nine-year-old gelding Smokin’ Romans, part-owned by Steve Pender of Dannevirke, rated a 67-1 longshot mainly on the basis of age, and jockey Michael (Mick) Dee, a former Napier Boys’ High School pupil who rides mystery young UK hope Furthur, quoted by the TAB at $26 to win.
Smokin’ Romans has a career record of 53 starts, 11 wins, nine second placings and stake earnings of A$2,382,890 ($2.7m), including seventh in the 2023 Cup.
It’s had had six races since the last win on May 1 in the 2350m Warrnambool Cup, in front from well out and carrying the hefty weight of 59kg.
Dee has had 926 winning rides, including a Sydney Cup and several other top Australian races, but has been out of the top placings in four rides in the Cup.
His mount has had two wins from eight races, stake earnings of A$314,000 ($359,000), and last raced as a three-year-old colt in the English St Leger on September 13.
There are no New Zealand-trained horses in the field, and no Australian-bred runners.
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