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Big Melbourne watch on Goodwood Cup
Jul 29 2010
The Goodwood Cup has always been a great staying race in its own right – but tonight’s renewal of the 3200m race may have a major bearing on the world’s greatest two-mile staying test.
Class stayers Tactic and Purple Moon only need to win or run very well in the Goodwood race to just about book themselves a trip to the Melbourne Cup, and all indications are that they should do just that.
Four-year-old Tactic is racing in the best form of his career after winning his past two and his last-start win in the Curragh Cup earmarked him as one of the best genuine stayers in Europe. Purple Moon, already a placegetter in the Melbourne Cup when second to Efficient in 2007, returned to his best with a slashing third to Rite of Passage in the Ascot Gold Cup.
This year’s Group 2 Goodwood Cup has the makings of a great race, with the two would-be Melbourne visitors facing an outstanding field including favourite Age of Aquarius, Kite Wood and Illustrious Blue. The field of 12 runs deep, with even outsiders such as Free Agent, Saptapadi and The Betchworth Kid capable of an upset on their best form.
A look at the recent honour roll suggests it’s something of an anomaly that the Goodwood Cup carries only Group 2 status. Champions Yeats and Persian Punch are both dual winners, Double Trigger has won the race three times and outstanding stayers Schiaparelli, Allegretto and Distinction are recent winners.
With the weight the race carries internationally, there’s little doubt that a win to Tactic or Purple Moon would catapult either towards the top of this year’s Melbourne Cup market.
Shane McNally
All times quoted on this web site are based on scheduled race start times.
Sky Sports Radio endeavours to provide correct and up-to-date data, though it is possible to encounter inaccuracies throughout the day due to unforeseen delays at the track.
