April 17th, 2008 :
Horse Racing
The $2.25 million Group 1 BMW is a 2400 metre standard weight-for-age race for three-year-olds and up. There are eleven runners in the race and the stallion Encosta de Lago has sired four of them, showing what a great contributor he has been to staying races in Australia.
There are three mares in the race and the early market has mares as first and second favourites, with Tuesday Joy favourite ahead of Princess Coup. The next in the betting is Sirmione trained by Bart Cummings. Both Princess Coup and Sirmione did not appear to handle the tight-turning Canterbury track last start behind Tuesday Joy, and both should appreciate the roomier Rosehill track.
Only four mares have won the BMW since it became weight-for-age in 1977. These were Makybe Diva (2005), Ethereal (2002), Miltak (1984) and My Blue Denim (1981), and Gai Waterhouse is hoping Tuesday Joy will be the fifth. If the Bart Cummings trained Sirmione wins he will join very elite company, as only Makybe Diva in 2005 and Octagonal in 1997 have managed to win the Australian Cup and BMW.
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