Cranbourne Cup – 2021

Track: Heavy Weather: Showers

There are fifteen acceptors plus four emergencies for an excellent edition of the $500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup.  Harbour Views is an early scratching.  Four of these are trained on the track and nine of them had a run during the Flemington Carnival.  Lindsey Smith is the only trainer with multiple runners.  The early favourite in the betting is Our Playboy.  He was impressive winning a benchmark 90 last week and loves wet ground.  The second favourite is Buffalo River.  He is a noted front runner and another who loves the sting out of the track.

King Magnus doesn’t know how to run a bad race and has the Victoria Derby winning jockey Lachlan King in the saddle.  Chris Waller and Craig Williams combine with Aramayo.  Age Of Chivalry won the Chatham Stakes last week.  Don’t Doubt Dory is two from three on heavy ground.  Mystery Shot has been met with early market support.  Justacanta was a close up third last week, while Lunar Fox is looking for his first win since the Australian Guineas in February.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Buffalo River

Noted wet tracker who dictated to win the Group 3 Moonga Stakes at Caulfield on October 16.  Weakened out after leading at a fast speed in the Cantala last start.  Has plenty of weight here but must be respected in these conditions.

2. So Si Bon

Eight year old gelding who has eights wins and fourteen placings from sixty nine starts.  Thought his last run at Moonee Valley was disappointing.  Prefer others.

3. Age Of Chivalry

Honest customer who won the Group 3 Chatham Stakes at Flemington last week.  Open to further improvement here third up and keeps Damian Lane.  Unproven on heavy ground but is a genuine winning chance if he can get through it.

4. Aramayo

Chris Waller trained galloper who was well fancied in the Cantala Stakes on Derby Day.  Didn’t fire there.  Drawn well and gets Craig Williams are the positives here.  Queries are the rise in weight and a wet track?

5. Lunar Fox

Won the Group 1 Australian Guineas earlier in the year and was beaten less than three lengths in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap last start.  Is drawn well in barrier seven.  Place chance.

6. Justacanta

Is on the quick seven day back up for the second consecutive week.  Was good winning the Linlithgow, then third beaten less than a length in the Chatham.  Each way claims if he can run the trip.

7. Harbour Views – SCR

8. In A Twinkling

Ex New Zealand galloper now with Lindsey Smith at Warrnambool.  His best form is over 2000m and beyond.  Happy to watch him here first up.

9. No Effort

Kept going to win the Group 2 Heatherlie at Caulfield in late August.  Just fair at her most recent two but gets back onto wet ground where she excels.  Not out of this.

10. King Magnus

Six year old gelding racing in career best form.  Closed well behind Buffalo River two back, then was beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes on Derby Day.  Excellent record on soft ground and gets the advantage of racing on his home track.  Solid each way chance.

11. Our Playboy

Current favourite.  Was an excellent win in a high rating benchmark 90 at Flemington last Saturday.  Gets back onto heavy ground here where he excels and drops in weight.  Looks set to run a huge race third up on the quick back up.

12. Riddle Me That

Ran home well at Caulfield two back, then was fourth in the Sale Cup.  Wouldn’t shock to see him run well in this.  Consider for multiples.

13. Don’t Doubt Dory

Honest customer with an inform Patrick Moloney in the saddle.  Should get an economical run in behind the speed and handles the wet.  Rough hope.

14. Winning Partner

Big win in the Balaklava Cup three back and flew home to just miss Wicklow Town at Moonee Valley last start.  Is going well but has drawn the widest gate and maybe looking for a dry track.

15. Holbien

Plenty of gear changes for this in an attempt to turn around a poor recent run of form.  Prefer others.

16. Arcadia Prince – 1st EMERG

Ex Western Australian galloper now with Amy McDonald.  He has been beaten a long way in his three runs since coming to Victoria.  Gets blinkers for the first time here but is hard to recommend.

17. Imperial Lad – 2nd EMERG

One of the speed horses in the race.  Was well rated by Linda Meech to win at Moonee Valley two starts ago, then second when a big drifter in the Peninsula Cup at Mornington.  Rough chance if he gets a run.

18. Mystery Shot – 3rd EMERG

Another backing up out of the Flemington carnival.  He was fourth in a benchmark 90 over 1800m on Oaks Day.  Coming back to 1600m suits.  Drawn well and likes wet ground.

19. Barbie’s Fox – 4th EMERG

Needs four scratching’s to get a run.  Ran home okay from the back in the Matriarch last Saturday, prior was a good run in the Sale Cup.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
11. Our Playboy	11. Our Playboy
13. Don’t Doubt Dory	10. King Magnus
3. Age Of Chivalry	1. Buffalo River
1. Buffalo River	9. No Effort

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	10. King Magnus
2nd	11. Our Playboy	0.5 length
3rd	2. So Si Bon	0.7 length
4th	18. Mystery Shot	0.9 length

The track was rated as Heavy 10.

Scratchings: 4. Aramayo, 6. Justacanta, 7. Harbour Views, 12. Riddle Me That, 14. Winning Partner, 16. Arcadia Prince, 17, Imperial Lad.