Corey Brown on Shocking edges Kerrin McEvoy on Crime Scene to win the 2009 Melbourne Cup.
And they’re off! Owners and trainers from eight countries nominated a bumper crop of 253 runners in the hopes of winning the 150th edition of the Melbourne Cup on Nov. 2.
12-time winner Bart Cummings nominated an even dozen, including the highly rated four-year-olds So You Think (Cox Plate winner), Faint Perfume (VRC Oaks winner), Dariana (Queensland Derby winner), and Rock Classic (Australian Guineas winner).
This is a preview of 253 Hopefuls Nominated for 2010 Melbourne Cup. Read the full post »
Two Sundays have passed since a six-year-old mare named Profound Beauty won a listed race in Ireland called the Saval Beg Stakes. Most racing fans haven’t heard of 2,800-meter race, but followers the Melbourne Cup know it very, very well. That might be because the only two horses from Europe ever to win the world’s most prestigious two-miler – Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002 – both won the Saval Beg.
The Master of Rosewell House claimed his twelfth Irish Classic at the Curragh this weekend as Bethrah fought tooth and nail down the straight to win the Irish 1000 Guineas carrying the colors of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Bethrah was far from favored – the filly went off at 16/1 odds – and her winning margin eclipsed the efforts of four other contenders who bunched together just a half-length back. Credit Pat Smullen, whose brilliant tactics netted Weld’s stable jockey his seventh Irish Classic. But all credit is due to Bethrah. Said Weld of his runner, “She is tough and genuine.”
This is a preview of Dermot Weld Wins the Irish 1000 Guineas in a Thriller. Read the full post »
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has committed to star as Ireland’s winningest trainer, Dermot Weld, in The Cup, which goes into production later this month in Australia with Simon Wincer to direct. Weld enjoys the unique distinction of being the only international trainer to have twice won the Melbourne Cup: in 1993 with Vintage Crop and in 2002 with Media Puzzle. It is the latter victory that plays an integral part in the development of the film.
This is a preview of BREAKING NEWS: Brendan Gleeson to Top-Line The Cup. Read the full post »
Emmy Award-winning director Simon Wincer confirms that principal photography for The Cup will commence in Australia on May 31. The veteran filmmaker who has crafted classics such as The Man From Snowy River, Lonesome Dove, and Free Willy has already completed second unit photography for The Cup at two key venues: The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, site of Dermot Weld’s training center; and Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, home of the Melbourne Cup, the world’s most prestigious two-mile handicap.
Brian O’Connor of The Irish Times pours on the praise for the new book by the Master of Rosewell House, two-time Melbourne Cup winner Dermot Weld:
“Vintage Crop told the story of his famous 1993 success in the Melbourne Cup, a victory that quite literally changed the face of the racing world, and which cemented Weld’s place in the sport’s history.”
As with any Weld enterprise, the book was no fluke. Instead, as O’ Connor points out, it was a long-held dream. “His interest in literature was famously illustrated just minutes after that famous Melbourne Cup when he quoted long passages of the legendary bush poet Banjo Patterson to a startled Australian press corps.”
Twenty-three titles made the grade for the 2009 Irish Sports Book of the Year. Not surprisingly, Dermot Weld’s account of some of his greatest gallopers is one of the contenders.
Racing fans will no doubt be riveted by the behind-the-scenes look at the workings of Roswell House. I enjoyed seeing the way Dermot’s coy answers to my questions were just the tip of the iceberg. How did he nurse Vintage Crop back to health for the 1993 Melbourne Cup? Why didn’t he give up on Media Puzzle, a runner whose career had so many setbacks?
Thoroughbred racing’s global appeal was in full swing this weekend at Santa Anita Park during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Countless connections were on hand, including two-time Melbourne Cup winner Dermot Weld, pictured here with owner Anthony Bonomo prior to the Gr. 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The Irish trainer confirmed for me that Profound Beauty was scratched from this year’s Melbourne Cup by Moyglare Stud because of concerns about the track conditions at Flemington this spring.
“She’s a valuable mare worth millions of dollars, and the risks associated with running her on such hard ground were too great,” he said.
It’s gratifying to see the accolades continue to pour in about this great horse. I was particularly impressed with the coverage by Racing Post columnist Nancy Sexton, whose article included an excellent rundown on the Gr. 1 winners by Theatrical, including Media Puzzle (pictured above):
Two Sundays have passed since a six-year-old mare named Profound Beauty won a listed race in Ireland called the Saval Beg Stakes. Most racing fans haven’t heard of 2,800-meter race, but followers the Melbourne Cup know it very, very well. That might be because the only two horses from Europe ever to win the world’s most prestigious two-miler – Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002 – both won the Saval Beg.
The Master of Rosewell House claimed his twelfth Irish Classic at the Curragh this weekend as Bethrah fought tooth and nail down the straight to win the Irish 1000 Guineas carrying the colors of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Bethrah was far from favored – the filly went off at 16/1 odds – and her winning margin eclipsed the efforts of four other contenders who bunched together just a half-length back. Credit Pat Smullen, whose brilliant tactics netted Weld’s stable jockey his seventh Irish Classic. But all credit is due to Bethrah. Said Weld of his runner, “She is tough and genuine.”
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has committed to star as Ireland’s winningest trainer, Dermot Weld, in The Cup, which goes into production later this month in Australia with Simon Wincer to direct. Weld enjoys the unique distinction of being the only international trainer to have twice won the Melbourne Cup: in 1993 with Vintage Crop and in 2002 with Media Puzzle. It is the latter victory that plays an integral part in the development of the film.
Emmy Award-winning director Simon Wincer confirms that principal photography for The Cup will commence in Australia on May 31. The veteran filmmaker who has crafted classics such as The Man From Snowy River, Lonesome Dove, and Free Willy has already completed second unit photography for The Cup at two key venues: The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, site of Dermot Weld’s training center; and Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, home of the Melbourne Cup, the world’s most prestigious two-mile handicap.
