If you’re a once-a-year punter wondering where to put your dosh on this year’s Melbourne Cup, or you just don’t have enough time to trawl through the form guide – look no further.
Two-time champion Cup jockey Corey Brown has revealed his best bet on this year’s $7.75 million Flemington feature, and his predicted first four finishers in order.
Brown – now retired – knows a thing or two about what it takes to win the 3200m race that stops a nation.
READ MORE: Simon O’Donnell’s mega Melbourne Cup form guide
READ MORE: Ultimate Guide to the 2021 Melbourne Cup
He did it twice – on Shocking in 2009, and again on Rekindling in 2017.
“Obviously it takes a good horse, and it takes a horse who can actually stay,” Brown told Wide World of Sports.
“We don’t have a lot of staying races, or two-mile races here in Australia, so that’s why I think the Europeans have dominated over the last dozen or so years. They’ve got a lot more opportunities to race in longer races, whereas we haven’t really got that staying program.
GALLERY: Every Melbourne Cup winner since 2000
READ MORE: Best and worst Melbourne Cup barriers revealed
“You need a horse that will relax and stay the distance.”
Here is how Brown thinks the first four horses in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup will finish, and below is the trifecta bet he recommends.
4th – PONDUS
“The Lloyd Williams colours, for one. And Rachel King, it’s her first ride in the Cup. The horse is in good enough form with no weigh on its back and I think it will run well.”
3rd – FLOATING ARTIST
“This horse’s run in the Moonee Valley Cup, I thought was outstanding. A little bit unlucky going into the run. Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace are having an unbelievable run and I just think this horse will stay the trip.”
2nd – SPANISH MISSION
“This horse is coming with proper form. The form around it over in Europe is proper Group 1 form. He’s been running against some amazing horses over there. He’s got to be in there.”
1st – INCENTIVISE
“His first two wins in Melbourne didn’t impress me that much. I’m actually good mates with (jockey) Brett Prebble and I rang him and said, ‘are you putting cream on the top, spruiking this horse?’, and he said, ‘no, he’s the real deal’. His Caulfield Cup run was amazing. He covered a lot of ground. He got into one off the fence at the back for a furlong and a half, then Brett popped him out again at the 1000m and rolled him into the race.
READ MORE: Melbourne Cup 2021 office sweep print out
“I was rapt when the barrier draw came out and he had drawn 16, it’s perfect for him. He didn’t want to be on the inside getting cluttered up, because if he did happen to miss the start Brett would have 23 other jockeys riding against him, because it’s just what you do. But he’s a really special horse. If he had drawn inside 8 or 10 I’d be concerned, but drawn out where he is he’s got a nice long run to the first turn, Brett will have him up in the first half a dozen. He needs room, the horse, and that’s what that barrier is going to do.”
Corey Brown’s Melbourne Cup trifecta: 2, 3-4-15-22, 3-4-15-22