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Racetrack Ralphy's speed map

Time for the speed map from Racetrack Ralphy....

With special permission of Racetrack Ralphy for the biggest race Australia has to offer, here's his anticipated speed map for the Cup. Ralph Horowitz produces speed maps and form comments for every Melbourne metropolitan meeting via the 'Racetrack Ralphy' app for iPhones. It's even available in the UK iTunes store as well, so it's great for expats like me on the other side of the world! A bargain at £1.49 or $1.99 per meeting. No money has changed hands for this plug, but he will owe me a beer or two next time....

With about 1000m to the first bend, there's plenty of time for a horse to track wide and get across before it starts to count against it with extra ground covered. But if the pace isn't on, then that's a big negative for horses trying to slot in midfield, there won't be any room if they wait. Doesn't seem to be too much pace out wide, but someone normally surprises and send their mount forward to make a mess of the pre-race speed maps. As Ralphy mentions on the app, the further the trip, the more variables enter the speed map! With so many internationals these days, the pace tends to be more genuine, opposed to the old fast-slow-fast method which could cause carnage as they slowed and leave others -as they accelerated.

LEADERS

THE PACK IN MIDFIELD

GETTING BACK

BACKMARKERS


Ralphy's tips:
I'd print his whole comments but he hasn't emailed them to me and they are too long to copy from the app - download it if you want the full story. So here's my summary of his comments...

Thinks the race is wide open, thus the top two are poor value, so leaving them out. Very impressed with Ethiopia in the Cox Plate, and throws in Maluckyday, Mourayan and Lights of Heaven for the locals. Preferred visitors are Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Galileo's Choice. Plenty of combinations being taken in exotics, similar to my style, start narrow then add more runners as you go down the placings.

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