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In this issue :
Racing Reviews,News,Previews,The Watcher,Race Tracks & More.
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SPRING CARNIVAL WRAP  Efficient wins the 2007 Emerites Melbourne Cup
Flemington had been given a face-lift for the 2007 spring carnival and the second highest carnival crowd ensured that the year long renovations where well worth the wait. The 397,413 people that attended the carnival over the 4 days was the second largest ever second to the 2006 crowd of 418,069.
The carnival kicked off it's first day of the carnival with Derby day on the 3rd of November, majority of racing enthusiasts believe that Derby day is the best day racing wise of the carnival as it holds four group 3 races, two group 2 races and four group 1 races.
The Lee Freedman trained Exceedingly Good won the first race of the carnival, the 1000m group 3 sprint down the straight is traditionally the first race of the carnival. Exceedingly Good was sent out a short priced favourite in the first and got the punters off to a good start and gave them hope for the rest of the carnival.
The group 3 Saab Quality over 2500m unveiled a horse by the name of Sculptor who won the race in good strong fashion, he won at odds over 24-1 and was now right in contention for the Melbourne Cup and was getting the support of some punters.
There was another star in the making at Flemington on Derby day a horse by the name of Weekend Hussler, he won the group 3 Coolmore Stud over 1200m at the very short price of $1.60 and was talked about as the next star of the turf.
The Bart Cummings trained Sirmione sprung a surprise on everyone winning the group 1 Mackinnon over 2000m at the big odd of around 80-1. Sirmione wasn't thought of as a chance for the Melbourne Cup but the win in the Mackinnon, traditionally a Melbourne Cup lead up race gave Bart Cummings a shot at adding to his Cups collection.
 Kibbutz wins the Derby for jockey C.Williams and trainer D.Hayes
Kibbutz and trainer David Hayes won the Derby in fine style turning the tables on John Hawkes and his chance Marching who finished 3rd and was sent out a firm favourite, Marching had defeated Kibbutz a week earlier at Moonee Valley. Kibbutz proved too strong for the Derby field and his strong victory had everyone talking about him as a Melbourne Cup hope for 2008. Divine Madonna won the group 1 Myer Classic at a short price proving she is still a very smart horse.
Robbie Griffith’s and Count To Zero won the last on Derby day a group 3 over 1400m at odds of around 13-1. Now the punters where getting ready for Cup day.
The Melbourne Cup day crowd was 102,411 down roughly 4,000 on the 2006 crowd. David Hayes and C.Williams took out the first on cup day with Hips Don't Lie winning the 2yo fillies sprint down the straight over 1000m. The Lee Freedman trained Viennese was sent out favourite but failed to finish in the first four.
Lee Freedman eventually got his victory in race 6 with the short priced favourite Belcentra winning the Lexus 3yo filly’s stake over 1400m.
The Main race of the day was eventually upon us the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup.
Master O'reilly was sent out favourite after his convincing Caulfield cup victory. Purple Moon was challenging hard for favouritism after his unlucky Caulfield cup run and with D.Oliver aboard was considered a very good chance. The John Saddler trained Zipping was well in the market after his run in the Mackinnon and the 3200m was expected to suit the horse very well. With three scratchings the cup field was down to 21 runners.
Graeme Rogerson and Lloyd Williams took out the Melbourne Cup with Efficient at odds of around 20-1. In what was a well run race Purple Moon seemed to have pinched it half way down the straight when he and D.Oliver had kicked clear after the leader Tungsten Strike had set a good pace and started to weaken out of it. Just as everyone thought Purple Moon had the race in the bag Efficient was motoring home down the outside and proved too strong over the final 100m. The distance of 3200m was too much for most of the other runners including favourite Master O’Reilly who was never a wining hope. Overseas runner Mahler ran a strong race for connections finishing third and the well tried Zipping ran fourth finding the 3200m just a shade too far.
Lee Freedman also took out the last race on cup day with El Pauji winning the Chubb Plate over 1400m making it a great day for the Freedman camp.
Oaks day pulled a crowd of 95,230 which was a touch smaller than the 2006 crowd of 104,131. John Ledger took out the first with Soleil winning over 1100m at around 18-1 setting the tone for what was going to be a tough day for the punters with only one favourite winning all day. Lee Freedman notched up another winner for the carnival in race four with Gamble Me winning the Cadbury Eden 3yo filly's stake over 1200m in fine style.
The Pat Hyland trained Zarita was sent out favourite for the Oaks after a strong win on Derby day whilst the Peter Moody trained Riva San and the Leon Macdonald trained Serious Speed where challenging hard with the support of many punters. Arapaho Miss eventually took out the race for trainer Pat Carey in good fashion defeating Serious Speed and roughie Marjorie for Bart Cummings finished third. Pat Carey was very pleased with the race with his other runner Royal Harmony finishing fourth. Trainer Don Campbell got a rare city win with O’Reilly’s Clock winning the last on Oaks day, the Sunrise Cup over 1600m at odds of around 14-1.
The final day of the four-day carnival Emirates Stakes day drew a record crowd of 84,067 up from 78,158 in 2006. It was to be a terrible day for punters where 5 winners payed over 20-1 and some exotic dividends where in the million dollar range. The first of the big winners was in the second race, the skilled group plate over 1400m was won by the Michael Kent trained Partiva at odds of around 23-1. Race four saw another big priced winner at odds of around 33-1 when the Craig Conron trained Distant Melody won the 1400m 3yo stakes. Miss Andretti was the highlight of the day when she defeated Gold Edition in the 1200m Age classic.
Miss Andretti was sent out a short price favourite and was one of the only good results for the punters. Tears I Cry was a shock Emirates Stake winner for trainer Ciaron Maher and most punters didn't think he had a chance sending him out at odds of around 60-1. With all the roughies filling the places the trifecta paid around $61,000 and the first four was to jackpot.
The Bookies where laughing after race seven when another roughie in Hidden Strings for trainer Peter Moody won at odds of around 54-1. Once again the places where filled with the roughies of the field and the trifecta paid around $22,000 whilst the first four was to pay over 1 million dollars. Zavite for trainer Anthony Cummings took out the 2500m group 3 Queen Elizabeth stakes at odds of around 13-1, Completion the short priced favourite for Graeme Rogerson could only manage third. Jim Mason finally got a winner with Montechoro surviving a protest in the last race of the carnival to win at odds of around 21-1. The Emirates Airline Handicap over 1400m saw the carnival come to a close but not without a fist four dividend of around $50,000.
The Carnival was another success for Victorian racing it produced the second highest crowd of all time alot of hard luck stories and plenty of memorable moments for everyone.
As most people are still recovering we have the 2008 carnival to prepare for and no doubt it will be even better.
 The 2007 Melbourne Cup was run in beautifull conditions at the new look Flemington track
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