A strong field of 14 stayers will take their place in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup with an eye towards the Melbourne Cup in a fortnight’s time at Flemington.
The Symon Wilde-trained Tralee Rose looks tough to beat following back-to-back placings in the Naturalism and the Bart Cummings, while Hasta La War is hoping to improve on a last-start third in the Herbert Power.
Three winners of the Geelong Cup have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup, with Dunaden being the last to complete the double back in 2011.
In what is always a key form race heading towards the first famous Tuesday in November, be sure to read our thoughts on every runner in our 2021 Geelong Cup Preview below.
Mirage Dancer
Mirage Dancer has raced well without winning recently and is a proven performer with four wins to his name over 2400m.
The Frankel entire stuck on well for fourth two back at Caulfield behind Nonconformist, who has since gone on to place twice at Group 1 level in the Might and Power and last week’s Caulfield Cup.
Mirage Dancer’s latest effort saw him finish four-lengths off Delphi for fifth in the Herbert Power, a race that has always been a strong form line heading into the Geelong Cup.
Has work to do from the gate but should appreciate another firm track.
Defibrillate
Defibrillate tends to find the money more often than not and looks to be a genuine contender based on recent form.
The seven-year-old by Shocking finished off strongly two back at The Valley for fourth in the JRA Cup, and was again seen doing his best work late for a similar result last in the Herbert Power.
Billy Egan retains the ride, and the pair should be working home well again from the low draw.
Johnny Get Angry
The jury remains out on last year’s surprise Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry.
The son of Tavistock has been disappointing in two runs since resuming, finishing third-last in the Makybe Diva Stakes over the mile and dead last in the Turnbull over 2000m.
Gets out to a more suitable distance now but is tough to recommend based on recent form.
Knights Order
Knights Order has failed to fire in two runs back, finishing four lengths off Nonconformist in the Naturalism and 11 of 16 in the Bart Cummings.
The gelding by So You Think is worth forgiving though after doing plenty of work from a wide gate on both occasions, while the fact he’s won previously third-up is a big positive.
The blinkers go on again and the recent form of the Waterhouse and Bott stable makes him one of the better value bets.
Amade
Amade strips fitter for two disappointing runs in the Naturalism and the Bart Cummings.
He may have found the 2000m too short first-up, while he’s also worth forgiving on his lastest effort from a wide gate.
Looks well-placed to atone and is a previous winner third-up from a spell.
Le Don De Vie
European import Le Don De Vie has revenge in mind after finishing a narrow runner-up in last year’s Geelong Cup to Steel Primce.
The six-year-old has since gone on to win the Warrnambool Cup over 2350m back in May and can now improve on a disappointing run in The Metropolitan last time out.
The Freedman-trained stayer has drawn much more kindly this time around and is a better chance than the current $13 quote suggests.
Dr Drill
Dr Drill was scratched from last week’s Moe Cup and will instead lineup in the Geelong Cup.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are considered one of the top staying stables in the country, but this does look a tough assignment for their seven-year-old based on his performance at Sandown last month.
Dr Drill ran well at Group level previously but can only be considered for a place.
Tralee Rose
Tralee Rose is looking to snap a recent run of placings that includes a third in the Naturalism and a clear runner-up to Grand Promenade in the Bart Cummings.
The Tavistock mare had a huge amount of work to do from the wide draw last time out and now looks very tough to beat after drawing kindly in barrier 4.
Symon Wilde’s five-year-old won a Group 3 at Morphettville over further during the autumn and has enough class and consistency on her side to be the worth short-priced favourite.
The Good Fight
Kiwi import The Good Fight won the Flemington Cup over further back in July and was strong through the line two back at Mornington in a Listed race.
The son of High Chapparal made good ground in the Bart Cummings from the tail of the field and bares close watching with any rain about.
Rostropovich
Rostropovich is yet to win a race in Australia and is tough to entertain based on recent form.
The Irish raider seemed like he may have turned a corner two back when third in the JRA Cup at The Valley but was the last to greet the judge last time out in the Herbert Power.
Weekender
Weekender finished 24 lengths off the winner in the Coleraine Cup and is facing a significant step up in class here.
Bartholomeu Dias
Bartholomeu Dias made a winning return to the races at Flemington back in July and was strong to the line second-up at Caulfield.
He was seen doing his best work late last time out in the Benalla Cup where he finished only half-a-length second to the winner Starcaster.
The Maher and Eustace-trained Bartholomeu Dias is four times placed over this distance and rates as a strong each-way chance with fitness on his side.
Long Arm
Long Arm was twice placed during the autumn at Morphettville in a Group 3 race behind Trallee Rose and the Group 2 Adelaide Cup over 3200m.
He’s struggled to find that same form since returning to work but must be taken seriously with an unblemished 2-0 record over 2400m.
Hasta La War
Hasta La War finished only two lengths third to Delphi in the Herbert Power after winning a Benchmark 76 at Morphettville by a huge margin the start prior.
Herbert Power winner Delphi and second place-getter The Chosen One were disappointing in last week’s Caulfield Cup, but the form out of that race still reads well for Sue Murphy’s gelding.
He’s rock-hard fit for four runs back and is poised for a big run with next to no weight on his back again.