Melbourne Cup / Kristen Manning / 12 October 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

It is not often that two of the major prospects for the Melbourne Cup are horses who have already won the world famous two miler, writes Kristen Manning.

But such is the scenario this year - 2007 hero Efficient and last year's victor Viewed both looking major chances to repeat the dose at Flemington on Tuesday November 3.

Missing last year's Cup after a set-back, Efficient is racing in better form than he was when he won the big race from Purple Moon at double figure odds.

His preparation this year is a little different but he again raced in the Turnbull Stakes. In 2007 he finished a well beaten 11th - this time around he swooped home to defeat the high class Predatory Pricer.

At six years of age Efficient is now fully mature and he is a son of the mighty Zabeel whose progeny just keep getting better as they get older. And they love a trip - three of his sons and daughters (Might And Power and Jezabeel the other two) claiming the Melbourne Cup.

Also in better for than the lead up to his last Melbourne Cup victory, Viewed has looked particularly well this time in. He is bigger and stronger and the Cups King Bart Cummings is - as always - in big race form this spring.

Getting back but running on well at each of his three runs so far, Viewed has been competing at weight-for-age, getting used to carrying big weights. Come the day he will be 100% primed.

Master O'Reilly was a cheeky fourth in last year's Cup, not enjoying the best of luck in running. His form this time in has also been excellent and, despite missing a Turnbull run with a cold, he was very good flashing home late in the Yalumba Stakes.

He and the now Singapore based jockey Vlad Duric combined to win the 2007 Caulfield Cup and he is flying back to re-unite with his favourite horse in the big one.

Master O'Reilly's stablemate Vigor has been high in the markets since his Makybe Diva Stakes victory but he has been a little disappointing since. It may be that he is looking for more ground but Cup winners tend to be on a upward plane leading to the race.

One such horse is the exciting Speed Gifted who won the Metropolitan Handicap so very easily. That race is not usually a great guide to the Cup but it is not often that its winner is a horse of such promise.

A UK import who has won three of his four local outings, Speed Gifted has a natural turn of foot and he can stay - just the sort of horse to fit the Melbourne Cup profile. And his trainer Lee Freedman sure knows how to win it.

Luca Cumani meanwhile knows how to go close - preparing the last two runners up Purple Moon and Bauer. There is no doubt he is bursting to win this race and Cima de Triomphe is quite high up in the markets.

A lightly raced five-year-old successful at five of his 14 starts he certainly knows how to get to the line. He is yet to be tried at the 3200m but being a son of Galileo he is bound to get a trip.

Another horse with a Melbourne Cup pedigree is Alcopop - son of 1994 Jeune and grandson of a mare by the 1986 winner At Talaq. The South Australian - who debuted with a Morphettville maiden victory on Melbourne Cup day last year - has been in flying form and just keeps going from strength to strength.

New Zealanders boast a good record in the big race and AJC Oaks winner Daffodil has been shaping well. She flashed home to win at Gr.1 level over 1600m in mid September and followed that up with a very good fourth in the Gr.1 Kelt Stakes. The Cup will be her first attempt at 3200m but she hails from a stayer's family - one of her relatives being the Adelaide Cup winner Water Boatman.

Speaking of breeding - back in 1990 Mr Brooker was a game third in Kingston Rule's Melbourne Cup and he has a relative being set for this year's race and what great form he is in too - Light Vision.

One of Victoria's toughest and most reliable gallopers, Light Vision outstayed his rivals in the Bart Cummings last start and he just loves Flemington.

AJC Derby winners don't boast a great Cup record in recent times but Roman Emperor is a tough who has been close up at each run this preparation. Oh and he is trained by Bart!

Red Ruler also carries AJC Derby form - second two years ago. He has looked very well this spring and has been hard on the heels of the placegetters at weight-for-age level. His preparation has an old fashioned Melbourne Cup feel to it.

A few chances mentioned here and we may not have the winner. But we live in hope. Backing any winner is nice but there is something special about finding the Melbourne Cup champ - not just a collect, but bragging rights for the next 12 months!