the 7 horse by a nose

Today is Australia's biggest horse race, the Melbourne Cup.  

It's dead right that they call it the race that stops a nation as every TV & radio around the country will be tuned in at 3pm to watch as 24 horses thunder around the long 3200m of track to see who takes this year's purse.

My pick?  The 7 horse, Unusual Suspect.  Why?  I like the rider's silks ;).  Black, grey and white, they are, with a great silver star in the centre.  In 25 odd years of betting on the big race, that kind of thinking has helped me pick the winner once.  Yet here I go again. I'm consistent if nothing else!

As luck would have it its the only rider in the entire field whose rider is listed as "none".  But hey, here's for the underdog right?!?!?!

To see lots of green grass, racing odds, and pretty dresses, check out the Melbourne Cup official page here.

place your bets!

Melbourne Cup day today - the race that stops a nation!

This is the one day on the calendar when girls get to dress up in gorgeous frocks, and men in their best suits and we can all pretend we're posh and glamorous everyday. Until about five in the afternoon when the guys a drunk and the girls have lost their hats and everyone stumbles home bare foot and worse for wear ;).

And for the first time in ten years I'm not in Melbourne enjoying the holiday that goes along with it. But still, even from up in the sunshine I can indulge in my once yearly splurge at a bet! So who to tip?

Like any good punter, I believe it's all about the horse's name, right? So on that note I'm tipping MALUCKYDAY with a lovely white and pink number. Toddler Girl (who was born on Melboure Cup day three years ago!) told me she wanted "orange", so she's tipped SHOCKING a horse whose jockey is wearing orange and black silks. Danger Mouse went a little different, choosing her tip by the picture and she's gone with PRECEDENCE.

Between us we've accidentally picked the second favourite, last year's winner and a horse trained by mega-trainger Bart Cummings who's won more Melbourne Cups than any other trainer. I reckon we are gifted. But we'll know for sure come 3:30 this afternoon when the greatest horse race in the world has been won!!!

May the greatest horse win!