RACING: The night before Vintage Crop's unique Melbourne Cup triumph nine years ago, Flemington racecourse was the centre of a deluge. What Dermot Weld wouldn't give now for something similar.
The race that stops a nation will be run in the early hours of tomorrow morning and there is no sign of the fast ground becoming any more to Vinnie Roe's liking.
"Apparently it's the driest spring for 20 years here. They've even started water restrictions today," Weld said yesterday.
In fact the ground, and Vinnie Roe's less than perfect trip from Ireland, has resulted in Weld's other runner, Media Puzzle, being cut from 25 to 1 to 9 to 2 favourite with some firms in the last few days.
Media Puzzle would be an emotional result for the top Australian jockey Damian Oliver whose brother was killed in a fall last week.
Both Irish horses have collected good inside draws in the 24 strong field but although Vinnie Roe's task in defying top-weight and emulating Vintage Crop is immense, Weld is not without hope.
"He is about three kilo's lighter than I would like but in the last two days, he has brightened up a bit and seems a lot sharper in himself.
"In fact it is a very similar situation to Vintage Crop. He didn't really acclimatise either, but Vinnie Roe has a bit of a spring in his step again.
"Mind you, with the weight he has, he will have to be better than Vintage Crop was. It's a very tough task for him and I would love to see a drop of rain. But he still has a very good chance," Weld said.
Significantly, the Curragh trainer questioned what Media Puzzle beat in the Geelong Cup just 11 days ago but left no one in doubt as to which horse he would bet on if he was just an idle observer.
Daliapour was a 40 to 1 shot yesterday morning but Vintage Crop's jockey, Michael Kinane, is expected to arrive today and the 1999 Derby runner-up appears to be fancied.
"The horse I like is Daliapour. I think he is very well handicapped and he is thriving here. He has settled in really well," Weld said.
Daliapour is a first Cup runner for the cricket loving trainer Michael Stoute who admitted: "I think he is better value than the England cricket team!"
He added: "It's a generous price for a horse of his class. Maybe he is not as good as he once was but he will be very competitive."
Godolphin are triple-handed with Frankie Dettori on the ex-John Oxx-trained Pugin. He is 12lb better for the length and a half Vinnie Roe beat him in the Irish St Leger but like his stable-mates, he is drawn wide. "They are all very well. Frankie is happy with Pugin, said the Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.
The other British-trained runner, Jardines Lookout, has almost been eclipsed in the local coverage by his constant companion, the eight hands high pony, Henry. Nevertheless, his trainer, Alan Jarvis, is hopeful and has booked the leading local rider, Paddy Payne. Last year was the closest European horses have come to following up Vintage Crop's 1993 success when filling the second and third placings.
Almost every year, the visiting riders come in for a slating from the Australian press but Weld is unconcerned for Pat Smullen who is having a first Melbourne Cup ride on Vinnie Roe. "He rides against Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh every day at home and you don't get better than that," he said.
