Jockey Jim Cassidy riding Dear Demi wins the Crown Oaks last year. Source: Mark Dadswell / News Limited
OWNER John Singleton, critical of the number of international runners in the Melbourne Cup, has declared his mare Dear Demi is the omen tip for punters at Flemington today.
But "Singo" says betting on the Cup has become a raffle because punters can't line up the European form.
"Am I the only person who doesn't get it but why are we allowing all these overseas horses to run in our race?'' Singleton said.
"They call the Melbourne Cup the race that stops a nation for a reason - it is Australia's race but we are letting all these Pommies in to take the prizemoney.
"The betting turnover is going down on the race because it is more like a raffle now. Most of these overseas horses haven't had a run here before and punters don't know who to back.
"Maybe I'm the only one who thinks they should ban the internationals, I suppose it is what it is, c'est la vie, but I don't get it.''
Singleton has been trying to win the Melbourne Cup for 40 years and believes Dear Demi is his best chance.
He is looking at a potential $10 million payday if Dear Demi can defy the international invasion - and believes the stars are aligning for his mare.
"If you believe in omens, then have something on Dear Demi,'' Singleton said.
"I bought Jezabeel after she won the 1998 Melbourne Cup and bred a few from her before selling her a couple of years ago (to Western Australia breeding interests).
"But did you know the year Jezabeel won she was saddlecloth number 22, started from barrier 16, carried 51kg and was ridden by Chris Munce - and that is the same with Dear Demi!"
The Melbourne Cup field includes a record nine northern hemisphere-trained stayers - Dunaden, Red Cadeaux, Brown Panther, Dandino, Mount Athos, Royal Empire, Simenon and Ruscello.
In fact, no fewer than 19 horse in the Cup field began were bred overseas and began their race careers in Europe.
There are five Australian-bred stayers in the race - Dear Demi, Fawkner, Ethiopia, Hawkspur and Super Cool - and first the first time in nearly 100 years there is not one New Zealand-bred galloper in the race.
Singleton has owned two Golden Slipper winners and some outstanding racehorses over the last four decades but the Melbourne Cup has eluded him.
But after the Clarry Conners-trained Dear Demi ran an outstanding third in the Caulfield Cup, Singleton backed his mare with bookies nationwide to win $6 million in the Melbourne Cup. Coupled with the $3.8 million first prizemoney, it is potentially a massive payday for the high-profile owner if his mare wins the famous Flemington two-miler.
"Dear Demi is the best chance I've had in the Melbourne Cup,'' he said.
Demi Rutter (centre), daughter of John Singleton's partner Yvette Hartman, whom mare Dear Demi is named after, takes part in the Melbourne Cup parade. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited
"She had not luck and ran a great race in the Caulfield Cup, she had no luck again in the Mackinnon Stakes and still ran second, so hopefully we get the luck she needs this time.
"Veloso won the (1983) Mackinnon and was favourite for the Cup but drew wide and ran fifth. Zagalia ran fifth in the (2003) Cup and that is the closest I've been to winning it.
"Dear Demi is right in the race against those horses who we know their form - it is the overseas horses which I can't line up.''
Conners said Dear Demi is "holding her form nicely'' and said the Mackinnon Stakes run last Saturday has her fit and ready for the Melbourne Cup.
"The mare is spot on,'' Conners said. "She is racing very consistently and I can't have her any better for this race.
"From that barrier (16) we are probably going to have to go forward.
"I'm getting a heap of advice from about 4000 people who said if we go back, we can't win.
"I'm going to leave it up to Chris and hopefully he can slot in somewhere midfield with cover early and I'll be happy. It is up to the mare after that.''
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