Hume Cup: Armchair Guide

[Wandering Eyes]

Gypsy Wyong (Box 1) will be chasing her second feature distance event at The Meadows at Monday night’s always hugely anticipated Melbourne Cup Eve meeting when she starts a warm favourite in the $108,000 Group 1 TAB Hume Cup final (600m).

Trained by Andrea Dailly, Gypsy Wyong is TAB’s $2.70 favourite, ahead of Bounce Back (Box 7), trained by the high-flying David Geall, at $4.40, and Jeff Britton’s Mepunga Warrior (Box 6) at $4.80.

Gypsy Wyong completed a ‘bookend’ Hume Cup heat double for ‘Team Dailly’ in the last of the six heats held last Saturday night, with her litter sister Gypsy Urana (Box 4) winning the opening qualifier.

Click HERE  for the latest TAB odds

Gypsy Wyong boasts an excellent 600m record at The Meadows, winning four of her five starts, and she dropped back in trip for the $75,000 to-the-winner Hume Cup heats after an impressive staying campaign that saw her win the G3 Top Cat Video Cup (725m), also at The Meadows.

“She put in a couple of flat runs after winning the (Top Cat Video) Cup and I put that down to the bug that was going around here,” explained co-trainer George Dailly.

“We gave her a bit of a break and she trialled like a genius before the Hume Cup heats, so we knew she was back to normal. She’ll be suited by drawing Box 1 in the final too.”

KEY TIMES
6.46pm First race
8.32pm G3 RSN Silver Bullet (Race 6)
9.15pm G1 TAB Hume Cup (Race 8)
10.37pm Last race (Race 12)

***The box draws for Saturday night’s TAB Topgun and Topgun Stayers will also take place on Monday night***

The fastest Hume Cup heat performance came from the unheralded Mr. Speaker (Box 2) READ, trained by Josh Formosa, which claimed his first win since July 1, when storming home in 34.32sec, but whether he can repeat the dose in much stronger company remains to be seen, with TAB marking him at $9.50.

The other runners in single figures in TAB betting are Bounce Back, Mepunga Warrior and Bobby The Brute (Box 8), which is an $8 chance for Brendan Pursell.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
– Watch every race live and free on The Watchdog app and Sky Racing.
– Behind the scenes Twitter coverage with ‘@TheMeadowsDogs‘ and ‘@WatchDogRacing’.
– Regular updates with Trent Langskaill on RSN Racing and Sport (927 AM).

All are multiple Group finalists that are sure to be highly competitive if able to navigate paths across from the outside three alleys.

Up-and-coming middle distance talent Mirror Illusion (Box 3) was only run down in the final strides in her heat by Gypsy Urana in smart time and at $11 she could well lead again and give young trainer Kate Gorman a massive thrill with her first G1 finalist.

The TAB Hume Cup will be supported on the night by the coveted Group 3 RSN Silver Bullet (525m), which is a Best 8 event carrying first prize money of $25,000.

Here’s a rundown of the contenders:

Group 1 Hume Cup final (600m), Monday 9.15pm

1 GYPSY WYONG
Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Anakie) | Breeding: July 2019 Westmead Hawk x Dyna Gypsy
Comment: Won 13 from 23. Course specialist, winning 4 from 5, with the only defeat coming in G3 Speed Star match race against fellow finalist Mepunga Warrior. Resumed from short let-up in heat after successful staying campaign where she won the G3 Top Cat Video Cup here over 725m. Excels from inside draws and a deserved favourite. (PB – 34.33sec)

2 MR. SPEAKER
Trainer: Josh Formosa (Anakie) | Breeding: February 2019 Black Magic Opal x Belt Up Tubsy
Comment: Won 7 from 30. Rattled home at double figure odds to set the pace in the heats, clocking 34.32sec, coming from well back in first win since July. Showed he has the talent last week but meeting more depth now and likely to need luck to repeat the dose. (PB – 34.27sec)

3 MIRROR ILLUSION
Trainer: Kate Gorman (Tanjil South) | Breeding: August 2019 Orson Allen x Glass Roof
Comment: Won 8 from 20. Promising middle distance prospect that made the running from rails draw in heat and kept going strongly, only run down in the closing stages. Open to further improvement and capable of leading again and giving them something to chase. (PB – 34.46sec)

4 GYPSY URANA
Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Anakie) | Breeding: July 2019 Westmead Hawk x Dyna Gypsy
Comment: Won 5 from 23. Litter and kennel mate to favourite Gypsy Wyong. Continued consistent recent form with strong finishing 34.39sec heat win, the second quickest qualifying effort and third win from four starts over Cup course. Awkward draw and plenty of speed on her outside could be a concern. (PB – 34.39sec)

5 KNICKS BALE
Trainer: Samantha Grenfell (Anakie) | Breeding: December 2018 Kinda Cruel Red x Dyna Willow
Comment: Won 13 from 69. Multiple Group ‘700’ finalist, led from inside draw in heat when edged out late by fastest qualifier Mr. Speaker. Rarely far away but place claims look best. (PB – 34.34sec)

6 MEPUNGA WARRIOR
Trainer: Jeff Britton (Anakie) | Breeding: March 2019 Fernando Bale x Mepunga Rosie
Comment: Won 13 from 45. Class performer and multiple Group race finalist, running second in G3 Speed Star match race series over this course in August. Started odds-on favourite in heat, when raced handy from inside draw and finished best in dominant display. Rarely far away and one of the key players. (PB – 34.25sec)

7 BOUNCE BACK
Trainer: David Geall (Lara) | Breeding: June 2018 Kinloch Brae x Ring In
Comment: Won 15 from 63. Finalist in middle distance G2 McKenna Memorial and G3 Speed Star, both at Sandown Park. Racing with great confidence and claimed third win from past four starts with dominant all-the-way heat win, bouncing to the front and giving nothing else a chance. Strong claims to continue kennel’s sensational run. (PB – 34.28sec)

8 BOBBY THE BRUTE
Trainer: Brendan Pursell (Lara) | Breeding: January 2018 KC And All x She’s Scandalous
Comment: Won 16 from 53. Proven G1 performer, running third in Sale Cup. Was sidelined for first half of 2021 but has been ultra-consistent since resuming in July. Another with excellent track and distance credentials, winning three from four. Railed strongly from midfield in heat victory and where he positions from outside draw likely to determine his chances. (PB – 34.20sec)

Reserves

9 UNTAPPED
Trainer: Dustin Drew (Anakie) | Breeding: April 2019 Aston Dee Bee x Mepunga Fame
Comment: Won 9 from 30. Talented type that wasn’t far away when second in Bounce Back’s heat. Yet to win in four starts here over 600m but worth each-way consideration if a starter. (PB – 34.51sec)

10 GRACLYN BALE
Trainer: Mark Delbridge (Balliang) | Breeding: March 2019 Allen Deed x Houston Bale
Comment: Won 12 from 55. Extremely consistent and close up when runner-up in Bobby The Brute’s heat. Also worth thought if secures a run. (PB – 34.43sec)

RELATED
GORMAN TO CRACK GROUP 1 MIRROR
HUME CUP HEATS WRAP

HEAT WINNERS (fastest to slowest)
34.315sec Mr. Speaker   Watch
34.389sec Gypsy Urana   Watch
34.461sec Bounce Back   Watch
34.534sec Gypsy Wyong   Watch
34.547sec Mepunga Warrior   Watch
34.609sec Bobby The Brute   Watch

RECENT HUME CUP WINNERS

2011 Shintaro Samurai (Rod Clark, Toolleen VIC)
2012 Jethro (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
2013 Alpe D’Huez (Kelly Bravo, Lovely Banks VIC)
2014 My Bro Fabio (Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC)
2015 Secret Spell (Kelly Bravo, Lovely Banks VIC)
2016 Fanta Bale (Robert Britton, Lara VIC)
2017 Rockoon (Keith Hellmuth, Pearcedale VIC)
2018 Black Impala (Glenn Dainton, Cosgrove VIC)
2019 True Detective (Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC)
2020 Last Hurrah (Brett Nye, Little River VIC)

The TAB Hume Cup is the second leg of the Metro Festival of Racing. READ MORE

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