Star team on song in bid for Cup glory
IF form counts for anything, then Humidor and jockey Blake Shinn make a powerful team for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington tomorrow.
Humidor made a real race of it with mighty mare Winx in the Cox Plate and that is clearly the best lead-up effort of any of the Cup runners.
And Shinn goes to Cup Day after riding four winners at the Cox Plate meeting and producing the stand-out ride on Derby Day to win the Wakeful Stakes on Luvaluva.
In one of the most open Melbourne Cups in years, Humidor is at $8.50 behind easing favourite Almandin ($8) with UBET.
The concern is Humidor might be too brilliant for 3200m, particularly as the gelding does tend to race fiercely.
But Shinn gained an insight into Humidor with his only previous ride on the stayer in the Cox Plate to approach the Melbourne Cup with a growing confidence.
“Humidor has the best formline through Winx and he has to be the horse to beat – if he runs a strong 3200m,’’ Shinn said.
“In the Cox Plate, admittedly it was a hot tempo but he did settle nicely for me out the back of the field.
“The tempo will be slower in the Melbourne Cup but I felt Humidor was pretty easy to work with and I can’t see any reason why he won’t switch off for me again.’’
Humidor has a reputation for sometimes doing things wrong in his races but he seemed to race very truly for Shinn in the Cox Plate.
“He raced very tractably for me, his manners were good and he attacked the gaps,’’ Shinn said.
“For a fleeting moment when we came off Winx’s back on the final turn I thought we were a chance but she went into overdrive.
“Winx is a true champion but full credit to Humidor to make her work for it.’’
Humidor has drawn barrier well and Shinn said he won’t be in a hurry down the straight the first time in tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup.
“I’ll just let him find his feet early,’’ Shinn said. “If he settles into a nice rhythm, then he will be right in the race.’’
Shinn didn’t hesitate when asked to nominate the main danger to Humidor tomorrow.
“It has to be Almandin,’’ Shinn said. “He looks to be peaking for the race and he did win the Cup so well last year.
“Most of the internationals in the field haven’t raced here this spring so it is hard to line them up but in my mind Almandin is the one to beat.’’