Returning to racing in exceptionally competitive form this time in, Junoob is surprisingly yet to receive much more than a sprinkling of wagers for success in 2014 Melbourne Cup betting markets and has drifted out to odds of $26 over the last 24 hours.
Junoob will be partnered by Hugh Bowman in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Steve Hart
Securing a commendable total of 11 race wins and a further eight minor places from 32 starts so far, Junoob began his racing career under the guidance of leading British trainer John Dunlop before passing through the stables of Tom Dascombe on his way to the care of Chris Waller at the conclusion of his 2012 campaign.
Having charged home to second a maiden victory at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) on October 4th before placing a credible seventh in the featured Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last time out, confirmed jockey Hugh Bowman is confident the Haafhd gelding is more than a chance of figuring in contention at in this afternoon’s Melbourne Cup.
“He’s a top five or six chance,” Bowman told Racing Victoria.
“His run in the Caulfield Cup was very good. If that form stands up and he can run the two miles, I think he could sneak into the placings and then I’ll be over the moon.”
Finding exceptional form under the guidance of Dascombe through early 2012, Junoob won the Conditions Stakes (2414m) in January and continued to build towards a comfortable win over classy company in the Listed Winter Derby Trial Stakes (2011m) and credible third in the Doncaster Shield (2414m).
A strong and consistent performer for Waller over the 2014 Autumn Carnival, Junoob won the Might And Power Handicap (1900m) by four lengths on February 15th and ran a close third to Opinion in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) before returning to the winner’s circle in both the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) and Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) most notably.
Returning to the paddock after finishing a credible third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), the gelding out of Faydah beat just one runner home in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) first-up this time, but quickly found form in finishing sixth in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and winning the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) in the lead-up to his triumph in The Metropolitan.
Allocated the ideal barrier 7, Junoob opened at a quote of $21 in Melbourne Cup betting markets on Saturday evening, but remains yet to experience much attention for success.
