MY CALL: FINCHE HAS CUP WINNING CREDENTIALS

By David Fowler | Monday, November 4, 2019

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

The last Melbourne Cup winner I selected was Fiorente in 2013.

I mention this not to highlight that I haven’t been able to land on the Cup winner for five years straight but this year’s selection bears a remarkably similar profile to Fiorente.

And that selection is Finche.

Fiorente arrived out of the Michael Stoute stable in 2012 as a promising lightly-raced import. Gai Waterhouse aimed ambitiously for the 2012 Melbourne Cup and nearly pulled it off running second to Green Moon at his tenth race start.

History shows that a year later a better acclimatised and more mature Fiorente captured the 2013 Cup, courtesy of a masterclass ride by Damian Oliver.

Now to Finche.

Andre Fabre passed the training baton to Chris Waller and the “promising lightly-raced import” ran fourth in last year’s Cup at “his tenth race start”.

Sound similar.

And, again, along the Fiorente lines, Finche has performed admirably in the lead-up to tomorrow’s big dance.

After a Chelmsford fifth and a Kingston Town Stakes win at Royal Randwick, Finche headed south, narrowly beaten in the Turnbull before a brave Caulfield Cup fifth.

Many will list a tally of Caulfield Cup runners who may have been unlucky but I would assess Finche’s fifth as one of the best runs in the race, compelled to race wide off a bad barrier, yet was only beaten just over a length in a solidly-run affair.

His roll forward racing pattern and low draw (four) should ensure a good trip in transit.

The $10 current fixed price seems realistic on a both totes basis.

Constantinople is the hardest to beat.

And, like Finche, there is historical data to enhance the claims of Constantinople.

Constantinople is a lightly-raced four-year-old import, providing a similar profile to Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Cross Counter (2018).

More significantly, while they were sight unseen in Australia, Constantinople gave us a sneak preview that he is the real deal with his Caulfield Cup second.

And, again, like Finche, the draw has been kind (seven).

Vow And Declare is the best hope of the “true blue locals” who gave an indication of his ability winning the 3000m Tatts Cup at Eagle Farm in June.

His spring assignments so far clearly demonstrate he has taken that important step forward with good runs in the Turnbull and Caulfield Cup.

For those playing wider in multiples, Cross Counter, Mer De Glace, Southern France, Prince Of Arran and Il Paradiso should be included.

Good luck. Tomorrow I will provide my analysis of the Eagle Farm meeting.

David Fowler