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Get your Melbourne Cup kitGator's Game Plan: Gately's best bets & Melbourne Cup preview (04/11)
David Gately • November 3rd, 2025 3:03 pm
David Gately has provided his best bets for Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
See Gator's Game Plan below:
BET OF THE DAY
FLEMINGTON - Race 9 No.15 - SURFIN’ BIRD - Just an outstanding win latest off wide run and raced away running exceptional time (+16L) doing it. Won 2 of 3 wet too.
VALUE OF THE DAY
FLEMINGTON - Race 8 No.3 - GRAND PRAIRIE - Mile back Vs bias latest and made up very good ground. 2nd-Autumn Boy then won G1 Guineas. He loves wet ground. Draws out but that may be a plus by now? Good value here $10.
Group 1 analysis
Race 7 - G1 MELBOURNE CUP - 3200m
2 - BUCKAROO - Was 1400-to-1800m and took off early when seriously tested Sir Delius before Caul Stks OK effort in odd race. Had back of mighty Via Sistina in Cox Plate and just missed. Back/ Wide and tried 800m run in last year's Melb Cup Vs savage track bias and peaked late (shock horror). Yes wet!
6 - PRESAGE NOCTURNE - Had task in G2 Kergolay off walking tempo then grabbed back of Half Yours and strong home in Caul Cup when 7-weeks off and back in trip. Rises to 3200m with 2.5kg swing on him, and relished wet ground.
14 - HALF YOURS - Perfect Caul Cup trial in Turnbull taking ground off Via Sistina then had good run Caul Cup but won well. No reason to doubt him 3200m and as for wet track. I remember labelling him potentially ‘best wet tracker in the country’ last Winter! Perfect draw.
24 - VALIANT KING - Excellent win here 2nd-up when 1500m-to-2500m with blinkers added thrashing Geelong Cup winner Torranzino then as good as any run in Caul Cup when little luck vital stage. With 51kg here… He can win!!
1 - AL RIFFA - World class horse here off fabulous G1 St Leger win on Soft by 4L with 61.5kg. Not easy 59kg drawn awkwardly but winning hope.
17 - FURTHUR - Northern Hemisphere 3yo (good recent recipe) and won G3 Geoff Freer very well two-back. Made ground in G1 latest with big weight. Plummets to 52kg. Just not 100% sure how wet he wants it is all….???
8 - MEYDAAN - Covered a stack of ground and never looked happy around Caulfield but his last 100m was very good on the clock Vs the day. Gets significant rider change to J-mac and yes 3200m on bigger track. Not sure how wet he wants it either.
21 - RIVER OF STARS - Made Half Yours dig to beat her in Caul Cup and she was closer to that strong speed. Gets weight swing. Likes wet and she must have a case.
9 - ABSURDE - Ran very well in Caul Cup himself without much going right. Ran very well this race last year. Now 8yo but yep… He has a case for sure.
16 - ONESMOOTHOPERATOR - Won MV Cup very well and well liked this race last year off similarly terrific Oz fresh win but this rain about is the issue… Had to shuffle him down given forecast.
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