Grahame Begg and Lunar Flare’s owners will get another crack at the Melbourne Cup in 2023, after their star mare took out the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes by 5.5 lengths, putting a space on the placegetters White Marlin and Hasta La War.
The race favourite and online betting sites favourite for the 2023 Melbourne Cup pre-race, White Marlin, took up the lead as it likes to do, however, the five-year-old gelding went too hard out in front just like he did last start, when he was beaten at Cranbourne.
One runner that loved White Marlin overdoing it, was the eventual winner Lunar Flare, and Michael Dee let his talented mare go around the field and at the top of the home straight she looked to be the winner a long way from home.
Dee pushed the button and let her go, and once he did, the daughter of Fiorente let down with a blistering turn of foot to storm away from her rivals and book her ticket in the race that stops the nation once again for the second straight year.
2023 Andrew Ramsden Stakes Replay – Lunar Flare
Grahame Begg was emotional when speaking about his star mare post-race.
“We put that behind us, we worry about today and forget about that because I might say something that I might regret,” Begg said about having to scratch Lunar Flare from last year’s Melbourne Cup.
“Very grateful the owners let us put her away and get her ready for this race, and back my judgement to not run her again after the Easter Cup, because that race was run very hard, and it took a lot out of her.
“She’s just gotten better as she gets older. Absolutely outstanding.
“I knew he (White Marlin) couldn’t keep going at that rate for the whole race… you can’t be breaking 12 second sectionals mid-race over 2800m.
“She was only getting stronger and stronger on the line.”
Michael Dee brought up a race-to-race double after riding Itsourtime in the previous race, and he spoke post-race about the win on Lunar Flare.
“She travelled nice, and she relaxed well enough, as she is a mare that can grab the bridle a little bit and get a little bit strong,” Dee said.
“The way she let down, that was the best I have ever felt on her.
“The way she has come back this prep and the how she is relaxing, and her turn of foot just shows that 3200m won’t be a problem for her.
“It wasn’t our year last year, so maybe this year can be our year.”
Lunar Flare is now the outright Melbourne Cup favourite at $7 with online bookmakers in the futures market.
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