By JONATHON HOWARD
PUNTERS are backing Japanese stayer Bande as a possible front runner for the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup in November, as the 18-carat gold Melbourne Cup visits Noosa for a full day of activities tomorrow, Friday 3 October.
Other hot favourites include The Offer and Admire Rakti, which are set to pay around $12 or as high as $14 for a win.
But before the nation stops for one of the world’s greatest horseraces, Noosa residents will have the chance to experience first-hand the magic and history of the cup when it stops by the Sunshine Beach Surf Club at 5.15pm.
Cindy LeBrun from the host organisation, Integrated Animal Health, said Noosa was proud and excited to be one of the 34 official destinations selected by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) to host the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.
“We are delighted the cup is coming to Noosa because it gives our community a unique opportunity to view arguably the most famous trophy in Australian sport and discover the remarkable moments of ‘the race that stops a nation’,” Ms LeBrun said.
VRC acting chief executive Julian Sullivan said the VRC encouraged Australian and New Zealand communities to share in the heart-warming stories from the race’s 153-year history.
“Each year it is a pleasure to see the trophy uplift communities and re-ignite the love for our great race,” he said.
The cup will return to Melbourne on Monday 27 October for a week of Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrations ahead of the 154th Emirates Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.
Bande posted his most dominant win with a five-length win in the Sapporo Nikkei Open (2600m) last month.
