It was a big day of races at Randwick over the weekend, with plenty of surprising finishes. Though, one of the most shocking was the top performance from veteran runner C’est La Guerre. The six-year-old Robert Hickmott-trained gelding put on a top performance in the Group 3 Craven Plate to beat out the two race favourites and take the win.
C’est La Guerre is now listed at $26.00 odds to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
This marks the first victory for the son of Shinko King since taking the New Zealand Derby title two years ago. Now, on the heels of the big win, owner Lloyd Williams is thinking about sending the bay gelding to the 150th running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup. Many racing enthusiasts may remember that C’est La Guerre is no stranger to the $6 million event as he placed third to Viewed in 2008.
While his chances of a 2010 Cup bid were low due to his 10 consecutive losses since the Melbourne Cup placing, his most recent first place finish has put the horse back in contention for the race that stops the nation. C’est La Guerre is now listed at $26.00 odds to win the November 2 event. He is the seventh favourite to win along with Saeed Bin Suroor’s Holberg and Chris Waller’s Metal Bender.
Williams has spared no expense in getting a win in this year’s Melbourne Cup as he has imported a slew of top overseas contenders. This included Alandi, who was recently returned to Ireland after two disappointing runs on the Australian spring circuit. Nevertheless, Williams’ Cup hopes have been renewed after the stunning performance from C’est La Guerre. The surprising finish was just the start of a weekend filled with good news for the famed owner as another of his veteran runners, Zipping, took a stunning first place finish over a talent-packed field in the 2010 Turnbull Stakes.
