The Melbourne Cup used to be front and center on Victoria Derby day. The late Bart Cummings raced 11 of his 12 Melbourne Cup winners at Flemington three days previously and that formula seemed to work quite well for him from 1965 to 2008.

But times and methods change and it follows that the scheduling of races also evolves. In Bart’s era, horses competed in the Mackinnon Stakes (2,000m), the Dalgety (now Archer) Handicap (2,500m) and, sometimes, the Victoria Derby (2,500m) on the Saturday before their Tuesday task .

The Mackinnon is now back to the final day (Champion Stakes) and the Archer has been moved this year to October. The terms of the Victoria Derby have also changed in recent times, with the winner no longer able to be paid due to late entry into the Melbourne Cup.

Therefore, the route from Saturday to Tuesday is closed. Or maybe not.

Bart’s grandson, James, attempts what these days might seem a bold tactic, adopting, as much as he can, the King of Cups’ theories on the short save.

After all, her protégé Zardozi, although a Group 1 winner and a very talented mare, weighs 51kg in Cup from a maximum weight of 55.5kg and is therefore very close to some established older internationals.

The conventional route to the Cup could see her finish top five, or even top three with luck. But by adopting a tactic that, at one time, was considered almost obligatory, she becomes a bit of a wild card. Is this the advantage sought by the locals?

Left with no other choice on Saturday, Zardozi ran in the only Group 1 mare’s Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), which was always going to prove tricky as she was returning from an unclassified Caulfield Cup race on 2400 meters.

At the finish she found the line with a $19 chance and was hot on the heels of the placegetters, recording the fastest final 200 meter pass of the race when beaten 2.5 lengths by a Very impressive pair of Atishu and Amelia’s Jewel. Bart would have liked what we all saw.

That James Cummings would use a theory from his grandfather’s textbook is hardly surprising since his first venture as a racehorse trainer began alongside his grandfather in a horse racing partnership. training until Bart’s death in August 2015,

Saintly, who came through Cox Plate in 1996, is the only one of Bart’s dozen not to have raced the Saturday before the Cup.

Former Mackinnon Stakes were in contention for Bart: Light Fingers (1965), Galilee (1966), Red Handed (1967), Think Big (1975), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Let’s Elope (1991) , Rogan Josh (1999) and Seen in 2008.

He raced both Think Big (1974) and Kingston Rule (1990) in the race now known as the Archer Stakes.

MARHABA WINS A RIGHT TO DRAW THRILLER

Maharba showed his tenacity in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes at Flemington, challenging Rey Magnerio in a thrilling battle down the straight.

Trained by Grahame Begg, the son of Pride Of Dubai was a strong third behind Coolmore’s contender Bellatrix Star but was still relatively undesirable on the market, jumping a $19 chance on Saturday.

Rey Magnerio ($4.80) broke in and looked to the outside, but Maharba was just as well, and both men broke free to fight for the race.

Maharba still looked like he had the lead, but Rey Magnerio made it very interesting with a big dive off the line.

But he ultimately came up short, as the Begg galloper took his third Stakes honor and first at Group level, with Charm Stone fighting hard for a third place finish.

Begg was delighted with the effort and believes there is still improvement to come from the Maharba this campaign.

“We thought it was a race that would suit him very well, in the conditions of the race,” he said.

“He came out and ran third, first in a 2 weight/age group, and he wasn’t really ready that day, he had a lot of improvement coming, but we think he’s very, very progressed well.”

“This increased his handicap, so he had 57 (kilos). I thought, “Well, he’s at his best, but look, he’s trained beautifully since then and he still has a bit of improvement to come.”

“His coat is not quite 100% perfect yet, and it was fitted very well by Jordan. He took the right option, took the track and was very strong late.

A THOUSAND GUINEAS FOR ZEITUNG?

Zeitung kicked off Godolphin’s Spring Carnival festivities in style, scoring an impressive victory in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes over 1 furlongs.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, the Exceed And Excel filly ran like the ultimate professional, squeezed between the horses, but traveling very nicely throughout.

Matisse ($7.50) took the lead from Lovelycut ($8) and looked the likely winner, but Zahra took off Matisse’s back and her mount came down brilliantly when asked.

Zeitung took the lead just at the 100-metre mark and proved too strong late, overhauling Matisse to record his first Stakes victory and press his Thousand Guineas claims.

“It’s a great start to Melbourne Cup week for our team,” coach James Cummings said.

“We kept her from going up to seven furlongs for quite a while and we stepped up last time, she had the draw wide and she settled wide throughout, but she was very much in play there .

“We met the winner (last start, Too Darn Lizzie) two and a half kilos better today, so Mark Zahra took over, he is one of the leading jockeys in Melbourne and he did a lovely job .

“There’s a lot to be said for giving her an opportunity and testing her (in the Thousand Guineas)… if there’s one thing about her, she’s pretty resolute.

“If we decided to go because she’s doing well, then I think she could do very well.”

BROWN ATTRITION WINNER

Ethan Brown will board Attrition in the $2 million Five Diamonds, which takes place next Saturday at Rosehill.

Regular rider Beau Mertens, who won both the 2023 Toorak Handicap and this year’s $2 million Hill Stakes on the Mitch Freedman-trained galloper, has been suspended after breaching whip rules at Bendigo yesterday.

The suspension runs from Melbourne Cup Day until November 13, forcing Freedman to make a change, although he has a suitable replacement in Brown, who recently batted at 12 per cent.

THE ISTHMUS BOUNCES BACK

Sam Freedman credited the efforts of his support team who rehabilitated easy Furphy Sprint winner Isthmus after her last start fourth at Caulfield where she was flattened in the closing stages.

“She lost a decent hip and shoulder last start and kind of knocked her confidence a little bit, but the farriers did a great job,” Freedman said.

“It took her a few days to recover and she bounced back in great shape.

“Our farrier has gone a bit under the radar. She hasn’t been the easiest to deal with with her feet and he’s done a fantastic job and our vet, Tom Brennan, so a big team effort. Paula, who “take care of her, she’s quite emotional and takes care of herself very well.”

The superbly bred Isthmus, out of three-time Group 1 winner I Am Invincible and Shoals, took his first Stakes victory.

Freedman said Isthmus would have the opportunity to follow in her mother’s footsteps and would be ready for the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide in May.

THE KING RIDES IN THE BREEDER CUP

Sydney-based jockey Rachel King didn’t enjoy the fun of the green during her visit to America for the Breeders’ Cup this weekend.

King made the trip to Del Mar Racecourse in San Diego to partner Japanese galloper Satono Carnaval in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over 1600m.

The Noriyuki Hori-trained colt fell behind over the fence to King, but was under pressure heading into the home turn and only managed to beat a few home rivals.

King will be back in Australia in time to ride at Flemington on Tuesday, where she will partner South Australian mare The Map in the Melbourne Cup.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was won by Henri Matisse, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien.

WATCH: Rachel King’s Walk in America

Henri Matisse wins the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore!#Breeders Cup | #BC24 | @netkeiba | @BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/xW9zwOK6We

– Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 2, 2024

DURIC CELEBRATES THE FIRST WINNER

Young apprentice Sage Duric celebrated a career-defining moment in Traralgon on Saturday, guiding the Witch King to his first victor in the card’s final event.

From the outside barrier, Duric took the lead for the Shawn Mathrick-trained gelding, who went on to win by a half-length over Fort William in second.

The daughter of Caulfield Cup-winning jockey Vlad, Duric’s breakthrough success came in her fifth race and third meet as an apprentice.

WATCH: Sage Duric’s first winner