Rich

13 in row.
2nd in the nationals, running past Aston Dee Bee like it was standing still.
Not good enough for the Meadows eh?

Quite clearly not.

i guess the question is , do we really need them ? when that amount of money is on offer surely it should be open to all ?

As everything stands now!! Obviously the winner of the Adelaide cup will be considered

Bewildering
Aston Dee Bee
Thirty Talks
Ando's Mac
Zara's Entity

My theory went on G1 winners this year!! With the exception of bewildering and an oversight on Aston bee bee

Mepunga Blazer- winner G1 maturity winner
Aston dee bee- I actually thought it won a G1 earlier in the year but was wrong has been in a few finals (Could make a claim for black mumbo)
Bewildering- 0 G1 wins multiple finals I think deserves to be in it!
Striker light- 6 G1 finals 2 wins this years GRV sprinter of the year
Lightning Frank - 4 G1 finals 2 wins was nominated for GRV sprinter of the year
Jury- G1 national sprint
Mister twister- 1 G1 win
Aqua cheetah- 1 G1 win

Only my opinion! Very tough to pick it and no doubt everyone will see it slightly different whatever happens it should be a good race!

Well Aston is in for sure. Bewildering is a wall up. Ando's mac went a long way to getting a start with his win on Thursday night, personally I would like to see Zara's and thirty get runs. Just think they are exceptional. And now add raw ability. Only two sports and you have my 8.

But the last two I have no idea. Stryker and jury maybe. Hard to leave the national winner out.

Striker Light- Sprinter of the year, two group 1's, 10 group finals, great win last week in a heat of the Adelaide Cup. Should be the first one picked if you are going by its past 12 months of racing. 5 starts at the track for 1 win Best time at track- (29:91). $443K in prizemoney #2 in AGRA rankings

Bewildering- Has been a star this year without winning a group 1. Has only won once at the meadows over the trip but is a winner of two group races and the feature Speedstar- -has to be one of the first picked. Best time at track- (29:82) #14 AGRA rankings

Ando's Mac- Confirmed it's place on Thursday night in a heat of the Melbourne Cup prelude in a super 29:29. 9 time group race finalist, 3 group wins, 2 group 1's, Melbourne Cup winner. 8 starts at track for 2 wins- Best time at track- (29:92) #11 AGRA rankings

Lightning Frank- Has won two group 1's (both at the track), 5 Group finals, recently returned from injury, 10 starts at the track for 6 wins. Track specialist, best time here is mind blowing- should go straight in. Best time at track- (29:53) $305K prizemoney #4 AGRA rankings

Aqua Cheetah- Recent group 1 winner at Dapto, 2 time group 1 winner, 7 group finals, 10 starts at the track for 1 win- Best time at track- (29:69). $302K in prizemoney #7 Agra rankings

Mister Twister- 3 time group finalist and winner of a group 1. Has never been to Melbourne but has amassed $321K in prizemoney in Sydney and should get a start #8 AGRA rankings

Aston Dee Bee-
Wins often and always very competitive but another one who is yet to win a group race. Just gets a start because of the sheer volume of group finals it has made. It has an amazing win rate and I don't think a group win is far away but it doesn't yet have the group resume of some of the other starters. 6 starts for 2 wins at the track Best time at track- (29:74) #37 AGRA rankings

Raw Ability- Adelaide Cup winners usually go straight in. Two time group finalist only but group 1's are the hardest to win and may have been lucky enough to book its spot last night. Only 2 starts at the track for 2 wins- Best time at track- (29:99) $127K prizemoney #142 AGRA rankings

Emergencies-
Jury- A bit stiff if you have won the national but you miss a spot but only made two group finals in a short career. Is yet to see Melbourne, $127k in prizemoney #19 AGRA rankings

Zara's Entity- Flying machine with a heap of upside. Left it out because it doesn't yet have the runs on the board at group level. Winner of a group 3 but unplaced in only group 1 start. A lot more upside than most nominated but still too early and inexperienced to warrant a start IMO #73 AGRA rankings

Mepunga Blazer is out injured Jamie, who would you have in place of him? What was your theory for leaving out Bewildering and Aston Dee Bee? Was it just that they haven't won a group 1?