Melbourne Cup Box Draw Favours Hanify’s Impact & Thompson

Jason Thompsons Two Melbourne Cup Chances - Nitro Burst & Hanifys Impact
Jason Thompson's Two Melbourne Cup Chances - Nitro Burst & Hanify's Impact
The box draw for the $250,000 Group 1 2008 Melbourne Cup was held at Saturday night’s Melbourne Cup Ball and has given Jason Thompson his best chance yet to secure his second Melbourne Cup since he teamed with Kevin Richards to win with Light Of Fire back in 1994.

Blessed with a ton of early pace, Hanify’s Impact looks a moral to lead the 2008 Group 1 Melbourne Cup field to the first corner after drawing the coveted rails alley at Saturday’s box draw. Starting from box 2 in last weeks heat, Hanify’s Impact led easily registering a very quick 5.09 first sectional time. That time is almost a length and a half quicker than the next quickest first sectional time of the finalists, registered by Kendale Bale (5.18); and will be good enough to see Hanify’s Impact lead clearly through the first corner.

Thompson who is currently racing under the cloud of El Galo’s positive swab in the Group 1 Topgun, could be looking at holding down first and second at that point in the race after his second Melbourne Cup aspirant, Nitro Burst drew well in box three. With Made To Size drawn in inside him in box two, Nitro Burst should get some room to move as Made To Size ran the second slowest first section of the Melbourne Cup finalists from box 4 in last weeks heats.

Made To Size has been improving at each run at Sandown after running a slashing third in the Group 3 Sandown Shootout at his first look at the track. The Melbourne Cup final will be his third look at Sandown in as many weeks and his natural hard railing strong finish will be hard to hold out as he is very likely to get the ideal rail sit in behind leader Hanify’s Impact, who will be weakening in the run to the line.

Not suprisingly Sportsbet has installed last weeks fastest heat winner Made To Size as $2.75 favourite, with Hanify’s Impact second favourite at $3.75 and Nitro Burst at $4.20.

Melbourne Cup Box Draw Favours Hanify's Impact & Thompson

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