The modern stayer needs a mix of speed and stamina, obviously leaning towards the latter, but a dash of speed somewhere is what's required to win an elite staying race such as the Cup.
It's a great lottery of a race and opinion on what is or is not a good pedigree is very subjective, but for what it's worth here are the horses I like this year.1/ Best Solution (Kodiac x Al Andalyya, by Kingmambo) – Gets his speed from his sire Kodiac, who is a world champion sire of two year-olds, but on his dam's side it's all about staying blood with his mother a slow unplaced daughter of a full sister to Champion 3YO Stayer Brian Boru, who won an English St Leger and was second in an Irish St Leger. The family also features Epsom Derby and Arc winner Workforce.
2/ Thecliffsofmoher (Galileo x Wave, by Dansili) – By the best active sire in the world in Galileo and comes from an outstanding family of European Group I winners with mixed talents, although dam is a three-quarter sister to a dead set stayer in Francis of Assisi. Has a double cross of Sadlers Wells as does the world's best long distance mare Enable.
13/ Finche (Frankel x Binche, by Woodman) – Gets his speed through his sire Frankel, an unbeaten world champion miler and is from an outstanding Juddmonte Farm family being a half-brother to Group I winners up to 2000m in Proviso and Byword. 4 x 3 double cross of Epsom Derby winner Rainbow Quest might give him the staying edge.
17/ A Prince of Arran (Shirocco x Storimg Sioux, by Storming Home) – Gets his stamina from his sire Shirocco, a son of champion German sire Monsun, sire of three of the past five Melbourne Cup winners. Dam brings in a little speed as her dam was a stakes-winning two year-old and produced 2000m Group I winner Best of the Bests.
22/ Youngstar (High Chaparral x Starspangled, by Danehill) – By outstanding staying sire who had the Cup winner Rekindling last year. Gets some speed from dam sire Danehill and more staying blood from grand-dam User Friendly , a five time Group I winner of Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and St Leger!
