A combination of tartan genes and a Presbyterian upbringing by parents who’d been through the depression has saved me from a temptation to gamble.
But if I was backing a horse in the Melbourne Cup today, I’d be picking one based on nothing more scientific than the colours its jockey wears.
That would have me backing:
Number 1 Hartnell with jockey, Damian Lane in blue.
Number 5 Marmelo ridden by Hugh Bowman in Otago colours, blue and yellow.
Number 2 Almandin ridden by Frankie Dettori and number 7 Johannes Vermeer ridden by Ben Melham, with both jockeys in blue and white.
I’d be tempted to follow the horses
As they race around the courses
If it wasn’t my fate
To pick nags that run late
Always following other horses.
Posted by homepaddock 
Homepaddock 