Angelo De Francesco Memorial Handicap - Race Report
Welcome to the running of the Angelo De Francesco Memorial Handicap, held at Glenarou on Melbourne Cup day 2023. Nothing like the promise of some decent prize money to draw a few riders out of the woodwork on a public holiday. A field of 62 gathered in warm conditions aided by a gusty northerly breeze. 7:30 bunch caught by Chop In the mounting yard Bruce and Faye are busy dispening the numbers and transponders. Meanwhile the jockeys, I mean riders are lathering up with sunscreen for what's sure to be a cracker of a race in sunny conditions. At 9:30am, the starter has the first riders in his control and the limit group is away with Simon Bol and Tommy Gray getting a 48min headstart on scratch. On paper, this is a very open race. The 22, 12 and 7:30 (3rd scratch) groups all have riders capable of upsetting scratch and staying away. The undulating course with a few steep pinches, could be just enough to upset the the heavy weights of the regular Sunday crit circuit. Meanwhile