As I said in an earlier note, those of you who have read my books and followed my systems will remember reading about my really wacky Century System. Because, as is often said "History repeats itself" in 1987 I began to look for an association or connection with the horse that won the Cup 100 years ago and a horse in the current Cup. (I know it's wacky...but it has worked for me quite a few times! The trick is making the right connection).
Mark Collins, the Editor of the Corryong Courier in VICTORIA, recently wrote to me saying "Hi Max, Funnily enough I was only reading your last Mug's Guide yesterday and found out Acrasia was the 1904 winner. And acrasia means excess or intemperance, although Socrates referred to it in a criticism of incontinence! It also relates to a petroleum company / gas field. What's your 'connection' for this year's Cup, Max?"
Well, let me share my thought processes with you. Acrasia was by Gozo (he also sired 1897 and 1898 Cup winners Gaulus and The Grafter). But, perhaps, the answer is in the cards: Acrasia (an aged mare) was owned by Sydney bookmaker Humphrey Oxenham. On the eve of the Caulfield Cup he lost Acrasia in a poker game to John Mayo who owned the 1903 Cup winner, Lord Cardigan. The next day Oxhenham bought Acrasia back from Mayo for 2000 guineas....mmmmmm
However, I haven't settled on a connection yet. I'm still searching. Like Mark, I also went the dictionary to ascertain the meaning of 'acrasia.' And, as he said, it means excess or intemperance....and other words (synonyms) for intemperence are...debauchery; overindulgence; greed; indulgence; bender, binge, blowout, bust, carousal, depravity, desire, dissipation, dissoluteness, drunk, excess, fast living, fornication, fraternization, gluttony, hell-bent, high living, incontinence, indulgence.
WOW! what a wonderful lot of words to weave into and around the racing industry in searching for a connection! May I invite you to come searching for a connection with Mark and me. Please feel free to enter you thoughts and suggestions on this site by clicking on 'comments' below this posting.
Acrasia = overindulgence, bender, binge, blowout, excess, etc surely = Plastered
Is that not a tip for the Derby as well?
Posted by: Chris | 10/29/2004 at 10:09 PM
any one who cant get the association of "over indulgence" with one horse in particular is a complete dunce . having cracked the code i will now mortgage my house for the plunge....this will get me out of the ghetto, for sure.
and what will i do with the winnings??? i say viva las vegas, baby!
Posted by: psychic plunger | 10/31/2004 at 09:18 AM
The only horse on the list that would suit all the meanings of Acrasia would definitely be "HUGS DANCER"
Posted by: wilma kassman | 11/01/2004 at 11:05 AM
How do you get that out of Hugs Dancer??
Posted by: Swammi | 11/01/2004 at 01:36 PM
So psychic plunger you are obviously talking about Elvstroem = Elvis = Overindulgence, binge etc etc?
Posted by: Swammi | 11/01/2004 at 01:58 PM
I think you can make a connection to almost every horse....depends on how obscure you wish to be!
There was an ancient culture that used to overindulge.......Roman Arch. Yes there's the Elvis one. What happens when all these emotions are experienced.....someone gets upset...Upsetthym. etc, etc.
Posted by: Mellie | 11/01/2004 at 04:55 PM
the king is amongst us swammi. and he shall rise to heaven as predicted. the psychic plunger is never wrong...there are 3 who claim his throne before him, but they will fail.
have no fear and take the plunge..for it has been written.
so be it.
Posted by: psychic plunger | 11/01/2004 at 08:26 PM
Here goes: Acrasia can be looked at a number of ways. Acrasia as extreme - On a Jeune can be literally translated as 'On a Fast' Alternatively one could follow the thread of 'From one extreme to another (warrior)
Acro meaning acre (as in land) - Strasbourg is a city in France (Acra is also a city in New York)
The one I like most is Roman Arch as Asia was translated in the Bible as meaning Rome and Arch sounds very similar to Acra. Also Asiarchae (which dropping the 'h' and 'e' is an anagram of Acrasia) are again in Biblically defined terms 'officers chosen annually by the cities of that part of the province of Asia of which Ephesus was, under Roman government'. For those interested my definitions came from Smith's Bible Dictionary which is located on the 'Christians Classic Ethereal Library!' Bit wierd heh?!
Posted by: Hersy | 11/01/2004 at 08:40 PM
Acrasia was also a mare
Posted by: Leon Teague | 11/02/2004 at 03:01 AM
correct Hersy, weird ...but wrong. think :
debauchery; overindulgence; greed; indulgence; bender, binge, blowout, bust, carousal, depravity, desire, dissipation, dissoluteness, drunk, excess, fast living, fornication, fraternization, gluttony, hell-bent, high living, incontinence, indulgence.
all words describe only the king. long live the king.
Posted by: psychic plunger | 11/02/2004 at 06:55 AM
psychic plunger, it sounds too easy, are you sure you're not just obsessed by the King?? ;-)
How about the Diva.....fits all those words too.....?!
Posted by: swammi | 11/02/2004 at 08:42 AM
Also, as Max says..Acrasia was an aged mare....maybe an aged mare will win this year, too........repeating history....
Posted by: swammi | 11/02/2004 at 08:48 AM
Try this on for size. As noted, Gozo sired winners in 1897, 1898 & 1904. It would appear winners in 1997 & 1998 were also both from 1 horse, Zabeel. Only one enty this year has the same parent.
Posted by: krafty kurt | 11/02/2004 at 12:39 PM
If you want obscure - then go for history in the theatre - with Sadler's Wells in London - this in turns leads you to Razkalla. Breading: Larrocha & Sadler's Wells.
Posted by: hopefulau | 11/02/2004 at 12:41 PM
Well looking back in hind sight, Makybe Diva changed trainers (well its close to changing owners) A diva is renowned for having excessive attitudes. She also has the same sire as she did last year (of course), she being a mare and being 6 could be classed as an aged racehorse. I think if I had read this webpage before the race I would have probably backed "the Mare" for more then I did.
Posted by: Michele the bell | 11/02/2004 at 08:30 PM
alas....i am now destitute...i have lost my house, and when i came home there was a note from my wife and children...they had gone, left me for an opera singer with an orange beard...then th edog died. so be it.
Posted by: psychic plunger | 11/02/2004 at 09:32 PM
the winner of the 2004 Melbourne cup will be Makeby Diva.
Posted by: correctomundo | 11/03/2004 at 07:52 PM
I have named my daughter Makybi after the race horse but have no idea what it means? Can anybody tell me please, i just love the sound of it and i have had many people comment on how beautiful it is.
thanks
+++++++++++
4/6/05
Congratulations, Shannon, on your new daughter. Yes, I think Makybi is a pretty name too. (BTW..The horse's name was is Makybe).
Here is the history of the name.
Unable to come up with a suitable name makybe Diva's owner, Tony Santic, sought the assistance of five of his women employees in his fishing business - Maureen Dellar, Kylie Bascomb, Belinda Grocke, Dianne Tonkin and Vanessa Parthenis.
The considered the names of the sires and dams (The Mums and Dads) of the young filly and looked for a suitable connection. But when they could not find something satisfactory they decided to use the first two letters of their own first names......Ma Ky Be Di Va and as they say, "The rest is history!"
Best wishes
Max Hitchins
max@hitchins.com.au
Posted by: Shannon | 06/03/2005 at 10:16 PM
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