Connections of spruik German import Lucas Cranach have confirmed that the talented stayer will use the 2011 Caulfield Cup Saturday week as their lead-up run before attempting to become just the fourth internationally-trained horse in history to win the iconic Melbourne Cup.
A five-year-old son of Mamool, Lucas Cranach is now prepared by Anthony Freedman having been bought over from Germany last month and quarantined at Werribee in Victoria.
2012 Melbourne Cup Odds
Futures all-in betting showing top 24 horses.
Anthony, who took over as head trainer from his brother and Hall of Fame inductee Lee Freedman earlier this year, is part of a very successful operation when it comes to preparing Melbourne Cup winners.
Lee Freedman won a total of five Melbourne Cups, most famously having prepared the mighty Makybe Diva for her 2004 and 2005 victories, making him the second most triumphant Melbourne Cup trainer behind the maestro Bart Cummings.
Anthony will look to follow in these footsteps in this year’s $6.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), running at Flemington on Tuesday November 1, with Lucas Cranach and stablemate Above Average two of the 79 first acceptances taken for the ‘race that stops a nation’ earlier this week.
“I think he’s capable of winning (the Melbourne Cup),” Lee Freedman, who remains on deck as the stable strapper, said.
“He’s a very easygoing horse.
“As long as he has us around he is fine as we’ve been the constant since he left Germany.
“He travelled really well considering he is such an inexperienced horse.”
In the latest Melbourne Cup 2011 ante-post odds at Luxbet, Lucas Cranach occupies the third line of betting at a quote of $12.
They trail only recent Underwood Stakes hero Lion Tamer ($9.50) who jumps favourite in this Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (1800m), and last Sunday’s Turnbull Stakes winner and emerging Flemington specialist December Draw ($11).
Lucas Cranach has been one of the most heavily-supported Melbourne Cup horses, having been crunched in from their original futures quote of around $151 back in June and is scheduled to make their Australian race debut in the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15.
Caulfield Cup 2011 betting at Luxbet has Lucas Cranach as a $17 chance.
Lucas Cranach is also one of two German imports in Melbourne Cup contention, the other aptly being from Bart Cummings, Tertullian six-year-old Illo paying $26 in the Luxbet Melbourne Cup markets.
See below for the full Lucas Cranach Horse Form.
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Lucas Cranach Horse Form
- Caulfield Cup Odds 2011: $17 – bet now at Luxbet
- Melbourne Cup Odds 2011: $12 – bet now at Luxbet
- Age: 5YO
- Foaled: 27-04-2007
- Sire: Mamool (IRE)
- Mare: Lots Of Love (GER)
- Trainer: Anthony Freedman
- Career: 9 5-1-0
- Prize Money: $152,990
- Win Range: 2100m – 2400m
- Win Rate: 56%
- Place Rate: 67%
- 1st Up: 3 1-0-0
- 2nd Up: 2 1-1-0
- Good: 5 2-1-0
- Dead: 1 0-0-0
- Slow: 2 2-0-0
- Heavy: 1 1-0-0
