UK Stayers Look to Make Good for 2011 Melbourne Cup

July 27, 2011

UK Stayers Look to Make Good for 2011 Melbourne Cup

A contingent of promising European stayers will take to Great Britain’s premier racecourse this Thursday night (AEST) for the Goodwood Cup, a crucial race for horses looking to earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup 2011.

The Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3219m) has historically been an excellent guide for UK gallopers vying for a Melbourne Cup Carnival campaign in the spring, and this year’s edition will be no different according to Racing Victoria’s international talent scout Leigh Jordan.

“The Goodwood Cup has always been a fantastic race when it comes to the Melbourne Cup,” Jordan said.

Run over a very similar distance to the two-miles of the Melbourne Cup (3200m), the Goodwood Cup is one of Europe’s premier staying contests.

Last year’s Goodwood Cup winner Illustrious Blue earned a trip down under but could only manage to finish ninth to Melbourne Cup conqueror Americain.

However, the key Glorious Goodwood race did produce a Melbourne Cup placegetter in 2009 with Mourilyan.

After running second to Schiaparelli in the Goodwood Cup three years ago, the Herman Brown-trained Mourilyan continued on to finish third behind Melbourne Cup winner Shocking.

Other recent editions of the Goodwood Cup have been won by the likes of Persian Punch (2001 & 2003) who ran third in the 1998 and 2001 Melbourne Cups.

“Looking at this year’s field, there are a lot of horses there who are definite (Melbourne Cup) prospects,” Jordan said of the record 16 2011 Goodwood Cup acceptors.

Among the Goodwood Cup hopefuls that could emerge as genuine chances for the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, November 1 are the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux and William Haggas’ Harris Tweed.

“I spoke with the trainers of Red Cadeaux and Harris Tweed and they are both very interested in the Melbourne Cup,” Jordan confirmed.

Five-year-old Red Cadeaux shapes up as an interesting Cup contender having won the Curragh Cup last-start, the same race the great Irish-bred Vintage Crop took out before their sensational victory in the 1993 Melbourne Cup.

Another Goodwood Cup hopeful is the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar, the Linamix gelding already experienced in Australia having run in a number of last year’s major Melbourne Spring Carnival features including the Caulfield Cup where they ran fifth and the Melbourne Cup where they finished seventh.

Also among the field are Godolphin’s Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll, fellow Saeed bin Suroor-trained Lost In The Moment, Fox Hunt who represents five-time Goodwood Cup winning trainer Mark Johnston and the Clive Cox-trained Electrolyser who ran second to Illustrious Blue in the race 12 months ago.

Meanwhile top Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman is booked to ride the Mick Channon-trained Montaff in the race having partnered with the Montjeu gelding for their last-start second in the Northumberland Plate (3236m) in June.

Pre-nomination Melbourne Cup betting in Australia has Red Cadeaux ($21) as the shortest-priced of the European hopefuls.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off