Back-to-back Melbourne Cups Already Planned for Protectionist

There’s no rest for the wicked when the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) is concerned. After winning the $6.2 million feature race on Tuesday, German raider Protectionist is already being aimed towards a second-straight win in 2015.

2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist is already being geared towards a run in next year’s race. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

It was announced on Wednesday that Protectionist would remain in Australia, transferring from the care of Andreas Wohler to Kris Lees.

Australian Bloodstock is part-owners of the four-year-old entire and the company’s director Luke Murrell indicated that a light autumn could be in store for Protectionist.

“In all his runs he travels so deep into his races without coming under pressure so that would suggest he may sharpen up to be competitive over 2000 metres,” Murrell told Racing Victoria.

“We’ll just let the horse settle in and Kris gets a gauge of these horses really quickly so we’ll have a better idea then.

“As Andreas keeps saying if we’re patient with him then he’ll reward us, whether he has one run or three runs that will be up to Kris.”

He did make it known that the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April could be the possible autumn target for Protectionist.

Menawhile, co-director Jamie Lovett believes the entire will be an even better horse by the time the 2015 Melbourne Cup rolls around.

“The horse has had ten career starts and he’s won a two mile (3200m) Melbourne Cup so common sense would suggest that there’s improvement in the horse,” Lovett said.

“He’s bred to be better as he gets older and matures.”

It’s incredible to think he could improve on his four length win over Red Cadeaux, but it’ll be interesting to see. Protectionist was beyond midfield one off the fence at the beginning of the race but looked to peel to the outside when full of running. He switched course inside and once in the clear put a massive margin between himself and the rest of the field for a fantastic win.

He has already been installed favourite in 2015 Melbourne Cup future betting markets to make it two straight wins.

Ladbrokes.com.au is paying $13 for the double, while Adelaide and Signoff share the second line of betting at $21.

Only four horses – Archer, Rain Lover, Think Big, and Makybe Diva – have won the ‘race that stops the nation’ two years in a row.