Melbourne Cup start up for grabs in The Bart Cummings
A start in the Melbourne Cup is up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington and Perth trainer Daniel Morton is eyeing off that spot.
Morton will saddle Alaskan God in the 2510m Cup qualifier on Saturday where the winner obtains a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7.
But Morton will not lose any sleep if Alaskan God, who is currently number 42 in the Order of Entry, does not make the Cup field saying he does not want to be simply making up the numbers.
A winner of the WATC Derby (2400m) in April 2022 as a three-year-old, Alaskan God has caught the eye in his only two appearances in Melbourne.
He run on from back in the field when fifth in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 9 and was then third in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 23.
“You have to be doing that and then some to be competitive in the big ones, so he’ll take his place on Saturday, and we’ll get a good guide which way we should be going,” Morton told RSN.
“If he doesn’t win and he’s not impressive, I’m not here (Melbourne Cup) just to make up numbers, so I will probably lower the sights.
“Hopefully not and hopefully we’ve got something to look forward to, but there are races like the Geelong Cup, the Moonee Valley Cup and the like that we will possibly entertain.
“So, we’ll see which way we go.”
Alaskan God also remains in contention for a start in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 but is number 47 in the Order of Entry of the 67 that remain in contention for the race.
Morton said he was concentrating on Saturday’s race with the stayer who has drawn gate one and will be ridden by Jamie Kah who was aboard at Caulfield.
“I feel he is tracking in the right direction,” Morton said.
“He came through that last race in good shape and the 2500 (metres) on a big spacey track, you would imagine it will suit his style of racing.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.”
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