Melbourne Cup start up for grabs in The Bart Cummings at Flemington
Former French galloper Athabascan has been sent from the Sydney stable of trainer John O’Shea in a bid to secure a Melbourne Cup start.
Success in The Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington on Saturday provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7.
Athabascan will be chasing a winning hat-trick on Saturday following successive 2400m victories at Randwick and Rosehill.
After scoring in France before relocating to Australia, Athabascan has now had nine starts for O’Shea for the past two wins and one previous placing.
O’Shea put Athabascan’s improved form down to a gelding operation at the end of his last campaign and getting onto drier surfaces.
“We’ve always felt he was a horse of good staying ability,” O’Shea told RSN.
“We kept him an entire last preparation which was probably to his detriment, and then he got a bunch of wet tracks in Sydney which also wasn’t to his advantage.
“After his gelding he’s come back and has had some very nice tracks where he has been able to show his best ability as a progressive young stayer and he’s put two good performances together now.
“And he’ll be enhanced by getting to Flemington.”
O’Shea believes Athabascan has taken improvement from his most recent effort and will appreciate the roomier Flemington track.
Athabascan will also have the services of James McDonald on Saturday and O’Shea said he will not be tying the champion jockey down with instructions.
“They went out a good gallop at his last two runs, so it’s all tempo related where he will be in the run, but I don’t think they dawdle,” O’Shea said.
“Wherever James thinks he’s comfortable will be more than enough.”
Should Athabascan win his way into the Cup field, O’Shea does not see the 3200m of the Australia’s greatest race being a concern.
O’Shea said Athabascan was a half-brother to Arapaho who ran 11th in last year’s Cup for Bjorn Baker.
“He’s a half-brother to Arapaho who is by Lope De Vega whereas this horse is by a staying stallion (Almanzor), so I think that will help him get that trip,” O’Shea said.
“He doesn’t touch the bridle at any stage, so it should help him run a staying trip.”
More Racing News
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...