Melbourne Cup hopefuls to gallop at Flemington

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will take the opportunity of giving Lastotchka a look at Flemington before the Melbourne Cup.

Lastotchka will be joined by the Willie Mullins pair of Vauban and Absurde and travel from the quarantine centre at Werribee Racecourse to gallop at Flemington on Tuesday at Breakfast With The Stars in preparation for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 7.

Tuesday morning’s gallops will give punters their first look at the trio, with Vauban heading Melbourne Cup odds.

Lastotcka arrived in Melbourne two weeks ago to undergo quarantine at Werribee and Price has headed out to that track to watch the French-bred mare in trackwork.

“She is lightly framed but what’s there is quality,” Price said.

“She has got a good stride on her, she’s got a good set of lungs, good temperament and is lovely and sound.

“She’s settled in beautifully and she’s one of the very few horses to travel on the plane and put on weight from the trip.

“She put on a kilo. IRT have probably improved their freighting of horses over the years. She had a crate and was able to get her head down.”

Price said Lastotchka, who was purchased by Australian Bloodstock, owners of last year’s Cup winner Gold Trip, would gallop over 1200m on Tuesday morning to get her bearings.

The mare will then be presented for pre-race scans to be given the all-clear to run on Tuesday week.

“All her solid pace work has been done at Werribee,” Price said.

“I must say Racing Victoria have got their act together really well at Werribee. I think if you use it properly there will be no problems.

“At this point I’ve had no trouble with her.”

Price said he would love to see some rain ahead of Tuesday week and a soft track for the Cup as the mare excels on that type of going.