Valiant King races into the 2025 Melbourne Cup field
With a powerful staying surge, Valiant King thrust himself into Melbourne Cup calculations by winning The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.
As tradition dictates, success in The Bart Cummings secures a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4.
Thirteenth in last year’s Cup behind Knight’s Choice, the gelding has been handled differently this spring. Following a last-place finish over 1500m in Sydney, Chris Waller shipped him south and sharpened him up with a Flemington jump-out ahead of this tilt.
The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) was an option, but connections opted for the ‘Golden Ticket’ route via The Bart Cummings.
Rated cold by Jye McNeil, the $61 victor mowed them down off a searching tempo, defeating Torranzino ($71) by 2-¾ lengths, with the $2.15 elect Gilded Water a neck away in third after carving out a daring lead—at one point around seven lengths clear—before fading late.
Charlie Duckworth said the set-up played to their strengths, even if conditioning was the unknown.
“Fitness was our biggest concern which is why he held a nomination in the Turnbull as well as this,” Duckworth said.
“He was much better suited to this in terms of grade and also distance.
“We were really unlucky to miss the Sydney Cup in the autumn when he had a minor foot issue leading into it and we just thought he was primed and ready to go, but hey, it will be much better to win a Melbourne Cup than a Sydney Cup.”
From the saddle, McNeil thought the leader might have pinched it before Valiant King launched.
“I thought we had a big task ahead of us,” McNeil said.
“I was able to get in that three-wide line following Mark Zahra (on Berkshire Breeze), and you know when you find the back of a good jockey like that you’re going to be taken to the right places.
“Even when I straightened and he quickened so well, I still thought we were too far off the leader, but he reeled it in really well and it was great to be on him.”
And he’d like to keep the ride come Cup day.
“He’ll run well anyway,” McNeil said.
“I’ve won that race once before, so you never know.”
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