Emma-Lee and David Browne in search of 2025 Cranbourne Cup consolation
Emma-Lee and David Browne once held high expectations for Statuario, hoping he could force his way into the Caulfield Cup after promising staying form late in his three-year-old campaign.
The plan was ambitious and Statuario produced several powerful efforts to justify it, but a stretch of unfavourable draws stalled his momentum.
Accepting that a Caulfield Cup berth was slipping away, the Brownes pivoted toward more modest but realistic opportunities.
He now lines up in Saturday’s Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), with the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on December 6 also under consideration.
His Cup quest included a solid fourth to Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in September.
The victory gave Half Yours a ballot-free exemption for the Caulfield Cup, effectively redirecting Statuario’s spring.
He next contested the Coongy Cup (2000m) on October 15, finishing fifth, before being freshened with late-spring targets in mind.
A warm-up effort in the greys race during Cup week saw him steam home into second place.
“It was a little short for him, but he finished it off really strongly,” Emma-Lee said.
“This is a nice progression for him for his next start.
“We took him to Cranbourne during the week as he does get quite above himself and we’ve found in the past taking him to those gallops always finishes him off quite nicely for the race ahead.
“He does very well in the paddock, so we’re looking at this race on Saturday and then maybe the Ballarat Cup and then another little break.”
Despite the strength of this year’s Cranbourne Cup, the stable remains optimistic.
“He didn’t have much luck earlier in the spring when we were getting wide draws, but he still ran pretty well,” Emma-Lee said.
Stablemate Pondalowie sits as first emergency but has the Kilmore Cup (1600m) on Sunday as a ready backup.
Her recent runs in Stakes company include a last-start sixth behind Rumbled Again at Caulfield.
“She’s going super but has had no luck,” Emma-Lee said.
“She’s probably the happiest, and as well as we have seen her, she just needs a break her way.”
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