MELBOURNE Cup plans are definitely back on for UK stayer Brown Panther who'll have his final hit out at Goodwood early Thursday morning. Trainer Tom Dascombe confirmed overnight that Brown Panther had recovered from the virus that forced him to miss the Irish St Leger on September 15, says Racing Network.
Dascombe said Brown Panther would run in the Foundation Stales, a Listed Race over 1992 metres, at Goodwood.
He said the horses needed to have one more start before going into quarantine. Brown Panther, a winner of the Listed Castle Stakes and Goodwood Cup, is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne with the second shipment of international horses on Caulfield Cup day.
Godolphin's Melbourne Cup contenders will arrive on the Monday after the Caulfield Cup.
Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine has arrived in Melbourne and is on route to the Werribee quarantine centre. The next intake of eight international horses will arrive on Saturday.