WHILE Australian eyes are turning north just a day out from the departure of Black Caviar's flight to England, several of the northern hemisphere's leading stables are looking ahead to the Melbourne spring carnival following several crucial races in Europe last weekend, reports The Age. It says: Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux impressed on Saturday at Epsom Downs in England when second to St Nicholas Abbey in the group 1 Coronation Cup but it was a race 24 hours later in Chantilly in France
WHILE Australian eyes are turning north just a day out from the departure of Black Caviar's flight to England, several of the northern hemisphere's leading stables are looking ahead to the Melbourne spring carnival following several crucial races in Europe last weekend, reports The Age.
It says: Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux impressed on Saturday at Epsom Downs in England when second to St Nicholas Abbey in the group 1 Coronation Cup but it was a race 24 hours later in Chantilly in France that could have more bearing on the shape of November's Melbourne Cup field. The John Gosden-trained Aiken took the group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (2400m) from French galloper Maxios with last year's Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden finishing strongly for third.
All three placegetters could find themselves in Melbourne later this year, according to Racing Victoria's recruitment officer Leigh Jordon.
''John Gosden has entered for the Melbourne Cup before and although he has never made the trip, this horse looks an ideal cups horse,'' Jordon said. ''He's only lightly-raced [six wins from seven starts] but I'd say connections will certainly be looking at Melbourne...As for the runner-up Maxios, he is a one-time French Derby favourite and with the recent success of the French in the Melbourne Cup, he too could be among the nominations this spring...Dunaden too looks to be progressing nicely to defend his title in Melbourne as he finished the race off well.'' (www.theage.com.au).