An exciting, lightly-raced European galloper has been the subject of a longshot plunge on the Melbourne Cup before entries for the race have even closed. Lucas Cranach, a son of Mamool (who ran in the 2003 Melbourne Cup), has won four of its seven starts and possesses a thrilling last-to-first style of racing. The five-year-old (by southern hemisphere time) is already a confirmed entrant for this year's Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate and will be a certain nomination for Flemington when entries clos
An exciting, lightly-raced European galloper has been the subject of a longshot plunge on the Melbourne Cup before entries for the race have even closed. Lucas Cranach, a son of Mamool (who ran in the 2003 Melbourne Cup), has won four of its seven starts and possesses a thrilling last-to-first style of racing. The five-year-old (by southern hemisphere time) is already a confirmed entrant for this year's Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate and will be a certain nomination for Flemington when entries close on 1 September, and the word is that Lee Freedman who recently handed over management of his local training operation to brother Anthony, is off to Europe to oversee the horse's preparation...Betstar's Alan Eskander says Lucas Cranach has been the medium of two "decent goes" in recent weeks, adding weight to the Freedman rumors. "Two weeks ago, we laid a bet of $500 @ $101 to win $50,000 and today we've laid $3,000 each way @ $51 on him. As a result, he's now into $26 with us, and if the word about Lee Freedman is right, he's going to generate plenty of interest. Having watched a couple of replays of the way he races, he's got the potential to be a real crowd favourite," Eskander says. (www.betstar.com.au).
What's behind the plunge? Well, an Australian syndicate is believed to have purchased the horse and the rumored move to appoint Lee Freedman as its trainer will no doubt please racecallers and other members of the electronic media. His current trainer is Sasha Smrczek. Eskander notes there has also been some early money for Shaun Dwyer's promising galloper Anudjawun at long odds for the Cup. "He's been $201 into $81 after we laid a bet of $1,000 each way @ $201," says Eskander.
Top Kiwi jockey James McDonald has landed the Golden Rose ride on classy colt Foxwedge. The ride was up for grabs following Nash Rawiller's suspension at Randwick on Wednesday. McDonald is unable to ride Foxwedge in the Grp 3 Run To The Rose due to a commitment to Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady, who resumes in New Zealand on Saturday week. Corey Brown has been engaged for Foxwedge in the Run To The Rose.