Out come the excuses...In the wake of the Melbourne Cup, the 'reasons' for the flops are being handed out. Heavily backed Dunaden nearly fell about 200m after the start. Craig Williams says the French star, who ran 14th, beaten about 10 lengths, clipped the heels of Americain and the horse's nose virtually touched the turf. "He blundered and had to pick himself up," says CW. Then it was the slowish pace which was all against him. Back 20 lens off the pace, Dunaden was a light gone out
Out come the excuses...In the wake of the Melbourne Cup, the 'reasons' for the flops are being handed out. Heavily backed Dunaden nearly fell about 200m after the start. Craig Williams says the French star, who ran 14th, beaten about 10 lengths, clipped the heels of Americain and the horse's nose virtually touched the turf. "He blundered and had to pick himself up," says CW. Then it was the slowish pace which was all against him. Back 20 lens off the pace, Dunaden was a light gone out by the 800m. Americain's racing career is over. He will go to stud. Damien Oliver positioned Americain back along the rails and got to the outside at the top of the straight but the great French stayer did not finish off as expected and battled into 11th placing. It was not the finish to his career that owners Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford had hoped for but Bamford confirms the Cup run will be his last. ''He has been a great horse for us but it's time for him to go into a new career (at stud) but I do not know where that will be yet,'' he says.
Kiwi jockey James McDonald will appeal his 14 meetings suspension for careless riding causing interference to Sanagas in the Melbourne Cup. McDonald was trailling Ethopia at the 800m and when that horse gave ground quickly McDonald moved to the outside on Fiorente to avoid running into the back of Ethiopia. He bumped Sanagas, causing Nick Hall to lose his off-side iron. McDonald is booked to ride Secret Admirer in Saturday's Emirates Stakes. He is also due to ride Pure Elegance in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton NZ the following Saturday and is booked for Xtension in the prelude to the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on November 18.