Connections of Brigantin must have been frustrated by his 3rd placing in the Geelong Cup. The French stayer was pocketed in third spot in the slowly-run 2400m and never really threatened the winner Gatewood in the final 200m. Jockey Umberto Rispoli says: 'We don't see the real Brigantin today...It was not the race for him, the race was too slow. I just hope he can go into the Melbourne Cup because for sure the pace will be a little bit faster ... it can help him more than today.' Brigantin faces

Connections of Brigantin must have been frustrated by his 3rd placing in the Geelong Cup. The French stayer was pocketed in third spot in the slowly-run 2400m and never really threatened the winner Gatewood in the final 200m. Jockey Umberto Rispoli says: 'We don't see the real Brigantin today...It was not the race for him, the race was too slow. I just hope he can go into the Melbourne Cup because for sure the pace will be a little bit faster ... it can help him more than today.' Brigantin faces a tough battle to make the Cup field. He may be able to sneak into the final field but he's relying on the attrition rate to climb from 30th on the order of entry.

The Geelong Cup was something of a farce. The pace was horribly slow. The sprint home from the 600m was sizzling. It was unlike other recent Geelong Cups which had big fields and a strong pace upfront. Gatewood's winning time was close to 10 seconds outside Media Puzzle's record. Wonder whether Glen Boss will stick with the ride in the Cup? Gatewood was able to run a slashing final 600m - but he won't get a dawdling pace at Flemington.

Can the Godolphin outfit finally win a Melbourne Cup? Hopes lie with Cavalryman and Lost In The Moment who arrived in Australia in good shape on Monday. 'It was a 28 hour trip door to door but they travelled well and look a million dollars,'' says Godolphin travelling foreman Tommy Strang. The two horses were restricted to walking in the quarantine compound on Wednesday but Strang said they will have a light jog on Thursday.