There's been a sudden change of plans for UK-based, Aussie-owned stayer Gatewood following release of Melbourne Cup weights.
OTI Racing had decided to run Gatewood at Ascot on British Champions day but have ditched that idea and now intend running Gatewood in the Melbourne Cup in whoich he has been assessed on 55kgs.
"As Gatewood has been allocated a weight that almost assures run in Melb Cup, John Gosden plans him to join second quarantine (shipment),” OTI Racing tweeted on Thursday.
Gosden brought Gatewood to Australia in 2012. He won the Geelong Cup win but missed a run in the Melbourne Cup.
Gatewood stayed in Australia with the Chris Waller stable but failed to recapture his European form. He was then sent back to Gosden in the UK.
Gatewood has won three races and not missed a place in 10 starts since returning to Europe.
The son of Galileo won the Group 3 Prix De Reux (2500m) at Deauville on August 10 before running 2nd to Cocktail Queen in the Group 2 Prix Deauville three weeks later.