Stayer set to bring global Cup attention
GLOBAL thoroughbred operation Godolphin is set to unleash veteran stayer Red Galileo on this year’s Geelong Cup.
The nine-year-old, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, is due to arrive at Werribee’s international quarantine centre tomorrow.
Godolphin uses its own aeroplane to transport its horses, which means they will arrive earlier than the next batch of European raiders, who are set to touch down on Saturday.
Red Galileo will call the Americain Barn home while in Australia. In what could be seen as a lucky omen, the barn carries the name of the 2010 Geelong Cup winner.
Red Galileo is currently 56th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup and 57th for the Caulfield Cup.
It means the stayer will need to win his way into the Melbourne Cup, while it looks highly unlikely he will gain a run at Caulfield.
Godolphin would prefer to run the gelding in the Caulfield Cup, but has already signalled its intention to run at Geelong as a back up.
Of the horses that arrive on Saturday, John Hammontrained Haky is an outside chance of running in the Geelong Cup with connections favouring a first-up run in the Group 3 Herbert Power.
Willie Mullins-trained jumper True Self may also head to the Geelong Cup.
Starting his career for trainer Ed Dunlop, of Red Cadeaux fame, Red Galileo was added to the Godolphin stable in 2016.
While his wins have been few and far between, Red Galileo has run 10 minor placings from 19 starts, finishing behind the likes of Fidaawy, Prince of Arran, Ispolini and Dubhe.
His latest runner-up finish was a career best, performing boldly behind Mustajeer in the $1.8 million Ebor Handicap (2787m) at York, England, on August 24.
“He is a bit of a journeyman,” Racing Victoria’s international and racing operations general manager, Paul Bloodworth, said.
“He has raced in Dubai in races that (2018 Melbourne Cup winner) Cross Counter has won. He is a nine-year-old our time, eight-year-old their time. It was almost a peak career run in the Ebor.
“But he did win a race at Newmarket three starts ago. He has got some decent form around Cross Counter and Ispolini, who are (Godolphin’s other trainer) Charlie Appleby’s Melbourne Cup runners.”
Godolphin has been a dominant force in Australia’s big staying races in recent history and has also claimed a number of country cups. The famous Godolphin navy blue silks have claimed the Geelong Cup before, with Qewy winning in 2016 for Appleby.
Bin Suroor’s only runner in the Geelong Cup was Crime Scene, who finished two lengths off winner Leica Ding in 2009. Crime Scene then went on to run a gallant second behind Shocking in the Melbourne Cup.