SKYWARD AIMS UP AFTER FLOP

HE was the Melbourne Cup horse who wasn’t a Melbourne Cup horse—not this year at least.

Butco-trainer Trent Busuttin feels there could be some redemption at the end of Melbourne Cup week for his import Skyward.

Sky ward was one of the most promising horses in France when John M es sara purchased him as a Melbourne Cup prospect.

In his final European run, he finished less than three lengths from Anthony Van Dyck and the mighty Stradivarius in the Group 2 Prix Foy at Long champ on September13.

However Sky ward needed a win in the 2400m Geelong Cu panda penalty to make the Melbourne Cup field.

He was disappointing on his Australian de but, looking a million dollars in the run but failing to find anything and finishing a lacklustre fifth behind Steel Prince.

If you take his European form on trust, the $31 being offered by TAB for the son of Came lotto win Saturday’ s Group 1 Mack in non Stake sat Fleming ton maybe overs.

But then there is the question mark of the Gee long Cup flop, something Busutt in and co-trainer Natalie Young admit they can’ t wrap their heads around. But if punters want a pointer, it is the fact that Sky ward is aiming up for a Group 1 assignment on Saturday rather than tack ling the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stake son the same card.

“We are certainly disappointed he didn’ t get in the Melbourne Cup, it’ s easy to say afterwards but I think the race would have suited

him ,” Busutt in said, as Sky ward, with Glen Boss to ride, drops back to the 2000m of the Mackinnon.

“He would have sat upon that good genuine Melbourne Cup tempo and given a good kick over two miles but what do you do, you can’ t say he was unlucky not to be there because he just didn’ t perform well enough in the Geelong Cup.

“Honestly we don’ t know what happened there, we went there very confident.

“Willie Pike said that on the home turn his only problem was going to be getting to the front too soon as the horse was travelling so well.

“But then for some reason he just didn’ t pickup.

“He could have gone to Queen Elizabeth but we thought that wouldn’ t tell us anything going to the autumn.

“His best form was in that race behind Anthony Van Dy ck and Stradivarius, so he should be competitive in the better races here.”