NZ Melbourne Cup hopes on knife edge
A third placing for Charles Road in the Bendigo Cup has catapulted him over fellow Kiwi horse Zacada and into 23rd spot in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup.
However, the result still leaves the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Charles Road, who races as Sir Charles Road in Australia, vulnerable to missing a start as he needed a win on Wednesday evening to earn a penalty that could have pushed him further up the list.
As it stands, with tomorrow’s Lexus Stakes winner exempt from a ballot and Victoria Derby favourite Thinkin’ Big a chance to run if he wins tomorrow, Charles Road – with 53kg in the cup – remains reliant on luck to earn a place in Tuesday’s race as does the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Zacada.
Twenty four horses will start the iconic race at Flemington.
However, the news that Duretto had been withdrawn from the cup bolstered the Kiwi pairs chances.
The Chris Waller-trained Patrick Erin, a former Kiwi horse who remains in New Zealand ownership, was scratched from the Bendigo Cup after recording an elevated temperature.
His connections will determine later this week whether he tries to gain a start through the Lexus Stakes, with the winner exempt from any ballot.
Patrick Erin had already received a penalty after winning the Metropolitan Handicap in September but began Wednesday in 38th in the order of entry.
Another New Zealand owned horse trained by Chris Waller, Who Shot Thebarman, is guaranteed a start on Tuesday.
Local horse Red Alto caused a boilover in the Bendigo Cup, winning despite starting unfancied at 70-1 and ridden by ex-Kiwi jockey Michael Walker.
Imported stayer Dal Harraild finished second but remains outside the top 30 in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup having had just two starts in Australia for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The Archie Alexander-trained Lord Fandango finished fourth in a blanket finish, dashing Alexander’s hopes that the horse might win and earn a penalty to move up the order of the cup.
Alexander indicated this week that he would keep his Melbourne Cup options open for the six-yearold if he ran a place in the Bendigo Cup.
The Lexus Stakes shapes as the last chance for several horses to make the Melbourne Cup field with A Prince of Arran, Gallic Chieftain and Sole Impact among the potential starters in the race. The Age