Pentathlon makes field
THE Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington yesterday was the last throw at the stumps for connections of several horses wanting to force their way into Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Among the hopefuls was New Plymouth galloper Pentathlon trained by the enigmatic John Wheeler. The Pentire gelding had shown a glimpse of form with a last start third in the Moonee Valley Cup.
Generally horses to run well in the Lexus have gone on to run well in the A$6.2 million Cup a few days later.
That being the case, yesterday’s exceptional winner Oceanographer will be among the most discussed in the next few days.
While powerhouse ownership conglomerate Godolphin (who could have as many as half a dozen Cup runners) toast Oceanographer’s Lexus win and look forward to Tuesday, connections of Pentathlon will have lost some confidence despite wresting a spot in the field of 24.
Ridden by Kiwi jockey Mark Du Plessis, Pentathlon settled fourth but was trapped wide covering extra ground as the aptly named Tom Melbourne set a solid pace.
Du Plessis pushed the button early and Pentathlon gave supporters fleeting hope of winning but the pressure told.
Melbourne Cup dreams drifted as Pentathlon dropped out of the picture as quickly as Oceanographer came into it.
The Charlie Appleby-trained galloper from Newmarket in England launched another international into centre stage as he reeled in Tom Melbourne to win the race.
He flew the final 800m in something like 44.8 seconds and 600m in 33.5 – amazing sectionals pushing him to $5 second favourite for the Cup behind Australian Godolphin horse Hartnell, which is trained by John O’Shea.
Pentathlon will be one of the outsiders like Prince Of Penzance last year’s winner also a son of Pentire, but it gives New Zealand a runner which is a rare in these days of the internationals.
He will be a runner’s chance and Du Plessis will have fingers crossed for a more economical trip than the one received in the Lexus.
Appleby thinks Oceanographer will derive benefit from his flying run ridden by Kerrin McEvoy who vacates the saddle on Tuesday for Chad Schofield who rides at 52kg after a 1kg Lexus penalty.
McEvoy is booked to ride team Williams (likely to have four in the race) runner Almandin.
All of Williams horses will carry the blue with white armlets, navy cap, and will be distinguished only by the different coloured caps their riders wear.
Godolphin’s army will all run in royal blue, with their jockeys wearing white, black and other coloured caps to identify them.
New Zealand-owned mare Rising Romance failed to flatter in the Group I Myer Classic won by I Am A Star which sold at Karaka as a weanling for $12,000 and her dam Star Band in the same sale for a paltry $2,000.
❚ THE famous Cummings name was in lights after the Victoria Derby.
The late Bart Cummings plundered many Australian staying races with New Zealand-bred gallopers but his grandson James produced a colt bred along sprinting lines to down the big Kiwi hope in the race.
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike had a trouble free run into the race with favourite Sacred Elixir but the Pour Moi gelding had no answer to Cummings’ More Than Ready colt.
Sacred Elixir had beaten Prized Icon into fifth in the Derby lead-up, the Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) which had Cummings’ owners questioning a start in yesterday’s A$1.5 million classic.
It took some talking by successful jockey Glyn Schofield to convince connections to have a go.
‘‘Don’t worry,’’ Schofield said after his run around the tight Moonee Valley circuit. ‘‘Wait until he gets to a big roomy track.’’
The second Kiwi-trained runner in the race, Highlad settled near the rear from his wide draw and couldn’t make up the huge deficit.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained High Chaparral colt made up ground late to finish fifth.