TWO of Chris Waller’s Emirates Melbourne Cup hopeful’s put their best cases forward last Saturday to take first and second in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. The 2,500 metres came down to a three-quarters of a length margin as the British-bred Dansili gelding Grand Marshall defeated his more favoured stablemate, the New Zealand-bred Yamanin Vital gelding Who Shot Thebarman. Third was the Pentire gelding Pentathlon. “That was pleasing to see with a view to the Melbourne Cup as these are two typical two-milers,” said Waller. “In the old days they would be right up there in contention for a Melbourne Cup but it’s a lot tougher now with the overseas horses. But we’re going to have fun trying anyway.”
Grand Marshall, out of the 2002 Irish Oaks winner Margarula, has won over 3,200 metres, landing the 2015 Sydney Cup, while Who Shot Thebarman was third in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Both were unplaced in last year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup.
Sacred Elixer
THE Tony Pike-trained Sacred Elixir left none in doubt that he is ‘cherry ripe’ for today’s Victoria Derby following his win in last Saturday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase over 2,040 metres. “He was good today but if anything he’ll be even better over further next week,” said jockey Damien Lane in reference to the 2,500 metres of today’s Derby. A Group 1 winner over 1,400 metres at his first start in Australia, the Pour Moi gelding won going away by a half-length over the Mossman gelding Morvada with the So You Think colt So Si Bon third.
“I always thought he was a Derby horse and he’s got a real stayer’s pedigree. But he’s had that ability to win over shorter trips,“ said Pike.
NZB Ready to Run
THE breeze-up videos for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of two-year-olds are now available at nzb.co.nz. The sale has been the source of Group 1 winners recently, including the dual-Derby winner and last year’s Caulfield Cup victor Mongolian Khan. Catalogued are 552 two-year-olds that are scheduled for auction on the 16th and 17th November, representing 123 sires.