THE Willie Mullins-trained True Self came within inches of winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup in Australia on Wednesday.

Ridden by Irishman Johnny Allen, the six-year-old mare finished fast in the 12-furlong race but lost out by a head to Prince Of Arran, trained in England by Charlie Fellowes. The winner, who finished third in the Melbourne Cup last year, only requires a small penalty from the handicapper now to be guaranteed a spot in the big race at Flemington on November 5th.

Fellowes, who watched the race before dawn on television at his Newmarket yard more than 10,000 miles away from the action in Melbourne, paid tribute to the huge team effort behind Prince Of Arran’s win.

Reflecting on Prince Of Arran’s win, he said: “Emotionally drained is probably how I’d put it. I didn’t think, after we finished third last year, we’d have to go through all that again this year.

“But we found ourselves quite a long way outside the race, and as a result we’ve had to try to win our way into it again. We took a gamble, decided to go a different route this year, have a crack at the Geelong Cup. It was a big risk, but also high rewards – because it now means we can freshen him up and have two weeks now till the Melbourne Cup, which is perfect.

“I’m just delighted to be in the race.”

Fellowes was concerned, going into Wednesday’s must-win at Geelong, by Prince Of Arran’s draw in stall 11 – the widest in the field.

He need not have worried, however, because the 16/5 favourite broke well under Michael Walker to give himself every chance before holding the determined late challenge of second favourite True Self (18/5).

“It couldn’t have gone any better,” he said. “He broke brilliantly, which was my main concern, stayed absolutely dead straight – which was an even bigger concern – and managed to get a lovely position behind the leader.

“It was a brilliant ride from Michael Walker, who gets on with him very well, so all my concerns were eased somewhat after just a furlong.

“I said to my wife ‘We’re either good enough or we’re not from here – if he doesn’t win, then there’s no excuses’.”

It appears a done deal that Prince Of Arran has earned another shot at next month’s global event – but Fellowes will still be pleased to hear confirmation from Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter of the penalty which will take him from a current 38th in the field safely into the maximum 24 who can take part.

“Look, we need a penalty first,” he said. “We need Mr Carpenter to give us a penalty, which I think is almost certain – but there are no certainties in life. A half a kilo penalty we’d almost certainly be in, and a kilo we’d definitely be in. So I think we can put our feet up, watch everyone else scrap around – doing what we did last year.”

Fellowes was full of praise for the team efforts behind Prince Of Arran’s preparation and performance – naming the stable’s Tash Eaton and the winning jockey among several others.

“It’s been the most amazing job by a huge number of people. I’m the other side of the world, so the influence I can have is very minimal.

“Tash Eaton, who looks after him and has travelled all round the world with him, has done the most incredible job, and Michael Walker has struck up a beautiful relationship with the horse.”

Behind Prince Of Arran, another British hope – Saeed bin Suroor’s Red Galileo - could finish only a near three-length fifth, staying on well but too late.

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