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The Melbourne Cup is still on the agenda for the Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos despite suffering his third straight defeat at Goodwood on Saturday.
Photo by Whistlejacket
The narrow loss to Harris Tweed in the Listed March Stakes (2800m) has not dimmed Cumani's confidence that Mount Athos can return to Flemington for a second time and improve on his fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Cumani's wife Sara confirmed that the Melbourne Cup would be Mount Athos's next outing.
She said: “I don't think this is his track and the ground wasn't ideal but he has run better than he did the last two times.
“Depending on the owner, I think the plan is still to go to Melbourne.
“I don't think he'll run again as he likes his races spaced out.
“He'll fly out in the second wave of horses and I believe he'll enter quarantine on September 26.”
Tactics and pace had played a part in two disappointing runs by Mount Athos in the Hardwicke Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup (3200m).
In the March Stakes, ridden by Richard Hughes for the first time, he was again unable to run down the leader Harris Tweed, going under by only a head.
Harris Tweed and Mount Athos pulled six lengths clear of third-placed Tac De Boistron, who was making his debut for the Marco Botti stable in his first start since he finished 23rd behind Green Moon in the 2012 Melbourne Cup.
Cumani was bidding to win his third March Stakes in four years after wins with My Quest For Peace in 2012 and Drunken Sailor in 2010.
- AT YORK the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Opinion left his Melbourne Cup hopes in the starting gates when he missed the start in the Ebor, Europe's richest handicap, before trailing home behind Tiger Cliff.
Ryan Moore's mount planted himself in the stalls and gave several lengths to the field before the four-year-old finished 10th of the 14 runners.
The connections of Opinion may still consider the spring carnival but Tiger Cliff's owner Henry Ponsonby has no Australian plans as he plans to send the winner over hurdles during the winter.
- AT THE CURRAGH the John Murtagh-trained and ridden Royal Diamond set himself up for the defence of his Irish St Leger title in the G3 St Leger Trial beating the Dermot Weld-trained Voleuse De Couers and Colmore's Ernest Hemingway.
Weld has yet to confirm his Melbourne Cup plans but Murtagh says Royal Diamond could still head to Flemington should all go to plan in the St Leger at the Curragh on September 15.
“The aim is to be back here in three weeks for the Irish Leger and this was the ideal prep,” Murtagh said.
“The Leger is his race. I will talk after that about Melbourne. It is a long way to go but he has shown that he is not tired.
“He feels young and does not have many miles on the clock.”
- AT WINDSOR Cox Plate entry Chill The Kite finished unplaced behind Dubai World Cup third Planteur in the G3 Winter Hill Stakes.
- SUNDAY's G2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) has attracted Caulfield Cup entrants Now We Can and Very Nice Name.
Owned by Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges, Now We Can has won five of his six career starts, including an impressive last start victory in the G 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (2400m) on June 2.
That victory qualified the Nicolas Clement-trained Now We Can for the Melbourne Cup, a race he is likely to be entered for when nominations close on September 3.
Very Nice Name, trained by Alban De Mieulle, is a three-time G1 winner in Qatar last sesson in the Qatar Derby (2000m), Heir Apparent Trophy (2200m) and the Emirates Trophy (2400m) and was third behind St Nicholas Abbey and Dunaden in Dubai's G1 Sheema Classic (2400m) in March.
He has since been unplaced behind Novellist in the G1 King George VI Stakes (2400m) at Ascot.
Racing Victoria's International Recruitment Officer, Leigh Jordon, said the Grand Prix De Deauville could prove a solid spring form race.
“Both Now We Can and Very Nice Name are exciting horses and connections of both have given an indication that they are keen to come to Melbourne.
“I'll be very keen to see their performances because they are a great chance to tackle the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup or both.”
Cirrus Des Aigles, winner of the race in 2011, shares the equal 60kg topweight with Now We Can.