Melbourne Cup looms for Go Racing
Go Racing could have as many as six runners nominated for the prestigious $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November.
The New Zealand-based syndicators have enjoyed a rich run of form in two-mile feature races over the last year, with Soul of Spain’s second placing in Saturday’s Gr.1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) being their latest result.
Jumping from barrier 11, the Chris Waller-trained five-year-old was settled at the back of the field by jockey Tommy Berry, where they remained throughout, before storming home to finish within a neck of the winner, Changingoftheguard.
“It was a massive effort from the barrier, and if he had drawn a gate, he would have won,” Berry said.
Go Racing Director Albert Bosma said he was proud of the performance and his team’s growing record over the premier staying distance.
“They walked in front, and he flew home,” he said.
“We have a good system for finding these top-class two-mile horses, and our recent results show that. We embarked on an ambitious programme to develop Melbourne Cup horses for our owners and the last 12 months shows the rise of that.”
In January, the Lisa Latta-trained mare Manzor Blue carried the Go Racing silks to victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), and she then finished second in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), the same race that fellow Go Racing charge Tajanis was a narrow and unlucky second in last season. They then had Etna Rosso finish second in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) last year.
Bosma confirmed that Soul of Spain and Manzor Blue will be nominated for the pinnacle two-mile test of the Melbourne Cup along with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Omni Man, who was a winner over 2400m at Glorious Goodwood and was stakes placed last year.
Their Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) winner Maison Louis is also a possible contender, as are their Auckland and Brisbane Cup runner-ups Tajanis and Etna Rosso. Both Soul Of Spain and Omni Man were sourced from the Arqana Breeze-up sale in France, which Bosma will be attending again next month.
“We welcome new owners to get involved in these horses and give them a live chance of being an owner in the race which stops to nations,” he said. “It’s easy, just get in touch.”