After winning in New York, connections of the Grey Wizard can ponder a Melbourne Cup invite. There’s no such thing on offer for the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup this week, but the form of that race is huge for European stayers and could point us towards some Melbourne Cup runners too.
Kyprios Favourite for Royal Ascot Feature Race
It remains to be seen whether or not Aidan O’Brien will start once again to send horses to the Melbourne Cup Carnival. He does however have the favourite for Thursday’s big race.
Kyprios, the 2022 winner and twice successful this season, is odds-on. His form is nowhere near what it once was, but clearly the layers think he still has it.
There are fresher challengers in behind, including Vauban of course who was a short price in the Melbourne Cup last year. Willie Mullins seems adamant he can win a weight-for-age Group 1, though time will tell. Coltrane and Caius Chorister are also in opposition.
The Gosdens Hold a Strong Hand
Father and son training team John & Thady Gosden may hold the key to this race. Despite their 2023 winner now being injured, they still have three top runners taking on Kyprios.
The first of them is Gregory, ridden by James Doyle. The four-year-old ran a good trial for this race in the Yorkshire Cup and should peak this week. He also represents the same owners as last year’s winner, Courage Mon Ami.
Sweet William is also a good contender for rider Rab Havlin. Having come through the handicap ranks, Sweet William has improved markedly of late. He came with a very good-looking run before taking his Group 3 last time but he does need to improve a bit.
Perhaps the team’s most fascinating contender of all is former Ebor Handicap winner Trawlerman. That race at York is already a good lead-up to Melbourne, but this horse has hit new levels over the last year.
Owned by Godolphin, Trawlerman beat Kyprios last year on Champions Day at Ascot. He looks every inch a Group 1 horse. William Buick’s mount is improving all the time and looks set to reach a new career high now, the only question being whether or not he can do it over this mammoth 4000-metre distance.
‘Time is Right’ for Cup Winner to Retire
Brett Prebble has announced his retirement from race riding.
The renowned jockey, a Melbourne Cup winner in 2012 aboard Green Moon, is set to concentrate his efforts on his business, Persuader, which makes equipment in Melbourne for other jockeys.
Prebble won 37 times at Group 1 level during a career which offered over 2000 winners in total. Having ridden for four decades, he has decided the time is right while is still fit.
The 46-year-old’s career is well remembered by everyone in Victoria, racing territories around Australia and even internationally.
