One of our focus Melbourne Cup horses, Soulcombe, is due to get going before a crack at the Australian Cup. Chris Waller’s galloper is one of the favourites for the Melbourne Cup on November 5 and we’ll be watching his progress throughout the year.
First-Up Run Likely Before Australasian Cup
Having taken a look at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival line-up, the excitement is already building. One of the top pulls this year is Soulcombe of Chris Waller’s operation.
It seems now that the horse will have a run first up before going for his first major target, the Australian Cup. We had been expecting his run to come as early as Saturday at Caulfield, but that’s no longer the case.
Soulcombe had a gallop on Tuesday morning around Caulfield. He had been entered up for the Carlyon Cup, but now Waller has pointed at the timing of the Australian Cup which is due off on March 30 as a reason to change things up. He is now pencilled in for a run approximately four weeks before that target.
Timing of Australian Cup Not Ideal
The original plan was for Soulcombe, formerly of William Haggas’ yard in England, to run first-up in the Australian Cup. The race is a little later than normal this year however which has forced Chris Waller into a change. Now, the Group 2 Blamey Stakes over 1600 metres on March 2 at Flemington appears to be in the offing.
Given that Soulcombe has a major shout in the Melbourne Cup, Chris Waller is absolute in his determination to ensure that the runner has a light autumn campaign. He wants to keep him fresh.
If the Australian Cup had been earlier on the schedule, it seems Waller would have sent Soulcombe straight there. The Blamey now comes into contention given the date change.
Soulcombe Outstanding First Up
According to Waller, no absolute decisions have been made and discussions are to be held with Soulcombe’s owner, Ozzie Kheir. If for any reason Soulcombe isn’t ready for the Blamey, he can still go first up in the Australian Cup.
The galloper has an excellent record when fresh. On his first start in Australia, he was unstoppable. After a 10-week break, he smashed his opposition in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Last spring, he was equally as impressive in the Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield.
Top rider Craig Williams was up top in his track work at Caulfield on Tuesday. He was asked later about the horse. Williams said that he has shown quirks since arriving in 2022, but he has now matured.
