Da Big Hoss '50-50′ for Melbourne Cup

Da Big Hoss | Horsephotos

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With four straight stakes wins to his credit and a growing reputation as one of the better turf horses in America, Da Big Hoss (Lemon Drop Kid) might be headed to the biggest challenge of his career. Co-owner Harvey Diamond, who acts as the spokesman for Skychai Rcaing LLC, told the TDN Monday that the Big Hoss is “50-50” to make his next start in the GI Melbourne Cup on Nov. 1 in Australia.

Diamond said the choice will come down to a start in the Melbourne Cup or the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Da Big Hoss will not start again before either one of those races. Diamond added that he, his partners and trainer Mike Maker will weigh several factors before making a decision.

“It's a very interesting situation,” Diamond said. “We're waiting for the right offer to come along and we're waiting for some incentives to come along to make it worth our while.”

Diamond said it would cost $38,000 to ship the horse to Australia and that he must first go through England for quarantine. He admitted he would like Melbourne Cup and/or Australian officials to pick up the costs. He said he's also interested in someone partnering with the stable as an owner or lessee for the Melbourne Cup.

“We'd like to stand him at stud somewhere and we think Australia would be a good place to do so, so we're looking into that as well when we consider our options,” Diamond said.

No American-based horse has ever won the Melbourne Cup, which has a purse of $A6.2 million, which converts to $4.68 million U.S. According to Diamond, no American horse has ever so much as contested the race. He said the chance to make racing history will definitely factor into the equation.

“The historical aspect has and will continue to be something we will take into consideration,” he said. “It will be historic just to get into the starting gate.”

Diamond confirmed that regular rider Florent Geroux will be offered the mount. If they head overseas.

One of the reasons so few American horses have ever been considered for the Melbourne Cup is because it is run at two miles on the turf, a type of race that, historically, did not exist in the U.S. Yet, Da Big Hoss has proven he can handle the marathon distance.

He was claimed by Skychai Racing June 21, 2015 for $50,000 from a one-mile turf race at Churchill Downs. New trainer Maker immediately focused on marathon turf races, and that seems to be what turned the now 5-year-old into a star.

“When we claimed him, we saw that he was by a [GI] Belmont winner out of a dam [Lady Stuck Gold] who was by a Belmont winner [Touch Gold],” Diamond said. “That told us that there was a good chance he would do really well at the longer distances.”

Following the claim, Da Big Hoss won three straight, including the 2015 GIII Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs at a mile-and-a-half. All three starts were at 11 furlongs or longer. He lost three of his next four starts, but, of late, has never been in better form. His four-race winning streak consists of the GII Elkhorn, the Belmont Gold Cup, the GII American St. Leger and the 2016 renewal of the Kentucky Turf Cup. All four races are at 12 furlongs or longer. The two-mile Belmont Gold Cup has only been around since 2014.

“Never in my best moments would I have believed that we could have gotten as lucky as we have with the Da Big Hoss,” Diamond said. “We certainly didn't foresee this when we claimed him. We thought he was going to be a useful type that we could win a few races with. But when I looked at him on paper, I thought this horse likes to win. That was his big thing, he likes to win, and I like horses who like to win.”

Another situation Diamond must consider is the strength of this year's Breeders' Cup Turf, which could be headed by multiple Grade I winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

“Of course it does,” Diamond said when asked if the difficulty of beating Flintshire would factor into his decision. “But in 2014 a lot of people didn't think he would lose the Turf, and he did. And even more so than Flintshire, we're hearing that [2016 GI Juddmonte International and GI Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup winner] Postponed (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is going to come, and if he comes, I think he will be the favorite. One thing I will say is that I think our horse is better at two miles than a mile-and-a-half. This is an 'approach-approach' decision, and those are a lot more fun to make than the other kinds.”

The website sportsbet.com.au lists Da Big Hoss at 41-1 for the Melbourne Cup. As an indication of how wide open the race is, the favorite is 17-1.

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