The G3 Geelong Cup, an important prep for the Nov. 7 G1 Melbourne Cup, was staged at Geelong in Victoria on Wednesday. Vengeur Masque (Ire), a 6-year-old gelded son of Monsun (Ger), traveled second throughout much of the 2400m contest, took the lead at the top of the straight and held off a handful of tenacious challengers, including the 3-1 runner-up Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}), to win by a head at 15-1.
Monsun has sired three of the last four Melbourne Cup winners, but the Michael Moroney-trained Vengeur Masque still has plenty to do to make the Cup field, as he is currently weighted the minimum 50kg for the Melbourne Cup. Vengeur Masque last year missed making the Melbourne Cup by one place.
Moroney told Racenet.com.au post-race that he would likely start Vengeur Masque in the G2 Lexus S. three days out from the Melbourne Cup in a last-gasp effort to make it into the famed staying race.
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