G1 Melbourne Cup

by TTR AusNZ Dual-hemisphere Group 1 winner Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}--Patineuse {Ger}, by Peintre Celebre), who won the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock, died recently at 13. Australian Bloodstock, who raced Protectionist later in his career, said via X, "Sad to hear of the passing of 'our champ' Protectionist. A remarkable horse with such a strong character who meant a lot to so many people. #Lifechanger." Bred by Dr. Christoph Berglar, the bay won the G2 Hansa-Preis and G2 Prix Kergorlay for his breeder and trainer Andreas Wohler...

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion) will not take part in the G1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 7, and has instead been sent for a spell after suffering a setback, co-owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed on Friday. The grey was most recently sixth in the G1 Caulfield Cup and was found to be lame in his left front leg earlier this week after a Racing Victoria vet inspection. ''After this morning's RV inspections where Valiant King was found to be mildly lame post his work, we had our own...

A new book, The Centenary of Naas Racecourse, written by renowned historian and author Turtle Bunbury, will be released beginning on Nov. 17. This fascinating book tells the story of the farmers and sportsmen who founded the racecourse, and touches on some of the politicians, film stars and royals who have visited over the last 100 years, including Walt Disney, Robert De Niro and Bono. There are countless stable yards and training operations around Naas, which has been at the epicentre of the Irish equestrian world for at least 260...

This year's G1 Melbourne Cup carnival celebrations are set for a different look, with the iconic street parade, which has been a feature since 1983, set to be replaced by an alternate event. Significant road closures and major infrastructure works in the Melbourne CBD will prevent access to key streets, meaning the event, in its traditional format, is not possible this year. Instead, the Victoria Racing Club will host a Cup Week live site at Petanque Social on Crown Riverwalk, with that announcement set to take place on Thursday. Contrary...

Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will ride Willie Mullins trainee Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. "The Melbourne Cup is the race that Zac wants the most," Purton's manager Paul 'Popup' Webster told Racenet. "Earlier this year we discussed targeting Willie Mullins. "Whatever he brings over, lets do everything we can to get on it and it's come to fruition. We've picked up the ride on Absurde." A winner of the Ebor H. in August, Absurde and his Mullins stablemate Vauban (Fr)...

Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for The King and The Queen, will not travel to Australia and contest the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. Instead, he will be given a break and will return as a 4-year-old. Trained by William Haggas, the son of Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G3 Gordon S. in August and was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 16. John Warren, racing adviser to the...

Scuderia La Tesa's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Yorkshire Cup S. in May, will not travel for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, with connections considering the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot instead, trainer Marco Botti revealed. "He's in good form and has come out of the race at York in fine shape, but we're not going to Australia," said Botti. "There were a few niggling problems and it's not going to happen this year unfortunately. "Hopefully next year if we still have him and...

Multiple Group 3 winner Lastotchka (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and is under consideration for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. The 4-year-old filly most recently won the G3 Prix Gladiateur at ParisLongchamp earlier this month. She was raced by Ecurie Noel Forgeard, Pierre Bonnier, Earl Touchstone, Charles-Henri Bonnier and Philippe Stein prior to her acquisition. The daughter of Muthla (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) won the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit earlier in her career. "We completed the deal last night," Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock told...

Group-winning stayer Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who ran third in the 2022 G1 St Leger, is under consideration for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, trainer Marco Botti revealed. A winner of York's G2 Yorkshire Cup S. in May, Francesca Franchini's Scuderia La Tesa flagbearer was fifth in the G1 Goodwood Cup S. in early August, and improved to take third in the G2 Lonsdale Cup S. back at York later that month. Besides the Race That Stops a Nation, the 4-year-old entire holds entries in the Sept. 10 G1...

Former Coolmore partners' runner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the 2020 G1 Derby at Epsom, ran out a three-quarter length winner of an Eagle Farm handicap for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott on Saturday and is targeting the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, according to co-trainer Gai Waterhouse. "Serpentine, the 2020 English Derby winner, greeted the judge in determined fashion at Eagle Farm today on his road to the Melbourne Cup," the First Lady of Australian Racing tweeted. Now racing for an ownership group, the chestnut gelding had placed...

LEXINGTON, KY--On a morning like this, you really couldn't be anywhere in the world but the Bluegrass: as night faded into dawn, a ghostly mist was exhaled from every swale, only to be burned off as the surrounding pastureland yawned and stretched gratefully beneath a sky of cut-glass brilliance. For one new arrival in Keeneland, however, a degree of disorientation remained wholly pardonable. Helpfully, James Ferguson had hit a wide-awake phase when coming down to the quarantine barn to supervise the preparations of Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) for...

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride likely G1 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the two-mile race at Flemington on Nov. 1, trainer James Ferguson announced. "McEvoy has been confirmed," said Ferguson, who has worked with McEvoy in years' past. "He's won the race three times and knows his way around Flemington. He's a very good friend of mine and we have worked together a lot in the past." The two-time group-winning gelding is due to enter quarantine shortly. Racing in the colours of K K...