The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is aiming to secure a second contender for the Melbourne Cup with The Euphrates’ potential win in the Geelong Cup.
A victory in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) this Wednesday guarantees the winner a ballot exemption into the prestigious Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
The Euphrates currently sits at number 29 in the Melbourne Cup ballot order, though several horses ranked higher are not expected to contest the major race.
Waterhouse mentioned that The Euphrates was also entered for the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
Previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, The Euphrates has had only three starts in Australia, including a win in the Kingstown Town Stakes at Randwick and a third-place finish in The Metropolitan (2400m) on October 3.
The gelding was the first emergency for last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m) but did not get a start.
Waterhouse expressed her ‘very disappointed’ sentiment regarding the missed Caulfield Cup run.
“I think he’s an exciting horse and I think he can win the race tomorrow and it’s a good race for him to go to, but we’ve also accepted in the Moonee Valley Cup,” Waterhouse stated. “We want to get him in the Melbourne Cup, so we’ll have a look at both races, just as a precaution.”
Vauban is also among the acceptors for the Geelong Cup, and Waterhouse indicated that Wednesday’s race serves as an ideal preparation for the Melbourne Cup.
The French-bred gelding holds a secure position of 16th in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry and will be vying for success in his fourth attempt at the Cup.
Vauban previously raced in the Cup twice under Willie Mullins, finishing 14th and then 11th, before securing sixth place for Waterhouse and Bott last year.
This gelding has not competed since finishing third in the Doomben Cup in May, but Waterhouse assured that Vauban is performing ‘super’.
“It gives him just under two weeks to run in that race tomorrow and then into the next race, the Melbourne Cup,” Waterhouse explained. “It’s a bit unusual, but I said to the owners I’ve had to call on all my training expertise to hopefully pull it off.”
For those interested in the Geelong Cup, you can find the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.