Dubai: Emirates Melbourne Cup favourite Mount Athos is reported to be “doing everything right” as he builds up to next month’s big race.
Trained by Luca Cumani at his Bedford House Stables in Newmarket, the five-year-old son of Montjeu is an 8-1 shot to win the 152nd running of Australia’s most famous race and complete a hat-trick for international winners.
Dunaden and Americain, both trained in France, have won the last two editions of the Cup. Previous foreign-trained winners include Japanese scorer Delta Blues in 2006 and Irish trainer Dermot Weld’s two winners in Media Puzzle (2002) and Vintage Crop (1993).
After Mount Athos trotted a lap of the Werribee horse centre where he is based and then worked twice over seven furlongs with stablemate and fellow Cup contender My Quest For Peace Cumani representative in Australia, Charlie Henson said: “He’s doing everything right at the moment so we’re happy.”
There are currently six internationally-trained runners in the top 30 horses remaining at the second entry stage including Godolphin’s Lost In The Moment and Cavalryman. Both runners have been put into quarantine ahead of a trip Down Under.
Godolphin has had three runners-up from 17 horses among them being Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene (2009).
Racing Victoria’s International Officer Leigh Jordon was enthused by the Dubai-owned stable’s determination to win the A$6 million (Dh28.40 million) contest and told Racing Victoria: “Cavalryman is an interesting performer, as a three-year-old he ran third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind See the Stars. Lost in the Moment ran sixth in last year’s Melbourne Cup and returns a year older but in good form.
“Godolphin’s been bringing horses since 1998 and have been great supporters of our Spring Racing Carnival, you never know this might be their year.”
International runners account for 13 of the 67 entries remaining for the Melbourne Cup with Galileo’s Choice, Dunaden and Americain already having arrived in Australia.
The final field for the November 6 race at Flemington racecourse will be released on November 3.
