Weld has Melbourne Cup in mind for one horse

Tom Walter - Tuesday July 25

Legendary Irish trainer Dermot Weld could have his first Melbourne Cup runner since 2012 when the first Tuesday of November rolls around.

Advertisement
Dermot Weld.

Speaking on Radio TAB on Tuesday, Weld was coy about which horse is in contention for Australia's biggest race but confirmed interest in the race nonetheless.

"There's a few possibilities, we've got one horse in particular but I don't want to say anything for another few weeks," Weld said.

"Basically, I don't have any standout horses sadly but we've got one in mind put it that way.

"We've got to see him win a certain race in a few weeks' time. All will be revealed."

Weld's last Melbourne Cup contestant was Galileo Gold, which finished 20th behind Green Moon five years ago.

Weld is said to have pioneered the globalisation of Flemington's 3200-metre event after winning with Vintage Crop in 1993 before returning nine years later to win with Media Puzzle – famous for providing jockey Damien Oliver with some consolation in the week of the death of his brother Jason.

Meanwhile, another UK galloper, Big Orange, will forego the opportunity to run in a third consecutive Melbourne Cup according to trainer Michael Bell.

Bell told Radio TAB that Big Orange's rating would be too high for the handicap conditions of the Melbourne Cup after winning the Ascot Gold Cup during the Royal Ascot carnival last month.

The son of Duke Of Marmalade finished fifth in the 2015 edition of the Melbourne Cup before a 10th place finish last year.

Bell is currently preparing Big Orange for a record-equalling third Group I Goodwood Cup (2m) next week.

Advertisment
More Reading...
140 entries for 2017 Melbourne Cup
Can a horse trained in Scotland win a Melbourne Cup?
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
First Winner for Home Affairs
Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Te Akau Win G3 War Decree Stakes with Snitzel Filly
Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.