Trainer Aidan O’Brien was beaten to the punch by his son Joseph in claiming a Melbourne Cup but the master of Ballydoyle has a live cup prospect this year in Hunting Horn (IRE) who relegated Joseph’s horse Downdraft (IRE) to third place in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
Both Hunting Horn (IRE) and Downdraft are by the Epsom Derby winner Camelot (IRE).
With Ryan Moore in the saddle, Hunting Horn (IRE) defeated the Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) by one and a quarter length with Downdraft (IRE) a neck back in third.
A 5yo entire Hunting Horn (IRE) has some decent form in the past but his recent results looked to to be under par.
He had been winless in 14 starts since the Group III Hampton Court Stakes at Ascot in June last year.
"He's a lovely colt," Moore said.
"He's had very good form all the way through. He's had some tough assignments. He's a Camelot and they have a little bit of brilliance."
With 55kg in the Melbourne Cup he is 20th in order and is eligible for a weight penalty for Saturday's victory.
Bookmakers were impressed enough to slash his odds from $51 to $18 for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 5.
O'Brien's travelling foreman T J Comerford said the stable was confident the two miles of the Melbourne Cup won’t be a problem.
"You don't know until the day. It's a big step up in trip as well," he said.
"You have a lot of things going against you. A mile and a quarter (2000m) is probably his ideal trip but at the same time you don't know until you step them up how their stamina kicks in.
"Aidan is quietly confident that there's another good day in him. But he won today anyway and that's the main thing.
"It was a class ride by Ryan Moore."
Hunting Horn (IRE) is one of five winners from nine foals to race out of the unraced Indian Ridge mare Mora Bai whose previous progeny includes the Group II Beresford Stakes winner David Livingston (Galileo) who placed in the Group 1 National Stakes.
Mora Bai is a half-sister to the great racehorse and stallion High Chaparral (IRE) who, among others, sired Joseph O’Brien’s Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (IRE).
