Tiberian firms for Melbourne Cup following Deauville win

Darryl Sherer - Monday August 28

Tiberian firmed in betting for the 2017 Melbourne Cup following his victory in Sunday's Group II Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m).

Advertisement
Tiberian (inside) winning the Prix de Reux. Photo: France Galop

Tiberian defeated Doha Dream last time out in the Group III Prix de Reux over 2500m at Deauville when leading most of the way and the pair fought out the finish again at the weekend.

Olivier Peslier made a forward move at halfway to position Tiberian in third place as Mille Et Mille set a slow speed.

The race developed into a sprint home, Doha Dream taking the lead 400m out with Peslier challenging inside the final 200m and coaxing Tiberian to a short neck victory under 60kg.

Godolphin-owned Frontiersman, an early favourite for the 2017 Melbourne Cup, was last around the home turn and passed one horse on the run in, the trip completed in 2:44.68 on a track rated good.

Now part-owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, the Alain Couetil-trained Tiberian earned €114,000 ($A171,157) for the win and has won four of his five starts in 2017.

ATB principal Darren Dance said the horse has exceeded expectations this year.

"We think we've got the right horse at the right time," Dance said. "We bought into the horse in December last year thinking this horse would be the one for the race in 2018 but since then we lost Heartbreak City and Tiberian has been brilliant this preparation."

Dance said a decision on who rides Tiberian in Australia will be made when weights are declared.

"We were thinking he might get around 54kg before Sunday's win but things might change now," Dance said. "If he was to get 55kg then it opens up the range for a lot more jockeys so we'll just wait and see.

"I like riders who have ridden in the race, are aware of Australian racing and the tactics so we'll just see how things go with the weight."

Couetil told Equidia the five-year-old entire is still improving.

"Last time, with so few runners, I left tactics to Olivier and he made all but today I asked him to wait and get cover because he is better being ridden like that," Couetil said.

"He has a good turn of foot and knows how to quicken, plus he loves fast ground and gives me the impression he is getting better and better.

"He enters quarantine in Newmarket on September 13 and two weeks later will fly to Australia to prepare for the Melbourne Cup."

Nominations for the 2017 Melbourne Cup close at midday on Tuesday. Sportsbet has Tiberian available at $21 with Almandin now favourite at $15.

You can watch the race below, Tiberian in the blue jacket, pink sleeves.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$1.5Million Dundeel 3YO Salutes
When Arrowfield boss John Messara turns up to a Thursday meeting at Hawkesbury to watch a $1.5million Dundeel 3YO go around it’s a fairly safe bet that it will be winning.
Brave Smashing Out Winners
Yarraman Park’s Brave Smash (Jpn) has been on a winning roll since the start of this month and racked up his fifth winner for October when talented colt Smashing Lad scored an impressive maiden win at Warrnambool on Thursday.
State of Excitement for Cambridge Stud
In a week where Cambridge Stud’s focus is largely around Joliestar’s tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), it was their first-season sire Sword Of State who was making headlines across the Tasman on Wednesday.
Too Darn Hot Filly Chasing Guineas Start
Stablemates Oratia Beauty and Geneva will have opportunities to book their passages south when they step out at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 16
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mr Mozart First Foals Impress at Highview Stud
Young Snitzel stallion Sword of State kicked off his stud career in the best way possible on Wednesday with an Aussie 2YO stakes-winner in Torture, but he’s not the only well credentialed son of Snitzel in New Zealand with Highview Stud home to Mr Mozart.
$900,000 Toronado Colt Tops Inglis Ready 2 Race
The highest-priced colt ever sold at an Inglis Ready2Race Sale topped a record day of trade that resulted in the biggest turnover in the sale’s history today.
Not This Time 2026 Fee Surges to US$250,000
When Widden Stud announced they would be shuttling Group I winning sprinter Cogburn (USA) to Australia this spring there were many Australian breeders who had to start doing some homework on his sire Not This Time.
Written By Popular at Inglis Ready 2 Race
The Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale on Thursday produced a glowing endorsement for the progeny of Written By through the eyes of Asian buyers with five offered and all of them sold to either Hong Kong or Malaysia at an average $256,000.
Blue Gum Farm Find Positive in Debutant Result for Sejardan
The victory by Torture in Wednesday's Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield kicked off the New Zealand based stallion Sword Of State's career in fine style and Blue Gum Farm have reason to be excited by the impressive performance.