Trainer Robert Hickmott has confirmed Flemington will be the next stop for progressive stayer Revelare, with a golden ticket into this year’s Melbourne Cup firmly in sight.
The five-year-old, fresh off a 2000m win at Caulfield last Saturday, will now be aimed at the 2500m Group 3 The Archer on September 13. The run will set him up for a tilt at the Group 3 The Bart Cummings, which, like The Archer, provides a Cup ballot exemption.
“He’ll probably gain more fitness out of this run going into the Cummings,” Hickmott said. “He’s two for two here, and I’m not sure what the weather’s doing, but as a wet-weather track there’s not many better in Australia than this place.”
A dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer with Green Moon and Almandin, Hickmott was at Flemington on Tuesday as the VRC unveiled this year’s Cup nominations. Among them are champion mare Via Sistina, dual Oaks heroine Treasurethe Moment, Aeliana, Vauban, Sir Delius and last year’s winner Knight’s Choice.
Vauban, now under the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, is one of 14 horses backing up from last year. His former stablemate Absurde, twice placed in the top seven, returns again alongside 18 other international entries. Leading Irish horseman Willie Mullins is represented by Absurde and Hipop De Loire, while Joseph O’Brien has nominated two runners, including top elect Al Riffa. Aidan O’Brien has three entries, headed by Scandinavia.
International flavour is strong again, with contenders from England, France, Germany, Japan and the USA. American stayer Parchment Party, winner of the Belmont Gold Cup, holds a ballot exemption and will be partnered by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. “The breadth of the nominations from England, Ireland, France, Germany, USA and Japan is probably the widest breadth of nominations we’ve had,” VRC’s Leigh Jordon said. “The depth is really strong… this year, the 165th running – the first time the Lexus Melbourne Cup has been run at $10 million – should be fantastic.”
Weights for the November 4 Cup will be released by Racing Victoria chief handicapper David Hegan on September 16.
