Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti are preparing to launch an ambitious raid on Australia with rising stayer Presage Nocturne, with both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup set firmly in their sights.

The Italian-born brothers are plotting a campaign that will see their emerging grey tested against elite staying talent from across the globe in one of the world’s most competitive racing environments.

Presage Nocturne, a striking grey by Wootton Bassett, is coming off two impressive runs in France, having landed the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at Longchamp before powering home into third in the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at the same track.

Before embarking on the journey to Melbourne, the five-year-old will have a lead-up run in France, with Botti targeting either the Prix Kergorlay (3000m)—a proven Melbourne Cup prep race—or the Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) this August.

“Presage Nocturne will probably run in the Caulfield Cup, but before that he’ll run in either the Prix Kergorlay or Grand Prix de Deauville,” Alessandro Botti said.

“He has already won two high-quality races, and he had a bit of a holiday after his run in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier to help him stay fresh for the end of the year.”

Presage Nocturne also impressed with a fourth-place finish in the Group 2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap over 3000m in Riyadh earlier this year, proving his capability to travel and perform abroad.

“To take him to Melbourne, we need to go to Newmarket on September 1,” Botti explained.

“He’ll spend two weeks in quarantine before boarding the plane to Australia. I’ll fly down for the Cup, which will be magic for the owners and I to attend.”

While taking a horse to Melbourne wasn’t initially a certainty, Botti said the idea took root after the Riyadh trip and watching how well the stayer handled travel and recovery.

Though this will be the pair’s first time fielding a runner in the Melbourne Cup, they’ll be continuing a family tradition. Their cousin, Marco Botti, trained Jakkalberry to run third in the 2012 edition of the race.

“We’re very close (with Marco) and I will approach him for advice about running a horse at Flemington,” Botti said.

“I hope we can add the name of another French-trained horse to the Melbourne Cup honour roll.

“It won’t be easy, and the competition is tough, but I think he’s a horse who can adapt.”

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