Highly talented dual-purpose performers Burdett Road and Palladium have their sights set on the 2025 Melbourne Cup, with trainers James Owen and Nicky Henderson confirming their ambitious long-term plans.
Burdett Road’s Road to Melbourne
Trainer James Owen has outlined a dual campaign for Burdett Road, aiming him at both the jumps and flat seasons before a potential tilt at the 3200-meter Flemington showpiece in November.
A winner of four of his 11 races under Owen’s care, Burdett Road has quickly established himself as one of Britain’s premier dual-purpose stars. He boasts both a Listed flat victory and a Grade 2 hurdle success, marking him as a serious contender on both fronts.
Next up for the son of Muhaarar is likely a start at the Cheltenham Festival, where he is expected to contest either the Champion Hurdle or County Hurdle.
However, Owen remains focused on an exciting flat campaign, which could culminate in a Melbourne Cup bid.
“We’re still very keen to go to Cheltenham, but we also want to have a proper flat campaign with him,” Owen said.
“The Melbourne Cup 2025 is a serious target, and he has a great mark for it. He enjoys fast ground, and the track should suit him perfectly.”
Having won seven of his 22 career starts, Burdett Road’s most impressive flat victory came in last September’s Listed Godolphin Stakes (2414m) at Newmarket, where he romped home by 8½ lengths.
He later stepped up to Group 2 level in the British Champions Long Distance Cup (3118m) at Ascot, finishing sixth, 7¾ lengths behind Kyprios.
Palladium’s Australian Ambitions
Joining Burdett Road on the Melbourne Cup radar is Palladium, the most expensive horse ever sent over jumps after Lady Bamford secured him for €1.4 million (AU$2.3m).
Trained by Nicky Henderson, the four-year-old son of Gleneagles made an impressive winning hurdling debut at Huntingdon and is now on track for the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Despite his promising start over hurdles, Henderson believes Palladium has the quality to return to the flat and be a Melbourne Cup contender.
“I don’t think you’ll see Palladium jumping a fence,” Henderson said. “I think he’ll be winning a Melbourne Cup. We’re considering Royal Ascot before heading to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.”
Palladium, a three-time winner from eight starts, was previously trained by Henk Grewe in Germany and secured two flat victories, including the Group 1 German Derby.
With both Burdett Road and Palladium shaping up as serious contenders, the 2025 Melbourne Cup could see two of Britain’s best dual-purpose runners vying for glory in the ‘race that stops a nation.’