Making his Australian debut, Onesmoothoperator (USA) made sure of a Melbourne Cup start with a spectacular win in Wednesday's $500,000 Group III Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m).
Onesmoothoperator could not have been any more impressive (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
Ridden by Craig Williams for Brian Ellison, the 7-year-old son of Dialed In (USA) chimed in at the 300m to dominate the finish, defeating the Galileo gelding Interpretation by two and a quarter lengths with the Deep Impact gelding Muramasa a short-neck back in third. He was slashed from $51 to $15 for the Melbourne Cup.
Predominantly campaigned on synthetic tracks in England, Onesmoothoperator (USA) was a facile winner of the valuable Northumberland Plate (3319) at Newcastle on June 29.
"I've been here a few times and had a few bits of bad luck, but this horse has been brilliant," Ellison enthused.
"He put weight on the trip over. Mark Brown rides him every day, and he's been doing good times. I said to Craig, 'it's not your normal stayer, he's got loads of speed'.
"He’s always had a good turn of foot.
“I kept saying to the owner you have to go to Australia. The owner loves racing, the family loves it, and they all love racing.
“And I said, 'You have to go to Australia for this time of year; it's fantastic. This horse has got a good chance if we get in the Cup; it's a good chance.'
“So anyway, I know I' ve got a good horse.
“He got too far back (when seventh in the Ebor). He just got shuffled too far back and he had far too much to do.
“He still ran well. He finished seventh, and then we went to Kempton, and it was too short, a mile-and-a-half there, but they went slow.
“The winner won a group one, the horse behind us finished second in group three, so the form has been really good. It's great, but I think he's loved it here.”
Bring on the first Tuesday in November (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
Craig Williams said the import has an undeniable chance in the Melbourne Cup.
“With his form, it was really hard for us to get a guide with him, but he showed some really good attributes in some of his races, and even his last time when he was beaten to seven lengths, it was still a great performance,” Williams revealed.
“So I was really delighted to be on his back today in today's race. More delighted after what unfolded over the 2400-metres.
“I think he's well-placed for this year' s race, and that's all you're ever asking for. You're looking for the best horse in that year, and he ticks good boxes. The fact that he stays really well. He's been a synthetic track, a very firm track today. He’s won on soft, and he runs over long distance, and today he's like riding on cotton wool, the way he was.
“Brian Ellison and his team have done a great job. He's a really fit horse. He's a healthy horse. I think he's only got improvement to come from him, and he'll know that he won today. He knows he's won a Geelong Cup. It's all etched in the doors down there in their quarantine barns.
A sixth Geelong Cup for Craig Williams (image Racing Photos)
“I had the right run today from a tricky barrier draw.
“It worked out really well, and it was good to get an understanding of him going forward, which is great. But most importantly, he got the win, and it's a great lead-up race, especially for international horses going to the Cup.”
A bargain basement US$5,000 buy for Sherbourne Lodge at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale, Onesmoothoperator (USA) was a 65,000 guineas purchase for DPA Bloodstock at the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
The winner of five and placed in 16 of his 37 starts, Onesmoothoperator (USA) is the best of four winners from as many to race for the Medaglia D'Oro (USA) mare Sueno D'Oro (USA) a half-sister to stakes-placed Star Worship (Orientate) out of the stakes-placed Dream Wish (Kingmambo) a descendent of the famed Rough Shod (GB) family.
Onesmoothoperator (USA) is the 29th black-type winner for The Florida Derby winner Dialed In (Mineshaft), who stands at Darby Dan Farm for US$15,000.
