Melbourne Cup shot likely for Prix Kergorlay winner

Brad Waters - Thursday August 31

UK trainer Hughie Morrison has set Prix Kergorlay winner Marmelo for a crack at "one of the great flat races in the world" at Flemington in November.

Hughie Morrison is keen to bring Marmelo to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Photo: BBC

Marmelo comfortably defeated leading Melbourne Cup fancy Red Cardinal in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville earlier this month to have connections initially considering a shot at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later this year.

However, Morrison told At The Races that Melbourne is a likely destination for Marmelo, who was one of 31 internationals entered in the 2017 Melbourne Cup for which the stayer is a $21 chance in the latest Sportsbet market.

"The owners are very keen to go and I think he's a progressive four-year-old that we can still find improvement from," Morrison said.

"He's a big horse who could carry the weight and if you're going to go, this is probably the year you've got to go.

"It's one of the great flat races in the world. The Derby here is the greatest race and behind that you have the Arc and then the Melbourne Cup, probably a close third in my book."

Protectionist won the Prix Kergorlay before claiming the Melbourne Cup in 2014 while Americain defeated Manighar in the 2010 edition of the French feature before winning the Melbourne Cup two starts later.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Potential for Cambridge Stud Homebred Mare Frostfair
Luberon’s heroics in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) gave trainer Lance Noble reason to expect something special from her trackwork companion Frostfair in the very next race on the card at Pukekohe on Saturday, and so it proved.
One to Watch – Moonee Valley
This promising three year-old Cosmic Force filly made it wo wins in as many starts at Moonee Valley on Friday night with a tenacious display.
Top Sellers at Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale
The Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale had plenty of drama when the dam of Goliath, who runs in the Japan Cup on Sunday, was passed in at €5miliion, but there were other high profile sales including Fastnet Rock's Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Luberon Keeps Winning Run Going for Cambridge Stud
Quality mare Luberon put a classy field of sprinters to the sword at Pukekohe on Saturday when she dashed away in the closing stages to score a handsome victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).
Catalogue Online for the Southern Hemisphere Session of the Tattersalls Online December Sale
The catalogue of initial entries for the Southern Hemisphere Session, an innovative collaboration between Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital, has now been published on the Tattersalls Online website.
Royal Winner Bred on Magic Cross
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way opening his account at Kembla on Saturday carrying the colours of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Impressive Debut Win for Churchill 3YO
Just days after Churchill (IRE) sired the second highest priced horse sold at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale when his colt from Bagitol fetched $775,000, a talented three year-old bought from the same sale last year kicked off his career with a super impressive debut win.
Pencarrow Blueblood Filly Wins Again
Royally bred filly Sesimbra made it back to back victories to open her three-year-old campaign when she took out the opening event at Wanganui, the Wanganui Function Centre 3YO (1200m) in dramatic fashion.
Stakes-Winning Debut for $1.3million Snitzel Colt
Exciting Snitzel colt Return To Conquer headed into his raceday debut in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) with a big price tag, big reputation and big expectations, and the million-dollar colt produced a Pukekohe performance worthy of the hype.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.