NZ stayer Mister Wolfgang begins campaign to Melbourne Cup 2025

New Zealand-trained stayer Wolfgang (named Mister Wolfgang in Australia) will head to Australia on Wednesday to begin his campaign aimed at the $10 million Melbourne Cup.

The Group 3 winner was originally scheduled to resume at Wanganui 10 days ago, but wet weather forced a change of plans. Trainers Peter and Shaun McKay have instead opted to send him straight across the Tasman to Melbourne.

“He is booked to get on a flight tomorrow (Wednesday) to go to Melbourne and will start on Saturday at Flemington in a 1700m race. There is just nothing here for him,” Peter McKay said. “I would have liked to have had a couple of runs here first before he stepped over there. Roger James has had to do the same (with Mark Twain).”

Fellow Cup aspirant Mark Twain is also nominated for the same Flemington 1700m race this weekend after his mishap at Moonee Valley, where he was scratched on veterinary advice following an incident in the barriers with jockey Jamie Mott.

Wolfgang’s first major assignment of the spring will be the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 4, a race that offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup 2025.

Punters can follow Wolfgang’s progress towards the Cup and access early markets through Australia’s leading betting sites.