The Melbourne Cup is the ultimate goal for Onesmoothoperator, who won first-up in Australia for the second year in a row, successful in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday.
Trainer Brian Ellison brought the now seven-year-old gelding to Australia last year to win the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), and a title defence was on the cards before wet and windy weather persuaded the North Yorkshire-based trainer to head to Moonee Valley.
Despite going winless since his dominant victory at Geelong, including running 12th as a $7 chance in last year’s Melbourne Cup won by Knight’s Choice, Onesmoothoperator was sent out the $4.20 favourite under Mark Zahra, running on strongly from back in the field to beat Athabascan ($20) by ¾ of a length, with a head back to Scary ($14) in third.
Ellison said the genuine tempo up front suited Onesmoothoperator’s racing style and said it was all systems go to Flemington.
“I thought we had a bit to do at one stage, but when he pulled him out, he picked up well,” Ellison said.
“I know he’s got a great turn of foot, you just can’t ride him handy, you have to ride him for luck. He gave him a great ride.”
“We needed a gallop on, and there was plenty of gallop on. I thought ‘are we in trouble here’ but when he got him rolling… he’ll improve for the run as well.”
Onesmoothoperator is yet to have his final scans done for the Melbourne Cup, which ruled out race-favourite Sir Delius in recent days, but Ellison said the horse is ready to go.
“I just want ten days with no dramas like we did last year, like we’ve had before, and he’ll run well at Flemington,” Ellison said.
“I’m not sure he’s going to win it because it’s a really hot race, but he won’t disgrace himself.”
“He goes for his bone scan tomorrow again, and hopefully, he comes out of that alright. He got vetted this morning, he got vetted two days ago, everything’s good.”
Onesmoothoperator has 52 kilograms in the Melbourne Cup, to be run on November 4th at Flemington, but is eligible for a penalty after tonight.
With Zahra committed to ride topweight Al Riffa, Ellison confirmed last year’s Caulfield Cup winning jockey Harry Coffey had been booked to ride Onesmoothoperator, who has come into $11 for the Melbourne Cup.
