Trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping Sayedaty Sadaty can sneak his way into the Melbourne Cup after his victory in the Bendigo Cup.
Sayedaty Sadaty sat at number 35 for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) ballot prior to Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2400m) and while Wednesday’s win is likely to push him up the order for the Flemington showpiece, the stayer is likely to need a rehandicap to make the Cup field.
Ridden by Harry Coffey, Sayedaty Sadaty ($6.50) scored a one length victory over the $3.30 favourite Quietness with Raging Bull ($61) a further two lengths away third.
Sayedaty Sadaty’s Bendigo Cup success was Maher’s third in four years with his previous winners gaining a Melbourne Cup berth.
Interpretation in 2023 went on to finish sixth at Flemington while High Emocean finished third behind stablemate Gold Trip in 2022.
Last year’s Bendigo Cup victor Sea King ran 14th in the Cup at his next start.
Sayedaty Sadaty came to Australia last year and ran in the Caulfield Cup which Maher said did not work out straight off the plane.
This preparation has all been about getting the gelding to settle and get miles in the legs as a potential Melbourne Cup contender.
Sayedaty Sadaty led when third in the Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on September 13 then was racing handy when Gilded Water took off in The Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 4 when a fading 12th of the 16 runners.
“The Archer run was very good and then that next one, it just didn’t suit him that race shape at all when the other horse took off,” Maher said.
“It can bottom a horse when they’re in a race like that but that’s why I’m just rapt for the team.
“The horse is deep into the preparation, he’s run super and we’ll see where he fits on Tuesday.
“We always target this race, and the horses have run well (in the Melbourne Cup) that have run well in this race…High Emocean, Interpretation.
“Hopefully this horse is another one. We’ll just tick him over now and hopefully he gets a spot.”
Should Sayedaty Sadaty make the Melbourne Cup field, Maher will need to enlist another rider with Coffey booked for last start Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Onesmoothoperator.
