The two trainers of imported Cups horses part-owned by Australian Bloodstock have cast their eye over their prospective charges and are looking forward to spring ahead.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees saw Mustajeer for the first time in quarantine at Werribee on Wednesday with Paul Preusker having his second look at Torcedor.
Lees said Mustajeer, last-start winner of the Ebor, the UK’s richest staying handicap, was an impressive individual.
“I think he holds his own against the horses that are in there (quarantine),” Lees said.
“He looks pretty sound for an older horse, so it looks pretty positive so far.”
Lees said Mustajeer arrived in Australia a similar weight to what he was when winning the Ebor and to his eye was only a gallop away from being in the right shape for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 in which he will be ridden by Damien Oliver.
“He’ll have a gallop towards the end of the week and again sometime next week,” Lees said.
“Then he’ll go to Caulfield when he clears quarantine and stay at Clinton McDonald’s and have a gallop on the course proper on the Tuesday before the Cup.”
Mustajeer is a $15 chance in Caulfield Cup betting and rated an $18 for the Melbourne Cup 2019.
Entered only in the Melbourne Cup for which he is a $51 chance, Torcedor will head to Preusker’s property at Horsham to prepare for the race on November 5.
“I saw him on Saturday when he arrived and again this morning and he’s just ticking over slow at the moment,” Preusker said.
“We’ve got to find a little bit so it will be good to get him back home and get a bit of work into him on the heavy sand and spend a few hours on him.”
Preusker said Torcedor seemed happy in his new surrounds but would benefit from extra work once he clears quarantine on October 12.
“Here (Werribee) it’s probably a bit different from where he’s come from,” Preusker said.
“A fortnight there (in quarantine) and a fortnight here, he’s probably been a bit restricted, so it would be good to get him home for sure.”
