English horse Ruscello has ruined the Melbourne Cup dreams of several hopefuls with his all-the-way win in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington.
Trainer Ed Walker says Ruscello is unlikely to take advantage of the free kick into the Cup which is available to the winner of the Lexus (2500m).
Ruscello winning the Lexus Stakes at Flemington ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and trained by Ed Walker - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
His win has denied Let’s Make Adeal of a Cup start by a short neck after he beat the grand-daughter of 1991 winner Let’s Elope with Araldo another 1-1/2 lengths third.
Walker said it would be unfair to ask the five-year-old, which is only four by northern hemisphere time, to back up on Tuesday.
“It’s a tough decision now,” Walker said.
“To be honest, it has to be no, unless the horse tells us otherwise.
“He’s only four and has just run the biggest race of his life.
“To ask him to run the next biggest race of his life in four days time might be too much.”
For Nigel Blackiston, trainer of Let’s Make Adeal, it is a blow, but he will wait until next year.
“It hurts. It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “Maybe this time next year.”
Cox Plate winning jockey Chad Schofield was another to be disappointed as he waited in the mounting yard hoping to pick up the ride on Ruscello, which has 50kg in the Cup.
Fourth-placed Ethiopia, which is already in the Cup field, pleased trainer Pat Carey with his effort and the intention is to press ahead.
Ruscello showed his liking for Australian racing when he finished a short head second to Backbone in a restricted race at Caulfield earlier this month.
