First emergency Nakeeta has earned a Moonee Valley Gold Cup start
First emergency Nakeeta has earned a Moonee Valley Gold Cup start as the overseas stayer tries to improve his Melbourne Cup rating.
The Scottish-trained Nakeeta forced his way into Saturday’s race when Lord Fandango was scratched on Friday.
Nakeeta will be trying to secure a 2018 Melbourne Cup start after finishing fifth in last year’s race for trainer Iain Jardine and jockey Glyn Schofield.
The eight-year-old sits 32nd in the latest Melbourne Cup ballot order, with a field limit of 24.
The Taj Mahal was the $5.50 favourite for the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Friday after his fifth in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
Connections have already told stewards that jockey Ben Melham will be instructed to ride a positive race from a wide draw on the recent Moonee Valley winner.
