Connections of Belmont Gold Cup winner have had their interest piqued for a Melbourne Cup tilt after Tawny Port outstayed his rivals under the New York sunshine to take out the Grade 2 staying feature and earning a golden ticket into Australia’s most famous race.
Trained by Miguel Clement, Tawny Port ($2.90) showed that a step up to the two miles at the historic Saratoga course made all the difference after finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes (2414m) at Keenland on April 18.
Ridden by 104-time grade one-winning jockey, Flavien Prat, Tawny Port made his winning claim at the 400-metre mark when Prat steered the gelding to the rail after race favourite Corruption ($2.50) weakened out after USA Hall of Famer John Velasquez Jnr made a bold move victory around 1000-metres from home.
TAWNY PORT punches his ticket to Australia! 🇦🇺
He wins the G2 Belmont Gold Cup Stakes under Flavien Prat, who picks up his fourth win of the day, for trainer @clementstable.
The victory earns Tawny Port a “Win and You’re In” berth to the @MelbourneCup! pic.twitter.com/qUzRSeMKN3
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) June 4, 2026
“Miguel was confident and he said the distance would be his friend,” Prat said of Clement’s pre-race instructions.
“I’ve not been to Australia but I guess I’ll go. It is still a long way to go but it is very exciting.”
Clement commented pre-race that Tawny Port needed the run last start to top his Belmont Gold Cup preparation off.
“Going into the race, we were sure that he needed the run,” Clement said.
“He’s seven years old so he’s not quite a spring chicken but I guess like French wine, he gets better with age.”
The 35-year-old is in the second full season of training after taking over the stable following his father, Christophe, died unexpectedly.
2025 Belmont Gold Cup winner, Parchment Party, won that edition run on the dirt over 2800m in a late switch from the turf after heavy rain deemed that course unsuitable.
A mudlark in the dirt, Parchment Party finished 20th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) behind Half Yours.
Back this time on the turf, Tawny Port clocked a winning time of 3:17.75 over the 3219m journey.
