Trainer Brian Ellison says Ebor winner Moyenne Corniche and fifth-placed Saptapadi are both on track for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Moyenne Corniche was the lesser fancied of the pair but came through with a withering late run to claim glory in the rich handicap.
Ellison feels Saptapadi was perhaps an unlucky loser on the day and he has given the green light for both horses to enter quarantine ahead of the trip to Australia.
“Everything is fine with the pair of them. They’ve come out of the race well and the plan is still to go to Melbourne,” said Ellison.
“They’ll soon be going into quarantine in Newmarket and then they’ll fly out to Australia on September 22.
“I’ve already said Saptapadi might have won at York using different tactics but these things happen every day of the week and the draw didn’t help him.
“Moyenne Corniche obviously ran a blinder and was given a great ride by Dale (Swift). I thought he was overpriced and that he would run very well.”
Although jockeys for the two runners have yet to be confirmed, Ellison has stated his intention to use riders familiar with the Flemington track.
“I think Kerrin McEvoy is available so he could ride one of them in Melbourne, but we’ll see. I think the plan would be to use Aussie riders,” Ellison said.
Ellison will be trying to reverse his fortunes in Australia after a torrid time on previous trips.
His 2005 contender Carte Diamond suffered a horrific injury when his saddle broke during a track gallop and he crashed through the running rail and was impaled on a metal stake.
The horse recovered but was ruled out on a subsequent trip due to another injury.
Another Ellison runner, Bay Story, had to be put down after breaking a hind leg about 200 metres from the finish of the Lavazza in 2007.
PA/AAP TURF
