A six length win in the Irish St Leger is unlikely to lead to a Melbourne Cup start for Voleuse De Coeurs with trainer Dermot Weld saying he would prefer to wait another year.
But 2011 Cup winner Dunaden is now being targeted at Melbourne again after failing to flatter in the lead-up race to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when eighth in the Prix Foy at Longchamp won by Japanese star Orfevre.
Sheikh Fahad’s racing manager David Redvers confirmed on Twitter, the Arc was now off the agenda.
“Dunaden back off to Australia after his prep in Prix Foy. No question in my mind we saw the Arc winner today and he’s made in Japan,” Redvers said.
Voleuse De Coeurs gave Weld, who has won the Melbourne Cup twice, a seventh victory in the Irish Classic at The Curragh under Chris Hayes.
“Voleuse De Coeurs is a tough, genuine and consistent filly,” Weld said.
“It’s unlikely that she will go for the Melbourne Cup and I very much see her as a contender for the Cup races next year.”
The Lady O’Reilly-owned filly hacked up under her talented pilot to take the Group One over a mile and three-quarters (2800m) in impressive fashion.
Ahzeemah, the 7-2 favourite, finished second, while Saddler’s Rock was third.
Another Melbourne Cup entrant, Royal Diamond, who won the race last year, attempted to make most of the running, but he was swamped inside the final three furlongs (600m).
Weights for the Melbourne Cup will be declared on Tuesday with Dunaden, who won the 2012 Caulfield Cup, the likely topweight.
