Luca Cumani’s Melbourne Cup team is taking shape with Quest For Peace qualifying via his win in the Group Three Glorious Stakes at Goodwood.
Quest For Peace benefited from a well-judged front-running ride from Kieren Fallon to emerge to give Cumani his seventh win in the race.
“It’s extraordinary. I think think the race just fits well into the calendar for our horses,” the trainer’s wife Sara said.
“It’s nice to see him win and he’s definitely on target for Melbourne. It looks like we might have three for the Cup as Mount Athos is going to go there and Ibicenco, too.
“It’s up to Luca but I could see him having a prep race in the Caulfield Cup.”
Gatewood was favourite following three successive victories, but he had to make do with third spot.
“Nothing wanted to go on,” Fallon said.
“He’s been tried pretty highly and run some decent races in defeat so it will be a confidence booster for him.
“It’s quite windy out there and it’s difficult to know how quick we were going, but we were allowed to dictate and he’s a hard horse to get past once he’s in front.”
Cumani has come close to winning the Melbourne Cup with two second placings – Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer the following year.
Ibicenco is on the second line of Melbourne Cup betting at $21 with TAB Sportsbet with Mount Athos well supported into $26 and Quest For Peace at $31.
Last year’s third placegetter Lucas Cranach is the $17 early favourite.
