Godolphin has a live contender for the Melbourne Cup after Royal Empire displayed the right credentials in the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
The race represented a considerable step up in distance for the son of Teofilo who was tackling an extra three furlongs (600m) in this stayers’ event over just shy of a mile and three-quarters (2800m).
Sheikh Mohammed’s team has sent out three seconds in November’s southern hemisphere highlight, and Royal Empire finished 1-1/4 lengths clear of the 2011 Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux.
Royal Empire’s companion from the Saeed bin Suroor stable, Lost In The Moment, took third.
“I’m very pleased, and we’ll just have to hope he goes up a few pounds so he qualifies for the Melbourne Cup,” Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said.
“He won this off 112 (51kg) and it’s difficult to get in to the Melbourne Cup off less that 115. He’ll have a couple more runs before then, but I’m not sure where.”
George Peckham, assistant trainer to Ed Dunlop, said it was pleasing to see Red Cadeaux back in form.
“It’s great to see him back to his best and the weight just beat him,” he said.
“The plan is to go into quarantine for Australia and start off in the Caulfield Cup.”
